It was all going so well......

.....and then it went Pete Tong.

My overnight at Marsworth was ok, the chap with the smelly noisy engine switched off about 7pm. and I had a TV signal so I watched a film at 9pm. but I had decided to move on today, it wasn’t worth staying there and I wanted to be at Leighton Buzzard by Thursday or Friday latest.

When I looked out this morning it was very windy with intermittent rain showers and I um’d and ah’d for about an hour before deciding to press on.

The last of the Marsworth locks (38&37) were quite exposed and I wondered if I had made the correct decision whilst struggling to get the boat away from the bank at the first one.

One of the two Marsworth locks, not sure which one! 

Once through them the wind dropped a bit as it was slightly less open.

Passing Dunstable and District Boat club I was already thinking ahead to the swing bridge which I knew was just after the next railway bridge.

I soon reached the bridge just as a goods train was thundering over it.

And then onto the swingbridge, not an easy one for the single hander this one, moorings provided on the towpath side, great for crewed boats, but little room on the offside for single handers to get the bow in and climb off to operate the bridge. This is my third passing of this bridge and on the two previous occasions luck was with me and someone opened and closed it for me, and this time was the same J a passing dog walker shouted he would do it, deep joy, thanks passed to him and I was on my way to the next lock.

Leaving the dog walker to close the swing bridge

Lock 36, was no problem, I was soon through that one as well.

Lock 36 ahead

Bottom gates lock 36 (I'll be back, read on !)

Approaching lock 35 there was a boat moored quite close to the landing but not on it so plenty of room to get the boat in and tied up, then stroll up to the lock.

And then this Pete Tong fella arrived, I looked at the left ground paddle and it was padlocked shut, blast, I looked then at the right paddle, also padlocked, eh? I looked at the gates, yes them as well, padlocked shut!

Returning to my boat I looked at the winter stoppages map and found to my dismay that I had forgotten the next lock along was closed from 23^rd January to 10^th February, so this one was closed to prevent a build up of boats and too much water being sent down to the lock under repair, damn it, stupid man!

When I planned the route down south for Christmas I was obviously interested in any stoppages that affected me and I made sure I was through them before the stoppage, I also noted the stoppages for the return but none were a real problem, that was until I had a specific date to get to Leighton Buzzard which only cropped up fairly recently, with the destination and date in mind I completely forgot to re-look at the stoppages.

So having looked on Google maps I decided the best thing to do was to reverse back up to and through the last lock and moor up between it and the swing bridge, giving me better access to Pitstone village for supplies, winding (turning) is not an option unless I reversed some considerable distance and that is not happening! So I reversed back, going backwards up through the lock was interesting and done with much care and observations as to what was happening, but it was actually uneventful, just a bit slower especially getting in to the lock backwards, all good fun really.

So here I am.

That's lock 36 again in the distance

Swingbridge again in the distance

And here I must stay until the 10^th unless they finish early! Luckily I have water, diesel, gas, coal, Wi-Fi, TV, radio (unusual) and I’ve been told a local shop 5 minutes away, but 10 days! what will I find to do, oh yes, relax and get a bit bored.

Totals today : 2.5 miles : 3 locks (plus 1 backwards) : 1 moveable bridge (assisted)

A proper move.

Sunday started miserably, rain and cold, a few boats came down through Dudswell lock breaking the ice that had again formed overnight but with the rain and lack of sleep due to my winged stinging visitor I decided to stay put.

This morning I woke at six to a different outlook completely, all the ice had melted away with the rain and the weather looked acceptable so having got everything ready I was casting off at 9am.

As I set the first lock and moved into it I could see a boat approaching from behind, but I wasn’t sure if it was one or two, he started to move towards the bank so I decided to go through the lock alone. As I was about to hop off and close the top gate after leaving the lock he appeared and waved me on, I asked him if he was alone and he said yes so I told him I’d wait at the next lock for him, then he said he was towing another boat so that sorted I carried on.

Just beyond the lock I passed Jules Fuels pair delivering smokeless to the moored boats.

They had seen me and left a bottom gate open for me at the next lock (47) so it was a good start.

At Cowroast lock I emptied the rubbish and cassette while the lock was filling, there was a boat on the water point and as I was about to leave the lock I could see they had finished filling their tank, good timing, I thought, they then proceeded to add attachments to their hose and commenced washing the boat, rather than get into an argument about it being not permissible to wash your boat while people need to fill up, I decided I’d find another water point further along.

