All quiet here at Berkhamstead.

Not much to update about really, the canal has remained frozen since my last post.

Early morning with swans in a huddle, smoking chimneys

Saturday night was very cold and Sunday lunchtime one boater braved the conditions and ploughed through revealing that the ice was about an inch (25mm) thick, I never thought to take a snap, stupid man (me not the boater).

It has warmed a bit since then and today we have some sunshine so I am hoping for a bit of a thaw that might enable me to feel comfortable enough to head further North maybe tomorrow or Thursday.

Meanwhile the birdlife has been ice skating about, food is fairly plentiful for them here as it is quite a popular place for parents to bring the kiddies along and throw bread out for them.

A flock of seagulls getting breakfast

Yesterday I opened the side hatch and joined in feeding the ducks, I soon attracted quite a crowd.

I had just run out of bread so they are off to look for some elsewhere!

Still quite happy although a bit bored, the stove is doing its job so I’m snug inside, about 100 TV channels but apart from the daily ‘Trump’ updates nothing much worth watching so the Kindle has taken a bashing along with the CD player, no decent radio signal unfortunately.

Time for a spot of lunch and a cuppa I think.

Icy mornings but more progress.....

......only on the project, not along the canal.

On Monday afternoon I went along to Screwfix which is only about a 15minute walk away and collected the bits and pieces I needed.

On Tuesday I began work, I had decided to utilise the void where the washing machine had come from by making up a drawer unit to fit into it and re-using the drawers that were formally in the galley, it’s all about recycling J

This is the void I had to work in.

Having made a skeleton unit and fitted the drawers into it on soft close runners I then dismantled it all and rebuilt it in-situ as I could not get it into position as a complete item.

It was then a case of making up a frontage to reduce the opening to the correct size and fitting that along with a shelf above it, refitting the skirting board and other cover fillet alongside the basin.

I also formed a small tiled splash-back around the basin.

The end result looks like this.

Quite pleasing I think.

I don’t like cups and screws particularly but I have used them rather than pellets so that things are easier to de-mount should the need arise, very likely on a boat!

I still have to sort out some finishing’s, varnish and cover fillets on the ceiling but that can wait until I regain my enthusiasm!

The canal has been frozen for the last 3 mornings and I am not tempted to move on yet, I also have a personal matter to attend to, the timing of which will affect my plans and as yet is unknown.

So with Waitrose almost alongside my boat and the town within 2 minutes I am happy to remain for possibly the full 14days if necessary. I have all I need for now.

Wide beam, Fisherman and Weather.

Yesterday the forecast was for sunny periods with the odd shower, in order to finish the work in the shower room I needed some bits from Screwfix, so I decided that now might be the time to move again.

I was going through my start routine which is in winter as follows:
Make a flask of coffee and some snack to take on deck:
Check I am carrying wallet (this contains spare keys) sharp lock knife (if ropes get snagged or a finger gets trapped this will be needed to cut rope) and keys.
Take down TV ariel (if up) and store.
Put on stern deck guide book (in waterproof sleeve), windlass, windlass belt, tiller & pin, boat hook and rain gear.
Start engine, build up fire and shut vents, put anything that may need charging (phone, laptop, tablet, mobile wi-fi, kindle, mp3 player etc) on charge.
Check all is secure below deck.
Put tiller on, check for approaching boats, raise fenders, untie and cast off!

It's quite a lot to remember as I'm solo, if a couple travelling forget anything the non steerer can nip off and do it, anyway I'd got half way through when a wide beam approached heading the way I was going, so that meant a wait, no lock sharing with that, so I gave him half an hour head start then headed off.

It was cold but not unpleasant, thermal socks, good boots, hat, snood and warm coat (or two) see to that, I do have thermal long johns somewhere but at the moment they are absent without leave, somewhere, so the legs can get chilly, must search them out sometime.

Boxmoor lock (64) was just ahead and I was soon through that and away proper with a reasonable distance to settle in before the next lock.

Fishery lock (63) came next with the Fishery Inn just before and the road bridge it looked quite pleasant.

While I was in the lock a lady passing by asked if I was solo and offered to shut the gate for me as I left, very nice thanks, I offloaded a bag of rubbish in the nearby bin and then realised this was another lock that had to be left empty, so I explained to  the lady that I would have to stop anyway and thanked her as she went on her way, some people are so nice.

Boxmoor Top lock (62) was next, look at this chap.

Dead centre of the lock landing, the three white bollards are what we tie up to whilst working the lock, two rods out and he's tucked in behind a bush with no view of what's approaching him, I gave him a quick blast of the horn and he leapt into action reeling his lines in just in time, he was actually quite ok when I spoke to him but as always, Why there? He said he was about to head further up and see if it was better fishing there, more on that later.

While I was moving through that lock I could see the earlier wide beam going through Winkwell swing bridge ahead, I was catching him already :-(

The swingbridge is electric and it means stopping the road traffic, I let a few through before pressing the appropriate button.

It's another popular spot for walkers this area and a lady with a mobile phone filmed the action from start to finish as I negotiated the bridge.

