A new village......

.....and a familiar mooring.

Yesterday I took a stroll into Northchurch.

Black skies again.

It isn’t a particularly rural village but the High street showed some signs of the original bits, nowadays a busy road runs through it.

Of course it has the usual large church St Marys, and as is often the case a public house almost opposite for the worshipper’s convenience.

The George and Dragon

The other end of the high street has a Tesco Express, a fish and chip shop and a coffee/cake shop, I did venture into Tesco to get a newspaper but the weather looked grim and I headed back to the boat just in time to avoid a heavy rain shower.

In the evening I watched the F1 on the box.

This morning I put a load of washing in the machine before setting off just after 8:30, intending to reach my destination before lunch and hang the washing out for the afternoon.

It was pleasant weather for a change.

and the second of the Northchurch locks (49) was empty in my favour, as per instructions to leave it like that, so I was soon into that and through passing the pump house which was not pumping at the moment.

At the first of the two Dudswell locks a boat was coming down so I assisted the lady crew member before going up the lock myself.

The boat coming down had left a gate open at the second Dudswell lock so I was straight in that one and then with a boat approaching I was able to leave the top gate open as I left.

Arriving at Cowroast a boat was ahead of me and they kindly waited at the lock to allow me to share, they wanted water as did I but knowing there was another point ahead I just emptied my cassette at the service point and headed off again.

The entrance to Cowroast Marina looks tight, but then again most of them are.

Next came the slow crawl past all the permit holder moorings on the offside.

And then into one of my least favourite sections of this canal, Tring summit, long dark and tree lined it doesn’t make for pleasant cruising, some boats are moored half way along presumably because of the easy access to Tring Railway station.

I wanted to moor before the water point at Bulbourne and get the washing out but it was full so I stopped and topped up the tank, annoying a fisherman who was close but not in my way, and then moved through bridge 133 to moor outside the Grand Junction Arms, a familiar spot for me, I have yet to venture inside though, maybe tomorrow.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 4.5 miles : 4 locks

I did get the washing out for the afternoon and it is dry, as I was typing this the rain came, so I just got it inside in time, all is ok, my timing today was good!

Through Berkhamstead again.

Yesterday the weather forecast was again for sunshine and showers so using the same thinking as before I set off around 8am in an attempt to avoid the worst.

First stop was a pull over to the offside water point just past the Old Mill pub and fill up the tank. While I was near Apsley I had walked back to Wickes and bought the last thing (hopefully) that I needed for my stove job later and also treated myself to a new 25m water hose on a reel, the old hose had no reel and had developed a number of blisters and one leak which I had taped up with duck tape so a new one was needed, I had already put the ends on etc. and it was a lot quicker both setting it up and putting it away but, there’s always one, a leak from the fitting buried within the reel, so at some point I will need to uncoil it all and tighten that!

Tank topped up I moved off passing this old working boat which is crewed by women recreating a journey (I have no idea what journey though!) but it looked good.

Not far to the first lock, Rising Sun lock (55) just around the bend from this lot of moored visitors.

There was a crew just entering to come down, they didn’t need my help but I had a chat while I waited for them. Then it was my turn, into the lock and tie up on center line, I always tie up in double locks going uphill because the boat has a tendency to surge forward when you open the first ground paddle, this is because the water flows down the lock and bounces off the bottom gates into the stern of the boat pushing  it forward as the lock fills, my boat moved forward as usual but there was a loud crack as the centre line snapped one of its three strands, this rope is only about a year old, bought on the Kennet and Avon last year, so I am not very happy about that, but there is a weak point on both my center lines where they pass through a fitting on the edge of the roof and it causes wearing, I think next time I paint the roof I will remove those fittings and I will buy thicker rope! Later in the day I cut off the damaged end and spliced a new eye on it, it’s about a metre shorter now but will do for now.

Onwards to the next lock just past ‘The Boat’, I always think this looks a nice pub, maybe one day I will actually find out.

 After one more lock it was time to stop briefly at the offside rubbish point and then move across onto the 4 hour moorings outside Waitrose to top up provisions, a quick shop and £42 lighter before heading off again with a cup of tea to hand.

Play area in park opposite Waitrose.

