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!