Sometimes luck is with you.

I had decided yesterday that I would move on today if the weather was ok, so at 9am I walked to Waitrose and bought a few supplies, back on the boat a cuppa and watching the sky until I decided at 10:30 that it wasn’t going to rain or shine, just an overcast day ahead, and I pulled pins and set off, a very uneventful, uninspiring run up to Cowroast, the locks were mostly against me and three of the six had to be left empty due to leakages, so a bit more work than usual. No locking partners and only the last lock was in my favour as a boat was just leaving when I approached, not that I mind really, it’s all part of the fun and unless it’s pouring with rain I don’t mind sitting on the gate beam waiting and watching, I’ll let you know how I feel if I do have to do a cruise in the pouring rain! The scenery is rather dull and the mainline railway runs close to the canal in several places, so no pictures.

One little bit of interest on the journey was a chap cutting overhanging branches off the trees at lock 48, he was sitting (fairly high up)

on the branch he intended to lop off and there was quite a bit of banter between him and his buddy on the ground as the branch swayed about, but he managed to cut the branch on the correct side of his body and the branch fell safely to the ground leaving him where he was.

Now the reason for the title, I was getting low on diesel and had one empty gas bottle so I had been looking out for a fuel boat for the last few days and seen none, my backup plan was to call into Cowroast Marina when I leave here and give them the business but I would much deal with the trading boats. So having moored up just before lock 46 and sorted out a few things I thought I would walk past the lock and Marina and see if any fuel boats were about before ringing a couple of them to enquire their whereabouts, I had just locked up and was getting off the boat when in the distance behind me I spotted Phil on N.B. Hyperion (of ‘Barging Around Britain’ fame, for those of you who saw it) approaching, sometimes luck is with you J. So 86 litres in the tank, a replenished gas bottle and a chat about his 15minutes of fame and life in general before he was on his way again and I went back aboard.

Tonight’s mooring, forward view just before Cowroast Lock

It’s not pretty behind.

 A hedge along the towpath and a car dealership opposite, well it can’t be a Constable painting scene every time.

Totals today: 2.5 miles : 6 Locks

Berkhampstead

Yesterday I had a wander around Berkhampstead, a very nice town indeed, it’s clean and along the canal there are information plaques on the towpath and this one on bridge 141

Francis Egerton was the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater who is said to be the originator of the first true canal in the UK, the Bridgewater Canal.


There are some pleasant looking pubs with quite a few in the town as well.




All the shops you might need and associate with a large town along with some market stalls.


There’s also this rather large almost castle like Church, St. Peter's and a very large school, with this nice entrance.

I had to include a picture of the famouse Totem pole (famous within the canal community anyway)

Suffice it to say as far as I am concerned Berkhampstead gets a thumbs up and if you are passing this way make sure you stop and have a look around.

Today I moved from my mooring which was about ½ a mile before the town to the opposite end of the town, I had already checked out the position of a launderette and that was just a short walk from my new mooring. Luck was with me again today, I set off about 10am and stopped almost immediately to take on water, having done that I set off again and the first lock (55) was  against me but having emptied it and opened a gate just as I was moving into it a couple on a holiday boat came along going my way, so we shared, it makes quite  a difference when there are two of you and the next lock was in our favour so my locking partner opened the gates and then his wife took their boat in and I followed and we worked the paddles and gates together, as we were leaving a boat was waiting to enter so no need to shut them.

As I passed the people waiting to go into the lock they shouted “say them name of your boat” I am often asked about the name “Quinquireme” usually how is it pronounced, well as far as I know, the previous owner told me, it is pronounced ‘Quin-Kareem’ and from a little bit of research the name comes from a class of Helenistic warships which had 5 decks of rowers thus

although nearly all the spellings I have seen seem to be Quinquereme there is a poem called Cargoes which refers to Quinqireme of Nineveh, so perhaps it's that and not a warship at all! (2nd poem on the page)

I digress, so after lock 53 my locking partners carried on and I found myself a suitable mooring. I may stay a few days, I am preparing to paint the roof and I need to remove the Houdini Hatch (roof hatch so named because you can climb out if needed) and de-rust beneath it and reseal it, as well as the four mushroom vents, the hatch and at least one of the vents have slight leaks in very heavy rain so now is the time to sort it.

Tonights mooring.

Todays Totals: 1 Mile : 3 Locks

Spring has arrived, I hope.

Another beautiful day, I set off about 10am for the short run up to Berkhampstead and as I was preparing my first lock of the day (58) a family on holiday arrived going my way, lovely, shared the locks and I had very little to do as there were four of them, so me and dad, who was of course the skipper, had time for chats in the locks.

This is me following along just after leaving our first lock together, the crew walking ahead to set the next lock, mum's in front but masked by the other two very helpful teenagers.

The pound (stretch between locks) was very low between locks 57 & 56 with all the moored boats leaning over , I was still following along and we both kept well in the middle although still touched bottom a few times, I was grateful nothing was coming the other way, getting into the lock was hard work for me, the boat normally glides in slowly but it came to a halt and I was struggling to pull it in, I thought maybe I was rubbing on the cill but once I'd got it in I discovered the reason, I'd knocked it into reverse as I got off the blooming thing so I was pulling against the engine on tickover in reverse, lesson learnt there I thought, be careful with the controls when getting off.

