......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:
Totals today: 4 miles : 8 locks
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