Heading further South (again)

On Saturday I had quite a bad headache, it wasn’t alcohol induced, it lasted all day and into the evening, Sunday I woke and it was still there, pain killers alleviated it briefly, yesterday I woke at 4am still with the headache so I decided not to move, mostly due to the early awakening which I knew would not be conducive to cruising through the warm day.

One thing the early start to the day did was to show me something I hadn’t seen here before, a lot of frolicking rabbits in the park opposite, I took a few snaps but they were a long way away, these are on 64x zoom.

 I woke this morning at a more reasonable 7am, headache still with me, but I wanted to move on, and after an in depth analysis of my condition I decided I am probably not well, some bug or something, but being made of strong stuff I got myself ready and moved off around 9am.

First stop was the water point, and approaching it I could see it was flowing freely, I assumed vandals/kids had opened the tap but after mooring I found the tap would not shut off, there is a second valve lower down hidden within the enclosure and I managed to get my fingers in and shut it off until I had my hose attached, then I filled the tank, while it was filling I fired off an email to Canal and River Trust informing them.

The first lock of the day Berkhamstead lock (53) had a boat just leaving, a good start for me.

As I was about to leave the lock two boats arrived so I was able to head straight out leaving a bottom gate open, lovely.

The repairs to the locks further back appear to have done some good as the pounds that were low when I came up were now at normal levels and the next three locks came and went without incident.

Passing The Old Mill pub more goslings were about with mum and dad.

At lock 57, Bottom Side lock, a boat approached as I was emptying the lock having gone in already, his wife walked up and told me to get aboard and she would finish it off for me, that was nice, however on trying to leave the lock his boat was drifting right in front of me, close to the lock making it extremely awkward to get out without bashing the mouth of the lock, after some jiggling I managed to squeeze past him, he apologised and said the edge was shallow, maybe it was, but if he had held back a bit it would not have been a problem, patience and thought needed.

I continued on and at lock 60 I could see people milling around the swing bridge ahead, the road barrier was up so I thought, if they hold on a bit I might get through before they’re finished, having filled the lock and gone in they still hadn’t made a move, I could see a couple of boats the other side of the bridge, I finished my lock and cruised out, barrier still up, damn I thought, must be a problem with the bridge, I’ll close up and moor up and walk along, but just as I was about to hop off and close up the barrier began lowering so I steamed on, they must have had an issue opening it because four boats came through, the young lady operating it held it open for me to get through before she closed it, another bonus.

At the next lock there were two workman, one on a floating platform in the lock injecting resin behind the lock walls to fill voids that were causing leaks, I checked what they wanted me to do and they were happy to stay put while I came through, carefully, the other workman assisted me through, it was nearly all going well today.

Two more uneventful locks saw me at my designated mooring just along from The Fishery Inn again, I have gone past a mooring right opposite the pub as I will be doing some painting on the stern deck over the next few days and using my generator to power a sander, I didn’t want to disturb the drinkers on the patio!

Current mooring:

Totals today: 4½ miles : 11 locks : 1 moveable bridge

I still feel rubbish so a shower and an early night I think.