I could see a boat in the distance leaving the lock behind me as I set off, so either I was getting a locking buddy or they would moor up, as I set the next lock and walked back to my boat I could still see them but still could not determine what they were doing, I took my boat in the lock and as I was closing the left gate all became clear with several blasts on the horn from his boat, no doubt panicking I had not seen him, but as I walked across and opened the right gate his friendly wave appeared!

A nice couple, the wife told me her husband was 78 and she was trying to stop him doing too much, he had slipped into the canal just a couple of days ago at Apsley after grass cuttings were left along the edges of the lock by the contractors, she wasn’t happy about that and had complained to Canal and River Trust.

Locking buddies heading off to set the next lock.

We shared just three locks as I wanted to moor up at Northchurch to maybe have a look around, so while leaving lock 50 we said our goodbyes and I closed up.

My first attempt to get to the side was aborted after running aground so I reversed back about 50 yards to a spot where I had previously seen boats moored and managed to get in there ok.

Current mooring:  A nice section all to myself for now.

Totals yesterday: 2.5 miles : 6 locks

The weather held off for me until I was safely moored and then it rained most of the afternoon and evening.

A nice quiet night, I watched the F1 qualifying highlights, and at 5:45 this morning my usual cup of tea on deck, oddly I saw a bat flying around, I thought they were only out in the dark! 

A leisurely Sunday breakfast followed by washing and dressing to prepare for my day ahead and another cup of tea on deck to find that I am now surrounded by fishermen, about 8 that I can see,  3 behind me and 5 ahead, they were very quiet setting up though, I never heard them arrive but I bet they smelt my bacon cooking!

A happy little girl.

The forecast today was sunshine and showers, I thought by moving off early I might avoid the worst so at 8:15 with everything ready I just about to untie when around the bend behind me appeared a wide beam, that put paid to that then, I can’t share a lock with him and he was too near for me to push off ahead of him, so back below for a cup of tea and give him 30 minutes head start.

Arriving at the first lock, Boxmoor lock (64), he had gone and another boat was coming down towards me, so I tied up and went up to the lock to assist but they were fully crewed, so a brief chat before heading back to my boat to  go through once they had cleared.

The chap near my bow is logging boats for C&RT, I think his title is mooring
warden, although those without licences call him other names!

Leaving Boxmoor lock.

The skies looked a bit stormy but were moving quite fast so I was still hoping to dodge the showers.

The next two locks came and went with a hitch and then I arrived at the Winkwell swing bridge which is electrically operated.

Having tied up I walked up to the bridge and paused to let a lady and her two small children cross before opening it, the lady asked her children if they wanted to watch me so they stood nearby, while it was opening I asked the little girl, who was about four if she would like to close the bridge once I had gone through, she excitedly said yes, so I showed her which button to press after I had cleared the bridge, she performed like an expert and was very happy at having controlled the bridge on her own! While I was preparing to set off again I realised I should have got a picture and hadn’t so I snapped this on zoom quickly as they walked away, hence a bit blurry.

On through the next lock (60) and just after I had taken the next picture of the residential boats moored in the pound there was a brief shower of rain, but brolly up and it stopped before I reached lock 59.

I think this canal side patio area was incomplete when I last came through but it looks nice now, a bit of a walk to and from the house with a gin and tonic though J

Approaching bridge 145 and a boat came through so I slowed to give him time, he told me another was following so I held station, when the second boat appeared I recognised it from a Facebook post and told him so as he passed, everyone likes to know people read their posts.

Lock 58 had a gate open so I was able to go straight in but having worked the lock and moved out  as I closed the left gate the right swung open, so I pushed the boat across and closed that one only for the left to swing open again, I pushed back to the nearside and was attempting to close that when a boat came around the bend, so I re-opened it and then another boat followed, I could have left both gates open if my timing had been better !

The pound between lock 58 & 57 was low again, it was last time I came through, I got the bow in ok and walked along the gunnel to get ashore, then having opening the lock gate I had to reverse off before I was able to clear the bank.

Having gone in and filled the lock I was just moving out of it when the heavens opened, I banged into reverse and held the boat between the gates with my brolly up.

The dark corner is my brolly.

It was about 5 minutes before it let up and I headed off to the last lock (56) before looking to find my mooring, I had a place in mind just before the Old Mill Pub which has a water point near it, I will be able to fill when I leave here, also I am just about walking distance to Berkhamsted, I did not want to moor there again.

