A short run......

.....to meet up.

Yesterday I left my mooring around 9:30 and headed for the service point just before bridge 114 to empty the cassette and top up the water tank, I had already disposed of the household waste on foot as the bins were nearer my mooring, being separate from the actual service point.

Bricklayers watched with indifference while I did my chores

A fairly quick stop as the water tank was already fairly full before I set off again.

A long line of permit holder long term moorings to pass meant slow progress, the gap in the picture with the visible white bollards is the two hour shop stop outside Tesco.

At the end of the permit holders mooring is Wyvern Shipping’s site, chock a block with boats being prepared for the forthcoming season.

Not the place to meet a wide beam and luckily it was all clear.

Leighton lock (27) was next, 6’8” deep and a kindly old fella opened the gate for me as I approached.

It took a bit of effort on his part and I did actually tie up to assist him but he managed to shift it just as I reached him!

It was then just a steady cruise passing The Globe Inn pub, which like so many this time of year had room for plenty of boats, it’s a different story mid summer, this was where I took delivery of my new fridge previously.

A very pleasant little run, if a bit chilly, not another boat moving anywhere to be seen.

I was soon rounding a bend to spot N.b. Lizzie Jane and a convenient gap on the 2 day moorings between her and a wide beam, so I tucked myself in there. This time of year the mooring rules are relaxed and moorings all become 14 day unless specifically signed to say they are not i.e 2 Days All Year Round.

Lizzie Jane behind me

Totals : 4 miles : 1 Lock

After a chat and a coffee with Karl aboard Quinquireme we decided that we would stay put until Friday and later in the afternoon we took ourselves off to the Three Locks pub, just ahead, for a drink and a bite to eat while we caught up and pondered the state of everything for a few hours J

Today I busied myself with a few little chores and then relaxed the afternoon away while Karl made use of his bus pass with a trip back to Leighton Buzzard.

Stoppage cleared.....

..... and a move.

It snowed Friday, not heavily but not pleasant, it also snowed Saturday in the same fashion, the arranged meeting with Juels Fuel boat took place during the morning, not nice weather for them and the comment from Richard, Juels partner, was "not cruising weather, better to be in front of the stove with a glass of wine and a book", after taking 8 bags of smokeless, a bottle of gas and 40 ltrs of diesel I took his advice! I'm hoping that will be the last of the coal I need but who knows, last year I ran really low too early, I won't let that happen this year. Sunday was again sleety unpleasant weather but I managed a walk to the store for milk and bread.

Monday morning was windy, I had already decided to move on and my 14day stay was at an end so the decision was made, just as I was about to cast off I saw the swing bridge behind me opening, that's handy I thought, hoping it wasn't a wide beam boat, my luck was in though and it was a 'narrer'.
I held station and shouted could I share as they passed and they were happy for me to do that.

At the lock (36) wifey went to set it as it was against us while hubby held their boat on the landing, I hovered mid channel for a while, but it was very blustery and I let the wind blow the bow round 45 degrees to settle on the bank behind him, it was a bit of a struggle to hold position but once the lock was ready I reversed out and went into the lock, we recognised each other whilst chatting at the lock but couldn't think where we had met before, it later came back to me that we had just passed each other at a lock just a few weeks ago, we were going in opposite directions then.

Sharing locks is always a bit hit and miss, sometimes things click with both of you immediately and other times it takes a while to settle into a routine, at this first lock I think a bit of mis-communication meant it wasn't very efficient, at the second lock I opened up and hubby took control of the closing, with his wife steering, she left the lock first and I followed through the same gate, much better.

I tried to get a picture of the new gates but the sun was bright.

Nice cottage alongside the lock.

I passed by her while she waited for hubby to close up and board, and I went ahead and set the next lock, by this time I think they had reached agreement on the best method and hubby steered while wifey closed up, me going out first and setting the locks ahead, this was the best method and the one I would have suggested, but I tend to let the 'couples' decide rather than try to impose my views, so from then on it was smooth.

The weather was actually lovely if you ignored the wind and even that didn't cause too many problems.

While chatting I told them I was stopping at the water point at Slapton, just before lock 30 and they said they were mooring just before the water point so that worked out well.
We parted company and said our cheerio's as I left Horton lock (31)

I filled with water and continued on 'solo' through the next two locks and at Grove Lock (28) a couple of boaters were chatting by the bottom gates, as I dealt with the lock I also joined in the conversation  and when the lock was empty they told me they would close up for me, that was the main reason I joined in :-)

Leaving Grove lock, they are still chatting!

I continued into Leighton Buzzard and moored up before the service point between bridge 115 and 114.

Sun still bright

A beautiful day really

Totals: 6 miles : 9 locks

Today has been busy with 'things', a trip to the launderette, another Wilko, Waitrose, Aldi, and Tesco three times ( I did not want to carry heavy bags), so now all stocked up and ready for a move tomorrow weather permitting, I am meeting with Karl again who is not far ahead of me.

