.......are sometimes better than one.
I quite enjoyed my time at Croxley, although I never met any
of the boat owners moored by me but I did chat to a couple of the regular dog
walkers, it was quiet, a sunny spot with good TV and reasonable phone and Wi-Fi
signals. I got a few jobs done and managed to watch the F1 highlights on
Sunday, I will stop there again in the future.
Having got about as far as I could with the bedroom I needed
to purchase more materials, Apsley seemed like a sensible next stop so yesterday I set off around 9am for what looked like a fairly long day.
Cassio Bridge lock was the first hurdle, it presented no
problems and as the water point was
clear I decided to top up there.
 |
| On the water point |
Bright sunlight as can be seen by the glare in the picture.
My timing was good and as I was about to set off again another boat cruised along
wanting to go through the lock, it’s a shared landing for both water and lock
use, so I was able to clear away just as he arrived.
A fairly uneventful cruise passing through the next six
locks ( 77-72) without incident or meeting another boat.
 |
| Cassiobury Park lock was open and ready for me, nice. |
But the weather begun to get chilly and I begun to get weary, so I decided to stop somewhere around Hunton
Bridge, it’s not my favourite place as it is very shallow at the edge and it
took me three attempts to find a suitable spot where I managed to get the boat to within a foot of the bank.
Last nights mooring:
I did put up the ariel and got TV ok, although I don’t know
why I bother really, I watched the news at six and nothing else interested me.
So this morning I set off again to complete the trip to
Apsley.
I saw my first ducklings of the year, there were about eight
in all but they were scattered and I only managed to get mum with three of
them.
 |
| Aaaawww. |
A new wide beam, who was moored behind me, had set off before me, the couple were doing
a fit out judging by the wood on view and the fact that it was very unfinished,
I think they were new to boating, certainly new to this boat, I had given them
a half hour head start but I caught up with them at the first lock, they were
just about ready to leave as I arrived, I turned the lock and then saw another
boat approaching so I waved them in first and then followed them in.
A nice couple with some children hidden below decks and
bored according to mum, I left the lock first and went ahead to set the next
one, arriving there the wide beam was still in it, so I helped them through and
the girl said they were mooring up so I wouldn’t have to take pity on them, by helping,
anymore, but I wasn’t bothered I enjoy helping others, anyway they did moor up,
probably with lots of work to get on with.
My locking buddies said they would leave first this time and
go ahead to set the next lock while I closed up, fine with me.
 |
| Locking buddies entering Kings Langley lock. |
We shared the next lock at Kings Langley (69a) and they went
ahead again to set the next one, however when I arrived they had joined a
holiday boat in the lock, so I was alone again, not a problem though.
I carried
on to Apsley and at lock 67 three young children, with mum and dad, asked if
they could help, I said they could as long as they had eaten a big breakfast
because it is hard work, they loved helping and did well too, as they were only little!
Just after the lock I saw a gap in the moorings that I
thought ‘might’ be big enough, I attempted to squeeze the boat in but it was
about a foot too long, so I reversed back out and headed off again, just as I was
passing the boat at the front of the gap the chap stuck his head out and asked
if I wanted him to move back, too little too late! I had tried and failed and
couldn’t be bothered to try again, so I went through the next Apsley lock (66)
and found a spot after that, seems like deja vue again, I am almost in exactly
the same spot as last time I was here.
Current mooring:
Totals this post: 8 miles : 14 locks
I will see how things work out re materials and if possible
do some more work while I am here.
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