I passed this boat again, regular readers might recognise it as I have posted pictures of the various changes from a boat with an old car dumped on the stern to what is now looking a bit more finished, but why I will never understand! Curious, I wonder if he steers with the car steering wheel, he's certainly putting a lot of effort into it.

Current Mooring:

Totals today: 4 miles : 9 locks : 1 moveable bridge (child assisted).

Rainy day..........

..... so more D.I.Y.

Today should have been moving day for me but the forecast was not good, overcast and frequent showers, I gave it until 9am to see if it was wrong but it wasn’t, cold and damp weather is not appealing when you are not in a hurry to be anywhere, so I stayed put and decided to do another of the little jobs off my extensive list.

The windows on the boat are single glazed with a simple opening section at the top, the seal around the opening section is just a flat rubber strip and does not seal effectively, there are two drain holes along the bottom edge of the frame to allow drainage of any condensation to outside the boat, the resulting draughts in winter are quite noticeable. 

For the last two years I have used ‘seasonal’ secondary glazing, basically shrink applied clingfilm, the first year it was very effective, the second year the seal diminished due to the residue adhesive left on the frame from the first year. It has two setbacks, once it’s on it has to stay on for the duration of the winter, secondly it looks a bit tatty especially after a couple of months. So having finished the bedroom works I was now able to hopefully improve the situation by fitting removable secondary glazing.

I had purchased 2 sheets 1200x600x2mm clear acrylic from Wickes, I had also obtained 12mm wide self adhesive magnetic tape through Amazon, remembering to get the correct pole type for attraction (two different rolls A & B). I was ready to give it a go.

First job, take down blind and clean window and frame.

Second, fix type A magnetic tape around architrave.

Third, cut panel to size with craft knife (carefully), clean off sharp edges and then fit type B strip onto the already fixed type A. Align panel and press home.

You can't really see the acrylic sheet, that's a good thing!

Refix blind, job done. Repeat on second window.

The panels will be stored below the bed in summer (if we get one) and are simple to fit/unfit, just hold them in position and the magnets do the work, they should eliminate the draughts, help with heat retention and also reduce noise, also they can be removed and refitted easily if the weather changes.

At £30 for each window I hope they will be well worth it, although the clingfilm jobby worked out at only about £1 per window each year it was a bit of a faff to fit and remove each winter. I cannot do the salon windows until I have replaced the distorted architraves, and as yet I don’t know what I am doing about that.

I’m hoping to move on tomorrow weather permitting.

Don't you just hate it when you make a cup of tea only to find the milk is sour and you have to start again!

Misty Sunday start.....

......rain and sun to follow.

Yesterday I woke at 5:30 which seems to be normal this time of year, I guess it’s sunrise and birdsong, I don’t mind, it’s a lovely time of day to take a cuppa on deck and listen to the silence.

5:45am

About 8:30

It rained a little but by 8am it had stopped and by 9am the sun was attempting to show through the clouds, I put my washing out.

Three male dog walkers passed by, at intervals, separately, with the usual ‘good morning’ then the first lady dog walker came by, her greeting, ‘oooh I like your washing line’ it’s a female thing!

New 'whirligig' held on tiller bar by a 'brolly mate' works a treat.

In the afternoon I spied this crafty devil on the other side of the canal skulking in the undergrowth and the reflection in the still water  had me reaching for the camera.

I watched him for a while, he didn’t catch any fish.

Today got off to a very overcast drizzly start, I was almost tempted to stay put but decided around 9:30 to head off, the first lock of the day had a gate open so that was ok.

North Grove lock (71)

They are still working on the underside of the M25 bridge, big job I guess, huge bridge spans the valley.

As I left Home Park Mill lock (70) I thought what a pleasant little spot for a permanent mooring, with the overhanging trees even the office block tucked among them wouldn’t spoil it for me.

At Kings Langley lock I could see a small group of people working the lock to come down, I wandered up and found it was a trip boat full of women, there were three male crew lockside showing two of ladies how to operate the gate paddles etc, it was slow going J they did not need me interfering so I wandered back to my boat and waited, eventually full of excitement they appeared as they left the lock laughing, take picture and videos.

The whole development between locks 68 and 69 now looks complete and occupied, I have witnessed the changes over the last two+ years from building site to new homes.

