The descent begins.

Having passed along Tring summit it was now time to begin the descending locks which continue until I reach Cosgrove when I will start ascending again, so it’s all downhill for now.

The Marsworth flight consists of 9 locks, 7 in quick succession followed by a further 2 taking me down 56’ 7” in total, the weather forecast was for wind and rain later in the day so my plan was to get an early start and moor up before lunchtime. Casting off at 8:10 I headed for lock 45 the first of the flight and walking up to the lock my plans were immediately thwarted by a sign on the lock telling me to wait for the operatives return as they were letting water down the flight, they have to do this if water levels have dropped in any of the pounds further down, so I waited, it was about 20 minutes before in the distance I saw the chap who gave me a thumbs up to tell me I could work the first lock, so off I went.

In lock 44, 45 is by the building in the distance.

and 43 is just ahead, the pounds between are all short.

Another one done.

 And so it continued until I reached lock 42 where a wide beam was coming up, I assisted and watched as he bought the boat into the lock and ripped a fender off on the lock gate, a crewman managed to recover it and threw it onto the roof whereon it rolled off and disappeared into the swirling water, it was nowhere to be seen but I said it may re-float when I go through and let the water out, so the chap waited behind and watched out for it, it never reappeared, I did offer the advice that fenders were for mooring and should be raised when cruising but whether they heeded that I won’t know, they were boating for the first time on a friends borrowed boat, so they would not have known.

At the lock 40 I met a hire boat coming up, the lock was in my favour so I proceeded through with some assistance from two young lady crew, as I left I turned round to capture them going in to the lock.

Not sure if he made that without some gate contact.

At the last of the 7 locks I was working through when a group of budding lady artists appeared, one of them shouted something but I couldn’t hear so I walked along to see what she wanted, she laughingly said that I made an interesting subject winding the paddle gear, would I mind holding the pose while they drew me, I also laughingly declined but when I went to drop the paddles I noticed one of them was taking a picture so I posed properly with one hand on the windlass and the other on my hip, they all had a good laugh.

Lock Seven-of-Nine (just for fans of Star Trek Voyager)

Bluebells Tearooms have had a facelift.

And that is 7 done.

A bit of a respite as you head for the next lock passing the entrance to the Aylesbury arm.

Aylesbury Arm left, GU mainline ahead (rightish)

And then passing the service point with one boat just leaving and ‘Perfect Harmony’ waiting to move forward to the water point.

There were two of these moored together, the first one is for sale, a Barge Luxe Motor style 19.95metres long and £185,000 a lovely boat, they both were, almost identical.

For sale: Apollo Duck ref 376705 if you want it!

Not for sale.

There are lots of moored boats around Marsworth which I understand has a lovely pub, I think it was the Red Lion but I have only read about it, not been a customer.

Some of the views are lovely too.

The wind was getting up now and at the next lock it was very open and I had a bit of a task to get the boat to the side, but eventually I managed and after turning the lock I spotted a boat coming along so I waved him to go in first while I walked back to mine. It was Perfect Harmony, they obviously did not need much water as they had caught me up, we shared the last two locks and at the swing bridge I let them operate it and go through first as I wanted to moor up, it was just on 12 o’clock and the rain had begun to fall lightly, it got heavier as the afternoon passed and the wind built as well, I was happy to be moored.

Current Mooring:

Totals yesterday: 3 miles : 9 Locks : 1 moveable bridge

Today has been very windy, not a cruising day for me but a few about, around midday a holiday boat moored in space behind the boat behind me and then one moored in the space in front of me, I surmised they had decided the wind was too strong but they both moved off about 3:15 so perhaps it was just a long lunch, rather them than me, it’s still very windy, but they possibly have to be back at Leighton Buzzard hire base tomorrow.