It took ages to open my Valentines cards and gifts, but not everything I say is true.

If you try to fail at something but succeed, have you really succeeded or failed?, oh dear I must get out more :-)

No boat movement.

On Sunday I went back to Surrey, my thanks once again to my sister and her partner who not only housed me but also collected me and returned me to the boat along with chauffeuring me to the funeral I was down South for, it wasn't a nice reason for the trip, but it was nice to catch up with some of the extended family whilst there.

Yesterday I walked along the towpath to see how the works to the lock closure were coming along, they seem to be on target for opening possibly tomorrow but definately Saturday, I asked one of the operatives and he confirmed that.

A few snaps of what it looks like at the moment, it's difficult to get too close, health and safety etc, but here's what I could see.

This is the temporary dam across the canal, I would like to see how they get that in place but no doubt it is easier than it might appear.

The closure was for lock gate replacements and brickwork repairs, the top gates have been replaced you can see that in this picture

And the old gates are loaded ready to be removed from site by workboat, just visible in this picture

The brickwork repairs are still ongoing on the left here behind the dam.

And this shows how they hold back the water while working on the lock, sometimes they would drain the pound between two locks, but in this particular situation there are quite a number of residential boats moored in that pound so I assume the dam was a better option.

It looks fairly Heath Robinson but is effective, heavy duty sheeting over a series of triangular metal frames, that can be raised or lowered up the supporting poles.

This morning the workboat with the old gates on board passed me by, so it may be open already but having been in contact with Jules Fuels I will be staying put until they arrive here on Saturday to take on coal gas and diesel, probably moving now Sunday or Monday.

It was all going so well......

.....and then it went Pete Tong.

My overnight at Marsworth was ok, the chap with the smelly noisy engine switched off about 7pm. and I had a TV signal so I watched a film at 9pm. but I had decided to move on today, it wasn’t worth staying there and I wanted to be at Leighton Buzzard by Thursday or Friday latest.

When I looked out this morning it was very windy with intermittent rain showers and I um’d and ah’d for about an hour before deciding to press on.

The last of the Marsworth locks (38&37) were quite exposed and I wondered if I had made the correct decision whilst struggling to get the boat away from the bank at the first one.

One of the two Marsworth locks, not sure which one! 

Once through them the wind dropped a bit as it was slightly less open.

Passing Dunstable and District Boat club I was already thinking ahead to the swing bridge which I knew was just after the next railway bridge.

I soon reached the bridge just as a goods train was thundering over it.

And then onto the swingbridge, not an easy one for the single hander this one, moorings provided on the towpath side, great for crewed boats, but little room on the offside for single handers to get the bow in and climb off to operate the bridge. This is my third passing of this bridge and on the two previous occasions luck was with me and someone opened and closed it for me, and this time was the same J a passing dog walker shouted he would do it, deep joy, thanks passed to him and I was on my way to the next lock.

Leaving the dog walker to close the swing bridge

Lock 36, was no problem, I was soon through that one as well.

Lock 36 ahead

Bottom gates lock 36 (I'll be back, read on !)

Approaching lock 35 there was a boat moored quite close to the landing but not on it so plenty of room to get the boat in and tied up, then stroll up to the lock.

And then this Pete Tong fella arrived, I looked at the left ground paddle and it was padlocked shut, blast, I looked then at the right paddle, also padlocked, eh? I looked at the gates, yes them as well, padlocked shut!

Returning to my boat I looked at the winter stoppages map and found to my dismay that I had forgotten the next lock along was closed from 23^rd January to 10^th February, so this one was closed to prevent a build up of boats and too much water being sent down to the lock under repair, damn it, stupid man!

When I planned the route down south for Christmas I was obviously interested in any stoppages that affected me and I made sure I was through them before the stoppage, I also noted the stoppages for the return but none were a real problem, that was until I had a specific date to get to Leighton Buzzard which only cropped up fairly recently, with the destination and date in mind I completely forgot to re-look at the stoppages.

So having looked on Google maps I decided the best thing to do was to reverse back up to and through the last lock and moor up between it and the swing bridge, giving me better access to Pitstone village for supplies, winding (turning) is not an option unless I reversed some considerable distance and that is not happening! So I reversed back, going backwards up through the lock was interesting and done with much care and observations as to what was happening, but it was actually uneventful, just a bit slower especially getting in to the lock backwards, all good fun really.

So here I am.

That's lock 36 again in the distance

Swingbridge again in the distance

And here I must stay until the 10^th unless they finish early! Luckily I have water, diesel, gas, coal, Wi-Fi, TV, radio (unusual) and I’ve been told a local shop 5 minutes away, but 10 days! what will I find to do, oh yes, relax and get a bit bored.