There are visitor moorings at Apsley before lock 67 but it is too busy an area for me, so I knew I was going up through the lock, there are also visitor moorings between locks 67 and 66 which I have always thought look quite pleasant although every time I have passed through here they have been full, but as I was working through 67 today I looked ahead and right on the slow bend I could see a nice gap plenty big enough for me with lovely pilings to moor up against, ‘oooh good’ thinks I, ‘that’ll do me’, so having gone up through the lock and closed the top gate I move off just in time to see a bow appear around the bend and watch them steal MY mooring..... its that timing thing again!

Oh well nothing for it but to head up the next lock as well. No moorings in the next pound either so up lock 65 as well and finally found a spot which is actually more convenient for Wickes (I need a few more bits) and Dunelm (another look in there tomorrow, trying to find 3 new cushions! ) but a bit more of a schlep back to Sainsbury, but it does make a change from mooring in the same spot each time I pass through J

So here I am wide beam behind, wide beam ahead.

Current Mooring:

 An enjoyable, if slightly windy and damp, cruise.

Totals today: 4 miles : 8 locks

Bad timing.....

.......and good timing.

I’d looked at the weather forecast and it was difficult to decide what time to leave to try and avoid the rain showers, in the end I opted for an early start so I put a load of washing on in the machine and cast off around 8:15, I had a destination in mind.

First passing the linear residential moorings on the offside before Bridgewater Boats.

And then into Cassiobury Bridge lock (78) the first of the day, some of my pictures today are a bit blurry, not sure why but maybe I rushed them.

The lock was in my favour so I was soon exiting and passing through Cassiobury Park again.

Leaving the lock and heading for Cassiobury Park.

A couple of interesting boats along this stretch.

Nice.

What a great name!

And then into the next lock (77) which was against me so I had to turn it, but no rush, the showers were nowhere in sight and it was pleasant cruising.

Leaving  Iron Bridge lock (77), at 9’ 4” deep this one was the deepest today.

The two Cassiobury Park locks were next and both bottom gates were open on the first one, as this one has to be left empty it wasn’t an issue and two walkers kindly waited for me to go into the lock before closing the gates for me, very nice, I had a quick chat with the lady who told me she was jealous, she’d been down the Kennet and Avon last year and loved it, I probably passed her somewhere! As this lock has to be left empty it means walking back to raise a paddle when you leave going uphill as I now am.

The second lock was against me with both top gates open, so I had a mental moan about lazy wide beams but having gone through and closed the left gate the right gate opened, so I pushed the boat across and closed that one as well, then when I looked back having gone about 50 feet they were both open again, note to self, don’t always blame lazy boaters, some gates refuse to stay shut!

The next section of canal is lovely, it turns sharp left passing Grove Mill then right through the beautiful bridge (164) that gives access to the manor building then passing the golf course with The Grove, an 18^th century mansion, in the distance,  another sharp left just through a turnover bridge to arrive at the next lock, I do enjoy it each time I pass by.

Sharp left turn behind me now

Grove Mill now converted to flats.

and a lovely house

Bridge 164

Golf course, the mansion is hidden from view up on the hill.

Then after the Lady Capel’s lock comes this....what a shame we build these bridges today, will anyone look back at these with admiration? I suppose its necessary to carry the volume of traffic.

Bridge 162c with the  M25 above.

At the first of the two Hunton Bridge locks a chap was fishing, not a problem where he was stood, he was pulling out a fish every two minutes but they were tiny, not worth the effort, but he diligently placed them all in his keep net, the lock was in my favour with a bottom gate open so I was straight in, he never acknowledged me at all.

At the second of the two locks (72) there are cottages on each side, the actual lock keepers cottage and a new “Lock Cottage”.

And this is where the post title comes in, I wanted to moor about ½ mile past the lock but as I was working through the lock the rain came, a fairly heavy continuous shower, out came the brolly, I cruised very slowly hoping it would stop before I had to moor up, but no, it stopped just as I finished mooring! Bad timing, then the good timing, I had just switched off the engine and was about to text Pete from fuel boat Hyperion, who I knew was passing through today, when he came around the bend, good timing! So I took 30ltrs of diesel and said goodbye to him for this year, probably.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 4.5 miles : 7 locks

I wanted to moor here (where it is quiet) to test out my new whirligig clothes line which I bought on my Surrey visit along with a ‘Brolly Mate’ which connects to the tiller to hold either a brolly, whirligig or a Parasol type sunshade, but it’s been too showery, so inside drying of washing again.

And the young lad turned up and collected his iPhone, he was very grateful.