The Three Horse Shoes pub is alongside the swing bridge, in 2015 I had a
 Sunday lunchtime pint and not one boat came through for me to gongoozle at.

At the next lock I caught the wide beam, he was just waiting for it to fill as I arrived, so I assisted and closed the top gates for him as he left.

It started to rain....mmmmm.....
At the next lock I caught him again.

It started to snow.... I put on my wet gear took this quick snap and put the camera away.

Large wet dollopy snowflakes, unpleasant.

The wide beam had a bit of luck with a narrow boat just leaving each of the next two locks as he approached so he got away from me, I was glad about that, less work for me.

As I approached Bottom side lock (57) the same fisherman was there, on the lock landing again, but he was just packing up.
I went and set the lock and as I returned to my boat he asked me for assistance, he had managed to get his coat hood hooked with one of those multipronged fishing hooks, his rucksack was between the line and rod so he was in a bit of a pickle :-) my fingers were frozen and it took about 5 minutes and a pair of pliers to release him, ripping a fairly big hole in his hood, but he was glad to be free.

The weather like me was undecided, to stop or not, every time it got worse and I thought about stopping it then eased off again, so eventually I made it to Berkhamstead, I stopped for water and then moored up. As is normal, the sun came out briefly.

Current mooring:

Totals this post: 5 miles; 12 locks : 1 movable bridge

Today I was going to go to Screwfix but the items are out of stock, luckily with Screwfix (a decent company) this is not a problem as they will get them by tomorrow midday, so I will be here a while I think while I finally attempt to finish the shower room.

It's been raining all day!

Frustrating.....

.......but sorted eventually.

On Tuesday I set off around 10am for the fairly short cruise to Hemel Hempstead where I hoped to purchase a new basin for the shower room.

As you may have gathered I like to look at other boats while passing, the names, and anything interesting like top boxes or ladders or just the way they lay out their ropes, I guess we all do it but it's not polite to stare into the windows :-) anyway this name amused.

 The weather was ok as I passed beneath this imposing railway bridge and headed for Apsley

When I passed this way early in 2015 this was just a building site

The builders are still working on the section just out of shot, but the majority is finished and looked fully occupied.

Here's another, a bit blurry, sorry

Arriving at Apsley you pass beneath a fairly narrow bridge before the canal opens out to give a quite pleasant view of the waterway.

I moved through the first Apsley lock (66) and stopped on the service point to get rid of some rubbish and do a water fill before moving to my last lock of the day.

2nd Apsley lock (65)

While I was on the landing I took a snap of the stern of the wide beam that you can see in the picture above, I liked the chains and skulls etc, must be a pirate aboard.....arrrrrrr.

Skull and crossbones flag and small skulls hanging of the chain.

As is to be expected the wind that had been forecast began just as I was locking through, and of course this lock needed to be left empty due to leakage, so it necessitated walking back to open the bottom paddles, I had to tie my stern to stop the boat disappearing, but the wind still managed to blow me across the canal at a 45degree angle by the time I'd returned, no real problem though just a bit more work!

I'm  moored up where I was on the downward leg, just before lock 64, it's handy for the town and my plans.

Totals this post: 2.5 miles : 5 locks

Project update.

The frustration referred to was my inability to purchase my choice of basin NOW, when a website says 'in stock' I for some reason expect it to be 'in stock' at the store, sadly this is not the case sometimes and actually it means 'in stock, somewhere, possibly in this country, but not definitely, and definitely not in stock in the store' , I should have been able to work that out but I am a failure :-(

I eventually sourced one, paying more ££'s than I wanted to, but hey it's only money right.
A bit of a struggle later and this is where I am with it now.

Before,.... oooohhh that's exciting !!

Can you see what I did? yep I put the laundry basket in view :-)

I manufactured the base, oh how posh, I always used to make things, now I manufacture them, from recycled bits, again from the bedroom. Still more to do, the area to the left is the next bit but I haven't worked out what exactly I am doing there.

And for anyone interested this is what lurks behind the door

Being a boat, a 12volt pump discharges the waste water
and takes up a fair amount of room, it was all a bit tight.

I don't know why, but whenever I fit a sink or a basin I always seem to get a leak on the actual waste fitting, this was no different, frustrating as there is little room inside or outside the unit, but I cured it in the end, but the resut is my poor old weak back is complaining, a rest day tomorrow methinks.

Finally..........

.....a long cruising day.

Thursday my delivery of coal, gas and diesel arrived via the fuel boat Hyperion, it was very frosty and quite treacherous for them walking about on their boats but they are used to it.

Phil and his lady arriving after using a brief stop at Tesco

I always try to use these boats as they offer a good service in all weathers some of them even do delivery's by van if the canal is frozen in. There is often a bonus in the price as well, Harefield Marina where I topped up with 4 bags of Excel smokeless was £12.50 a bag, Phil was £10.75, quite a difference on this occasion. I took 7 bags of Excel, a bottle of gas and topped up the diesel tank with just 20 ltrs.

