Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Back on the Grand Union

Woke up this morning, that’s always a bonus, around 8:15, I hadn’t made my mind up whether to stay or go but there was nothing appealing about the mooring or the area I was in, my cassette needed emptying and I wanted to fill with water as at the moment I am quite conscious of the fact that the weather could change for the worse and I could find myself not wanting or unable to move. So I had some breakfast, loaded the washing machine, put on the neck warmer, the body warmer, the hat, the gloves and the jacket and went up on deck, as I did so it started to rain, so back inside and everything off again. I then checked the forecast which said “light showers” so I waited a while and it stopped raining, everything back on and off we go, two minutes later light rain again, oh well never mind.
Now when I reached the end of the Slough Arm it’s a ninety degree left turn, fairly tight but ok, so I slowed as I approached and the heavens cast down upon me the heaviest rain and strongest wind I have yet encountered, I could hardly see and the boat was being blown to the right as I tried to negotiate the turn, I nearly made it in one go, but not quite, as soon as I was around the corner the rain eased and the wind dropped, someone was having a laugh with me!
On to Cowley Lock (89) where two boats were just coming out, “that’s handy” I thought heading towards the now inviting empty lock, when suddenly I see a chap at the lock waving and pointing to my left and then I notice the great big brightly coloured wide beam waiting to go into the lock, in my excitement at seeing someone, for the first time, exiting a lock and putting it in my favour I hadn’t even noticed him! No problem swift bit of reversing, apologise to the steerer as I back up past him and moor up where he was, I then walk up and assist them through for which they were grateful, just through the lock are the services, so I fill the tank (slow tap took an hour 15 mins for about 500ltrs) empty my bins, empty the cassette and I’m on my way again. It’s very busy around here, all the visitor moorings were taken and it was raining again, there was space on the towpath but it was a long muddy walk to anywhere so I carried on a bit further in the now fairly heavy rain but, as soon as I saw a likely place I moored up, just at the end of 4 or 5 other boats, safety in numbers, and a little sooner than I really wanted but I was wet and had enough for today, so I am just before bridge 187 in Uxbridge. There is a Lidl about a 15mins walk away so that was first job, and I am now back inside in the warm, the wind is again howling, the boat is rocking from side to side and making tapping and clunking noises as it bumps off the edging along the towpath, which, when I first started my travels caused me to look outside every time I heard them, but now I just ignore it, let it roll a bit it’s quite calming.

No travel pictures it was too wet but here are my mooring views front and rear, you can tell it’s windy from the waves.


Totals today: 3 Miles : 1 Lock

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