Another little move.

Not much has been happening while I have been hanging around Rickmansworth, Every morning since Monday I have intended to move and then could not be bothered, lazy days.

I did a number of trips to Tesco and topped up with non perishables spreading that over 3 or 4 days and yesterday did a final one to top up with the perishable stuff which in this weather is mostly salad. I also did a walk back to the service point and emptied the cassette and rubbish, there is a recycling facility here so I was able to get rid of a large amount I had collected.

Boats came and went from around me and last night I was reading up on a couple of the blogs I follow and found one of the bloggers would be passing me, but reading further not only had they already passed but they almost moored behind me brested to another boat , then while deciding about that the boat in front of me moved off so they nearly moored in front of me, but they finally opted to moor outside Tesco on the short stay moorings, there was a picture on the blog of discussions ensuing and Quinquireme can just be seen between the two boats, I think I was having a nap at the time, small world.

Not my Picture, you can see my TV Ariel and just make out Quinquireme between the two men.

Anyway fully stocked I set off this morning about 10:15 for the short trip I had planned, it’s a busy area with moored boats for almost the whole trip so I quite happily pootled along to the first lock meeting just one boat who had timed it wrong, he did not arrive at the bridge hole at the same time as me which is the norm J close but no cigar!

Stockers lock (82) was half full ( I can be an optimist ) as he had just come up through it, so I only had to top it up before entering.

This is unusual, it’s not plastic but a real heron taking the sunshine and not bothered by me at all, you do see a lot of plastic ones in gardens and some on boats but I have never seen a real one on a hot metal roof before.

Approaching Springwell lock (83) I passed a widebeam and on reaching the lock could see he had left both top gates open, lazy sod, although it helped me on this occasion it does not help with water conservation and it annoys me that so many boaters just can’t be bothered to do the right thing, mini rant over.

Open Gates ahead meant straight in for me.

At the next lock Copper Mill lock a boat had just left but he shouted to me that a pair behind him had already started to turn the lock, so my timing was a bit out, anyway on reaching it the two boats were just entering and were fully crewed so I just stood and chatted while the teenagers did the work, then after they left and I went in another boat appeared coming up so the lady from that assisted me through, all in all the lock Gods today were kind to me.

Timing is everything sometimes, I wanted to moor just after the Coy Carp pub, I had never stopped there before but thought it would do me for a few days, there was a nice two boat gap and as I moved to the bank I could see a rope loop that would be handy for my stern mooring line, so having pulled up tight to the bank I utilized that then walking forward I found someone had left a mooring pin in the ground exactly where I needed it for my bow, the mooring Gods were looking after me as well, so not only did I moor up easily where I wanted to be but I have also gained yet another mooring pin, I’ll have to start selling all these bits I keep finding!

Half an hour later the mooring ahead of me was full and so were all the other gaps that were available when I arrived, in the summer it's no good hoping to get your preferred mooring after midday at the busy spots. 

Current mooring:

Totals today: 3 miles : 3 locks

TV Ariel is up, Wimbledon tennis maybe, F1 highlights, definitely.