Along Tring cutting which is the summit, the highest point on this canal, it was cold and dark, you travel through the very deep dark cutting for about a mile and it’s a relief to get out back into daylight with views.

Tring summit

 Approaching Bulbourne my guide told me there was a water point there, so I stopped and filled up.

Taking on water

Past all the moored boats at Bulbourne

And the past the junction to the Wendover Arm before the serious work starts, the descent down the first seven of the nine Marsworth locks, they come in quick succession with little time to take many pictures or chat for long, but I did meet a couple coming up and then a chap moving along with these two boats strapped together.

One of the more pleasant views of a Marsworth lock

I locked him through and continued on my journey down reaching the bottom lock (39) around 2pm.

Last lock today

I moored up on the visitor section just before the Aylesbury arm junction.

Tonights mooring:

Totals today: 4.5 miles : 10 locks

The boat behind me has just started his engine to charge his batteries, noisy smelly thing, I chose the wrong spot as it is empty in front, but not moving now. 

A rude awakening.

It's 2:45am, I'm contentedly sleeping, away with the fairies, dreaming of that lottery win that will change everything or something else more wonderful.
In my dream state something tickles my shoulder, I move my hand to scratch it and a sharp needle stab and a mini fire erupts.
I'm out of the bed in a flash and the light is switched on to reveal an equally sleepy wasp on the bedsheet.
A couple of expletives escape my lips as I head for the galley cabinet revenge on my mind, what purpose do these little sods serve, a quick blast of wasp killer does nothing to ease my throbbing shoulder but still satisfies me.
Not much chance of getting back to sleep now though, so it's kettle on and make a cuppa, I know I'll blog it,  funny what writing a blog does to your mental state :-)
Here's the result.

Night all.

On the move at last.....

.....but not for long.

The canal slowly thawed until Thursday night when it refroze but only lightly, I was optimistic for a move this morning, Friday the thaw began again and yes this morning it was all gone, I was ready to set off again.

The forecast was for rain showers so I donned my waterproof trousers in preparation and 9:30 saw me cast off, as I neared the first of the two Gas locks (51&52) there was a smattering of very thin ice still remaining, but absolutely no problem. It was raining very lightly.
At the second lock the shower passed and all was well with the world, I was very happy to be moving again

The locks were in my favour and no other boats were moving so I was happily minding my own business and enjoying the morning, but as I approached Northchurch lock the sky darkened and I thought I would be in for a soaking, happy that I'd put the waterproofs on in readiness.

But the rain never materialised, what did however came as a bit of a surprise although I guess it shouldn't have been really, I could see ice ahead again, well I thought ' won't be too bad and maybe just here.

Funny how wrong you can be. In a matter of a moments it was thick, throwing the boat from left to right and forcing me where I did not intend to go, I persevered for about a quarter mile but decided I did not want to proceed any further and once I reached a space in the moorings before the first of the Dudswell locks (47&48) I headed for the gap, it was now about an inch thick again and I struggled to get to the bank and then spent about 15 minutes breaking the trapped ice between bank and boat and moving it out of the way to allow me to get closer to the bank and tie up, what a palava, however I finally got moored successfully.

I walked along to the lock to look beyond it and see if it was this pound that was affected but it appears not, beyond the lock is also frozen over.
So it looks like I'm here for today and will try again tomorrow, a boat has just gone through in the opposite direction, thats good, breaking the ice will help it thaw if the sun stays out and it warms a bit.

Totals today: 2.5 miles : 4 locks

All quiet here at Berkhamstead.

Not much to update about really, the canal has remained frozen since my last post.

Early morning with swans in a huddle, smoking chimneys

Saturday night was very cold and Sunday lunchtime one boater braved the conditions and ploughed through revealing that the ice was about an inch (25mm) thick, I never thought to take a snap, stupid man (me not the boater).

It has warmed a bit since then and today we have some sunshine so I am hoping for a bit of a thaw that might enable me to feel comfortable enough to head further North maybe tomorrow or Thursday.

Meanwhile the birdlife has been ice skating about, food is fairly plentiful for them here as it is quite a popular place for parents to bring the kiddies along and throw bread out for them.

A flock of seagulls getting breakfast

Yesterday I opened the side hatch and joined in feeding the ducks, I soon attracted quite a crowd.

