Foggy, low pound and stray boats.....

.....all adds to the interest.

Yesterday I had a conversation with EE about upgrading my phone, it went well but not well enough, the deal I was offered online was the same allowances I have currently at the same monthly payment and a new Samsung Galaxy A3.... up front cost£139.....mmmm.....NO, first part of phone call reduced the upfront cost but not enough, move on to another department, reduce upfront cost again but decrease  allowances, move on again to disconnections department, now it's no upfront cost, same allowances but a small increase in monthly payments, is that ok? No, cancel please.

I walked into Hemel Hempstead to the Three shop, same phone, £3.99 less monthly payment, more data, 2gig instead of 1gig, and 3 months (4,5+6) free, saving £54.... now you are talking my language, sign here.

On to Millets and buy new boots, the old ones Peter Storm have lasted just 2 winters, not sure if that's good or bad, didn't seem good to me, anyway £116 lighter in the wallet my reasons for stopping at Hemel were met.

This morning was foggy again when I set off around 9am.

The bridge ahead when I moored

And this morning, I had to zoom a bit to spot the bridge

So it was chilly, damp and quiet and not much to see to begin with, the first lock of the day was Boxmoor lock, not that I could see it until I was quite close.

The lock is just past those two boats somewhere ;-)

As I approached Apsley a lady walking her dog called me to say the pound (water between two locks) between the first two locks was very low, so when I got there I had a look and it was down about 30cm, with moored boats listing, so I opened all the paddles and ran water down from above for 15 minutes or so to raise the level. Then I was able to proceed to the service point where I did the usual fill and empty, the next lock (66) was no problem and as I approached lock 67 I was pleased to see it was in my favour and the gates were open.

Having gone in and began emptying the lock a lady appeared with a windlass and said they were just setting off in their widebeam so she would close the gates as I left, it wasn't until later I wondered if she had set the lock and opened the gates then walked back to her moored boat?... oops, could have been, not that I could have known, sorry if that was the case!

On through Apsley

Apsley Marina

Then keeping ahead of the widebeam I carried on through the Nash Mills locks and King's Langley lock intending to moor just after the lock, when I tried to get to the side it was hopeless, the bottom is too near the top, gravel and silt, I remembered now (from my journey up last year) that this next section is pretty shallow along the bank for quite a long spell, so I continued on through Home Park Mill Lock (70) where I found a trip boat of sorts waiting to come up, they never offered any assistance until I was leaving the lock when one man appeared to open the other gate so they could enter, they were wide beam....ho hum!

A little further along I spotted some boats moored and gave it a try, I am in, slightly listing but it'll do for tonight and the Strictly final!!

Totals Today: 4 miles : 8 locks

Tonights mooring:

Ugly great bridge ahead carrying the M25, shrouded in fog.

I was sitting have a tea when I heard a boat revving quite hard, looking out the window it was Jack, my locking mate from the other day, reversing, I wondered what he was doing so walked along to look through the front doors, the brested pair ahead of me had come adrift and were blocking the canal, so I went and helped him move them and re-pin them, it's soft ground and they are on single pins and will probably come loose again, double pins would help.