From Listing.........

......to dredging.

My second night at the mooring was uneventful, due to the listing problem the night before I had slackened my mooring lines and put a tire fender at the stern to keep it slightly off the bank, and I woke to find the boat level.

Yesterday however it was listing again, it makes moving around on the boat quite awkward although it does't show hugely in the photo.

The reason I mention it again is because casting off was difficult, normally a shove is enough to 'slide' the boat off the canal bed when the water levels have dropped and you are sitting on the bottom, but it took me a good 15 minutes with a lot of pushing and resorting to use the pole until I finally got the boat into deeper water about 4 feet from the bank, by the time I reached the lock just ahead I was worn out!

The first two locks were dealt with slowly while I recovered from my exertions.

Lock 51 in the distance behind while I am in lock 52.

It was then a pleasant cruise through Berkhamstead again dealing with lock as I went, no pictures this time as I have photographed just about everything on my previous 3 passages.

At lock 57 I caught up with a couple of boats just leaving the lock, and I passed one of them, who had moored up, on my way to the next lock, the other boat had waited in lock 58 for my arrival, very kindly, they were an early holidaying couple and very friendly too.

I explained my method of getting through the lock using only one gate to exit, them leaving first and me following and closing, allowing them to go ahead and set the next lock. They were very surprised and curious as to how I was able to maneuver my boat across the lock to get out the same gate as them without the use of a bow thruster, but then again I  often am as well!

My locking partners just ahead.

We dealt with the next few locks the same way and then the electric swing bridge at Winkwell, they had never operated one of these so I advised them on the method and it went without a hitch.

After the next lock (61) they winded (turned around) and headed back, time was up for them and the husband wanted to stop for a days fishing.

I continued on through the next three locks to moor where I had previously after lock 64, which gives easy access to Hemel Hempstead for some shopping.

Leaving the lock and heading for the bank there was suddenly a graunching sound and the back of the boat lifted up as I rode over something, I had my suspicions as to what it was.
Once moored and letting the water settle I walked back and had a look, I had struck my first shopping trolley! I've seen plenty of them submerged but this was the first one I had hit, it had been placed well just by the lock landing to catch unwary boaters.
I got my boat hook and after a struggle pulled it out from the water, I was then left with what to do with it? I decided leaving it on the bank would only result in it being returned to the canal, I didn't want it on my roof, so I threw it onto a hedge, climbed over the fence and tucked it out of view in the bushes, ok not a great place for it, but better than in the canal.

Offending trolley

If I can pluck up the courage my arm will be going down the weed hatch later today to check the prop for possible damage, hopefully nothing!

Totals this post : 4.5 miles : 14 locks : 1 moveable bridge