I had just run out of bread so they are off to look for some elsewhere!

Still quite happy although a bit bored, the stove is doing its job so I’m snug inside, about 100 TV channels but apart from the daily ‘Trump’ updates nothing much worth watching so the Kindle has taken a bashing along with the CD player, no decent radio signal unfortunately.

Time for a spot of lunch and a cuppa I think.

Icy mornings but more progress.....

......only on the project, not along the canal.

On Monday afternoon I went along to Screwfix which is only about a 15minute walk away and collected the bits and pieces I needed.

On Tuesday I began work, I had decided to utilise the void where the washing machine had come from by making up a drawer unit to fit into it and re-using the drawers that were formally in the galley, it’s all about recycling J

This is the void I had to work in.

Having made a skeleton unit and fitted the drawers into it on soft close runners I then dismantled it all and rebuilt it in-situ as I could not get it into position as a complete item.

It was then a case of making up a frontage to reduce the opening to the correct size and fitting that along with a shelf above it, refitting the skirting board and other cover fillet alongside the basin.

I also formed a small tiled splash-back around the basin.

The end result looks like this.

Quite pleasing I think.

I don’t like cups and screws particularly but I have used them rather than pellets so that things are easier to de-mount should the need arise, very likely on a boat!

I still have to sort out some finishing’s, varnish and cover fillets on the ceiling but that can wait until I regain my enthusiasm!

The canal has been frozen for the last 3 mornings and I am not tempted to move on yet, I also have a personal matter to attend to, the timing of which will affect my plans and as yet is unknown.

So with Waitrose almost alongside my boat and the town within 2 minutes I am happy to remain for possibly the full 14days if necessary. I have all I need for now.

Wide beam, Fisherman and Weather.

Yesterday the forecast was for sunny periods with the odd shower, in order to finish the work in the shower room I needed some bits from Screwfix, so I decided that now might be the time to move again.

I was going through my start routine which is in winter as follows:
Make a flask of coffee and some snack to take on deck:
Check I am carrying wallet (this contains spare keys) sharp lock knife (if ropes get snagged or a finger gets trapped this will be needed to cut rope) and keys.
Take down TV ariel (if up) and store.
Put on stern deck guide book (in waterproof sleeve), windlass, windlass belt, tiller & pin, boat hook and rain gear.
Start engine, build up fire and shut vents, put anything that may need charging (phone, laptop, tablet, mobile wi-fi, kindle, mp3 player etc) on charge.
Check all is secure below deck.
Put tiller on, check for approaching boats, raise fenders, untie and cast off!

It's quite a lot to remember as I'm solo, if a couple travelling forget anything the non steerer can nip off and do it, anyway I'd got half way through when a wide beam approached heading the way I was going, so that meant a wait, no lock sharing with that, so I gave him half an hour head start then headed off.

It was cold but not unpleasant, thermal socks, good boots, hat, snood and warm coat (or two) see to that, I do have thermal long johns somewhere but at the moment they are absent without leave, somewhere, so the legs can get chilly, must search them out sometime.

Boxmoor lock (64) was just ahead and I was soon through that and away proper with a reasonable distance to settle in before the next lock.

Fishery lock (63) came next with the Fishery Inn just before and the road bridge it looked quite pleasant.

While I was in the lock a lady passing by asked if I was solo and offered to shut the gate for me as I left, very nice thanks, I offloaded a bag of rubbish in the nearby bin and then realised this was another lock that had to be left empty, so I explained to  the lady that I would have to stop anyway and thanked her as she went on her way, some people are so nice.

Boxmoor Top lock (62) was next, look at this chap.

Dead centre of the lock landing, the three white bollards are what we tie up to whilst working the lock, two rods out and he's tucked in behind a bush with no view of what's approaching him, I gave him a quick blast of the horn and he leapt into action reeling his lines in just in time, he was actually quite ok when I spoke to him but as always, Why there? He said he was about to head further up and see if it was better fishing there, more on that later.

While I was moving through that lock I could see the earlier wide beam going through Winkwell swing bridge ahead, I was catching him already :-(

The swingbridge is electric and it means stopping the road traffic, I let a few through before pressing the appropriate button.

It's another popular spot for walkers this area and a lady with a mobile phone filmed the action from start to finish as I negotiated the bridge.