Friday I intended to move until I looked out of the window, the canal was iced over, not thick but enough to make the decision to stay easy.

This morning was warmer, I was ready to set off at 8:30 with the first stop being Batchworth services to fill with water and empty rubbish and cassette.

On the service point, lock 81 Batchworth ahead, the left hand lock is only
used to gain access to some residential moorings and is locked up.

'Pride of Batchworth' trip boat

After doing the necessary and moving through the lock you have about a mile of permit holder moorings to pass, tickover gets a thumbs up from most, whilst if you went faster a glare or possibly a few words, I get the thumbs up from those at their windows or on deck, no need to rush.

Smoke adding to the mist.

Some nice ones to warrant a picture

I've passed this boat a few times and may have posted a picture before but I think he's had some work done, it's quite neatly welded now to look more like and integral part of the boat.

Unusual and begs the question why? must make getting on and off difficult.

At Common Moor lock (79) there was a boat moored on the landing, just room beyond him but it makes it a tad more difficult and I don't see the need to do it,

Locks came and went and I managed to get a picture of 'The Grove' the 18th century mansion on the hillside between lock 75 and 74, I missed it on the way down, it is not easy to photograph because of the trees but this is it.

This name made me smile.

 

It was very quiet, I had only passed one wide beam all morning.

This cottage was i think at Lady Capel's Lock (74)

Having not seen many boats on the move I was surprised at the second of the two Hunton Bridge locks when a brested pair appeared followed closely by two singles, just like red buses.

I carried on at a steady pace and arrived at Kings Langley around 3:30pm and moored up for a couple of days. There is a launderette here and a motor spares where I can hopefully get my oil Monday, it was a good long day, tiring but very enjoyable.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 7.5 miles : 13 locks

Still here at Rickmansworth........

...... but some progress to the project.

Having failed to do the engine service due to my stupidity and lack of memory, thinking I had oil when I didn't, I decided to use Mr Google to locate a stockist for the oil I normally use, there is nowhere locally within walking or cycling distance, so I walked to the nearest service station which is just up the road and asked if they could get me some, "yes I can have it here within 2 hours", "oooh lovely, how much?" (I'm not sure I actually said 'oooh lovely' but it makes it sound less abrupt!), the response after a phone call to her supplier was "£35.65"........not so good, I normally pay between £16 and £20, so no order was placed!

I decided I was feeling well enough to do the tiling so in between a few trips to town and other little chores this is the end result which was achieved this morning.

I'm not happy with the discoloration from where the WC unit was previously tucked behind the bath and which now shows up even more with the white tiling but I am not prepared to buy a whole new unit because of it, I did replace the seat and cover when I bought the boat.

Yesterday I contacted Phil on the fuel boat Hyperion who covers this section of the Grand Union to see where he was and he is passing through here tomorrow so I have asked him to stop for me and that means I probably won't move until Friday, unless he arrives early morning.

Happy New Year.....

.....well for me it’s started with a cold so hopefully it can only get better.

Friday was a bit of a pea souper, the view of the lock had disappeared into the mist.

My view on arrival

My view on departure

As I was so close to the lock I walked up and set it before casting off, returning to the boat I saw another approaching and for a moment I thought they would pass me and go straight into the lock first, but they turned into Denham Marina for fuel. I moved off and into the lock and just as I was closing my gate I heard a ‘toot’, looking under the bridge I saw they were now approaching, the Marina was closed, so I opened the other gate for them.

We shared the next  three locks with them opening up and me closing after, the tunnel light needed to be on, to warn approaching boats, as the fog was thick and although they weren’t far ahead I could not see them.

My locking partners just ahead, somewhere.

There were some nice properties but most were shrouded in fog, this one wasn't bad.

At Copper Mill Lock we parted company as I wanted to fill the water tank.

I then continued alone and reaching Rickmansworth I took a chance there would be a mooring close to the town knowing that I could wind (turn around) if there wasn’t, luck was with me and I got the last free space opposite Tesco.

Current Mooring

Totals Friday: 6.5 miles : 7 locks

I did a quick shop for milk and bread before showering and settling down to read, there is no TV or radio signal where I am which is curious because there was when I was moored 100yards further along, something must be blocking my aerials view of the transmitter.

New Years Eve I woke feeling a bit rough due to the cold but I made a start on the shower room floor, stripping out doors, cassette WC and partition first, it was slow going, I was not in the mood but by 5pm I had finished most of it and got the bits put back in place.

I celebrated New Years with a medicinal brandy and went to bed around 10:45, fireworks briefly woke me just after midnight but I soon dropped off again.

This morning I was going to do the 1000hour service on the engine, having sorted everything ready I discovered I have no Oil, doh! I could have sworn I had 5ltrs but if I have I can’t find it now. So instead I finished the floor putting the threshold strips across the doorways, I’m not in the mood for tiling, the next job, behind the WC so will see how I feel tomorrow, I then need to source a small vanity unit or basin, I did say it was a big project :-)

Happy New Year all.