Totals today : 2.5 miles : 3 locks (plus 1 backwards) : 1 moveable bridge (assisted)

A proper move.

Sunday started miserably, rain and cold, a few boats came down through Dudswell lock breaking the ice that had again formed overnight but with the rain and lack of sleep due to my winged stinging visitor I decided to stay put.

This morning I woke at six to a different outlook completely, all the ice had melted away with the rain and the weather looked acceptable so having got everything ready I was casting off at 9am.

As I set the first lock and moved into it I could see a boat approaching from behind, but I wasn’t sure if it was one or two, he started to move towards the bank so I decided to go through the lock alone. As I was about to hop off and close the top gate after leaving the lock he appeared and waved me on, I asked him if he was alone and he said yes so I told him I’d wait at the next lock for him, then he said he was towing another boat so that sorted I carried on.

Just beyond the lock I passed Jules Fuels pair delivering smokeless to the moored boats.

They had seen me and left a bottom gate open for me at the next lock (47) so it was a good start.

At Cowroast lock I emptied the rubbish and cassette while the lock was filling, there was a boat on the water point and as I was about to leave the lock I could see they had finished filling their tank, good timing, I thought, they then proceeded to add attachments to their hose and commenced washing the boat, rather than get into an argument about it being not permissible to wash your boat while people need to fill up, I decided I’d find another water point further along.

Along Tring cutting which is the summit, the highest point on this canal, it was cold and dark, you travel through the very deep dark cutting for about a mile and it’s a relief to get out back into daylight with views.

Tring summit

 Approaching Bulbourne my guide told me there was a water point there, so I stopped and filled up.

Taking on water

Past all the moored boats at Bulbourne

And the past the junction to the Wendover Arm before the serious work starts, the descent down the first seven of the nine Marsworth locks, they come in quick succession with little time to take many pictures or chat for long, but I did meet a couple coming up and then a chap moving along with these two boats strapped together.

One of the more pleasant views of a Marsworth lock

I locked him through and continued on my journey down reaching the bottom lock (39) around 2pm.

Last lock today

I moored up on the visitor section just before the Aylesbury arm junction.

Tonights mooring:

Totals today: 4.5 miles : 10 locks

The boat behind me has just started his engine to charge his batteries, noisy smelly thing, I chose the wrong spot as it is empty in front, but not moving now. 

A rude awakening.

It's 2:45am, I'm contentedly sleeping, away with the fairies, dreaming of that lottery win that will change everything or something else more wonderful.
In my dream state something tickles my shoulder, I move my hand to scratch it and a sharp needle stab and a mini fire erupts.
I'm out of the bed in a flash and the light is switched on to reveal an equally sleepy wasp on the bedsheet.
A couple of expletives escape my lips as I head for the galley cabinet revenge on my mind, what purpose do these little sods serve, a quick blast of wasp killer does nothing to ease my throbbing shoulder but still satisfies me.
Not much chance of getting back to sleep now though, so it's kettle on and make a cuppa, I know I'll blog it,  funny what writing a blog does to your mental state :-)
Here's the result.

Night all.

On the move at last.....

.....but not for long.

The canal slowly thawed until Thursday night when it refroze but only lightly, I was optimistic for a move this morning, Friday the thaw began again and yes this morning it was all gone, I was ready to set off again.

The forecast was for rain showers so I donned my waterproof trousers in preparation and 9:30 saw me cast off, as I neared the first of the two Gas locks (51&52) there was a smattering of very thin ice still remaining, but absolutely no problem. It was raining very lightly.
At the second lock the shower passed and all was well with the world, I was very happy to be moving again

The locks were in my favour and no other boats were moving so I was happily minding my own business and enjoying the morning, but as I approached Northchurch lock the sky darkened and I thought I would be in for a soaking, happy that I'd put the waterproofs on in readiness.

But the rain never materialised, what did however came as a bit of a surprise although I guess it shouldn't have been really, I could see ice ahead again, well I thought ' won't be too bad and maybe just here.

Funny how wrong you can be. In a matter of a moments it was thick, throwing the boat from left to right and forcing me where I did not intend to go, I persevered for about a quarter mile but decided I did not want to proceed any further and once I reached a space in the moorings before the first of the Dudswell locks (47&48) I headed for the gap, it was now about an inch thick again and I struggled to get to the bank and then spent about 15 minutes breaking the trapped ice between bank and boat and moving it out of the way to allow me to get closer to the bank and tie up, what a palava, however I finally got moored successfully.

I walked along to the lock to look beyond it and see if it was this pound that was affected but it appears not, beyond the lock is also frozen over.
So it looks like I'm here for today and will try again tomorrow, a boat has just gone through in the opposite direction, thats good, breaking the ice will help it thaw if the sun stays out and it warms a bit.

Totals today: 2.5 miles : 4 locks