The Three Horse Shoes pub is alongside the swing bridge, in 2015 I had a
 Sunday lunchtime pint and not one boat came through for me to gongoozle at.

At the next lock I caught the wide beam, he was just waiting for it to fill as I arrived, so I assisted and closed the top gates for him as he left.

It started to rain....mmmmm.....
At the next lock I caught him again.

It started to snow.... I put on my wet gear took this quick snap and put the camera away.

Large wet dollopy snowflakes, unpleasant.

The wide beam had a bit of luck with a narrow boat just leaving each of the next two locks as he approached so he got away from me, I was glad about that, less work for me.

As I approached Bottom side lock (57) the same fisherman was there, on the lock landing again, but he was just packing up.
I went and set the lock and as I returned to my boat he asked me for assistance, he had managed to get his coat hood hooked with one of those multipronged fishing hooks, his rucksack was between the line and rod so he was in a bit of a pickle :-) my fingers were frozen and it took about 5 minutes and a pair of pliers to release him, ripping a fairly big hole in his hood, but he was glad to be free.

The weather like me was undecided, to stop or not, every time it got worse and I thought about stopping it then eased off again, so eventually I made it to Berkhamstead, I stopped for water and then moored up. As is normal, the sun came out briefly.

Current mooring:

Totals this post: 5 miles; 12 locks : 1 movable bridge

Today I was going to go to Screwfix but the items are out of stock, luckily with Screwfix (a decent company) this is not a problem as they will get them by tomorrow midday, so I will be here a while I think while I finally attempt to finish the shower room.

It's been raining all day!

Frustrating.....

.......but sorted eventually.

On Tuesday I set off around 10am for the fairly short cruise to Hemel Hempstead where I hoped to purchase a new basin for the shower room.

As you may have gathered I like to look at other boats while passing, the names, and anything interesting like top boxes or ladders or just the way they lay out their ropes, I guess we all do it but it's not polite to stare into the windows :-) anyway this name amused.

 The weather was ok as I passed beneath this imposing railway bridge and headed for Apsley

When I passed this way early in 2015 this was just a building site

The builders are still working on the section just out of shot, but the majority is finished and looked fully occupied.

Here's another, a bit blurry, sorry

Arriving at Apsley you pass beneath a fairly narrow bridge before the canal opens out to give a quite pleasant view of the waterway.

I moved through the first Apsley lock (66) and stopped on the service point to get rid of some rubbish and do a water fill before moving to my last lock of the day.

2nd Apsley lock (65)

While I was on the landing I took a snap of the stern of the wide beam that you can see in the picture above, I liked the chains and skulls etc, must be a pirate aboard.....arrrrrrr.

Skull and crossbones flag and small skulls hanging of the chain.

As is to be expected the wind that had been forecast began just as I was locking through, and of course this lock needed to be left empty due to leakage, so it necessitated walking back to open the bottom paddles, I had to tie my stern to stop the boat disappearing, but the wind still managed to blow me across the canal at a 45degree angle by the time I'd returned, no real problem though just a bit more work!

I'm  moored up where I was on the downward leg, just before lock 64, it's handy for the town and my plans.

Totals this post: 2.5 miles : 5 locks

Project update.

The frustration referred to was my inability to purchase my choice of basin NOW, when a website says 'in stock' I for some reason expect it to be 'in stock' at the store, sadly this is not the case sometimes and actually it means 'in stock, somewhere, possibly in this country, but not definitely, and definitely not in stock in the store' , I should have been able to work that out but I am a failure :-(

I eventually sourced one, paying more ££'s than I wanted to, but hey it's only money right.
A bit of a struggle later and this is where I am with it now.

Before,.... oooohhh that's exciting !!

Can you see what I did? yep I put the laundry basket in view :-)

I manufactured the base, oh how posh, I always used to make things, now I manufacture them, from recycled bits, again from the bedroom. Still more to do, the area to the left is the next bit but I haven't worked out what exactly I am doing there.

And for anyone interested this is what lurks behind the door

Being a boat, a 12volt pump discharges the waste water
and takes up a fair amount of room, it was all a bit tight.

I don't know why, but whenever I fit a sink or a basin I always seem to get a leak on the actual waste fitting, this was no different, frustrating as there is little room inside or outside the unit, but I cured it in the end, but the resut is my poor old weak back is complaining, a rest day tomorrow methinks.