Somewhere along this stretch I saw Diane and Ray, bloggers on N.b.Ferndale, Diane was walking along the towpath windlass in hand and we said hello,as you do, as I cruised past her and I thought I know that face, racking my brains, then I saw the boat coming towards me and read the name, looked up and saw Ray, ah haa I thinks, now I know, I shouted "I read your blog", with a smile he said "do you" and that was that, briefest of meetings but with 2,000 miles of canals I am amazed that I have already seen four boats I know from other blogs.

I had reached my intended mooring for the night just before Berkhampstead, so I said goodbye to my locking partners and I moored up. This afternoon I had a short wander along the towpath, I was intending to go further but got chatting to another boater and ended up turning round and heading back to the boat after talking to him for about an hour, I then did a bit of prep work for a bit more painting, it's never ending, but little and often works for me,

Tonights mooring.






Totals  Today: 1 mile : 3 Locks

Walking Bourne End

Mist was rising off the canal this morning and as I looked out of the side hatch I knew it would be a lovely day.

I walked into around and through Bourne End or at least all I could find of it, it appeared to be not quite anything really, an area, I am sure the residents wouldn't think so and perhaps I was in the wrong place, two pubs, a camping shop, a garage and a Best Western Hotel, I’m sure there must have been more hidden away somewhere, perhaps the other side of the A41, I didn't fancy that, so I walked a circular route back to Winkwell Swingbridge then back along the towpath to the boat, I had a bite to eat and read a bit and then decided to walk the towpath towards Berkhampstead, the weather was glorious for a Bank Holiday the towpath and the pubs were busy with people making the most of the day off work and fine weather, 

I liked this residence along the way picturing myself sitting on the balcony watching the canal life going on beneath me.

When I got into Berkhampstead the moorings in the town were fairly full but I don’t really want to be in the town itself so if I move tomorrow I will probably stop short of it and then maybe next move just past it, I think it will take a few days to have a good look around and I need to source a few bits for the boat if possible. 

I sought out St. Johns Church which gets a mention in Pearson’s guide “a tiny Victorian Church” and is in Bourne End, it has been extended to the left side in a fairly modern manner, and unfortunately because of the hedging lining the path both sides to the entrance you cannot really get much of the original into a decent photo, I didn't want to wander among the graves trying to get a few snaps.

Bourne End

I woke this morning at about 8am, the sun was shining and it looked good so I decided to move on, by the time I had sorted myself out it was 10:30 and as luck would have it a pair of boats were in the lock (63) directly in front of my mooring heading my way, so the lock would be open for me, I set off before someone else nabbed the lock and as I was leaving the lock a boat was approaching, so no need to shut the gates, a good start to the day.

 The cruise was uneventful through lock 62 although I had a small audience sitting on the top gates and they seemed oblivious to the fact that I would need to open the one they were sitting on until I actually mentioned it to them. 

Canals are full of water and lots of fish, you can fish almost anywhere if it’s not private water (club angling rights) there are exceptions that are usually signed and the one absolute exception is not in the locks or on the lock landing areas, do anglers abide by this, not all apparently, lock landings seem to be favoured by many anglers and as I approached lock 61 there were two of them fishing in the middle of the three available bollards for me to tie up to, one was between the 1^st and 2^nd and one was between the 2^nd and the 3^rd, why? I assumed they would move as I approached, but no, just waited until I had almost reached them and lifted their lines out of the water I tried to stop short of the 1^st bollard to avoid them but grounded, so with a bit of effort I got in directly in front of them walking around them to tie up, they ignored me totally, not worth a comment, so I ignored them too. 

On to Springwell Swing bridge, this one is electrically operated and has the controls on the towpath side along with bollards, it is on a quiet looking little lane but by the time I had worked through there were 5 cars and half a dozen pedestrians all waiting patiently.

At lock 60 I had a young family watching as dad explained to his two small children how the lock worked, both children looked happy so I guess they understood. At lock 59 my last one for today a lady cyclist had stopped for a breather and as I opened the top gate to leave she offered to close it for me, some people are so kind.
Not far after the lock I found a mooring spot, my general plan weather permitting is to cruise every other day stopping to look around the small villages and towns or any other point of interest, I am in no rush at all so I won’t do more unless I have to, that way I will also charge the batteries whilst cruising and save fuel on rest/exploration days, beside 5 or 6 locks is enough on your own, why work hard!

Todays Mooring pictures.

Happy Easter J

Todays Totals: 2 Miles : 5 Locks : 1 Swingbridge

Still wet and windy

Today I walked back down the towpath and into Hemel Hempstead to look for a few bits and pieces I need, with some success, I am trying to buy a good sharp penknife for use in emergencies should a rope get badly snagged etc., the problem is with all the thugs around using knives you cannot seem to buy one in any major towns or villages, I will need to try a fishing tackle shop or maybe a gunsmiths. Not much to say about Hemel, just another sprawling shopping center with every 4th shop selling over priced coffee.
I walked back through Boxmoor, quite a nice little village but quite spread out, a mix of old and new housing, a couple of pubs, and a mix of small shops, but not much of interest to photograph. I should add that the area generally is quite clean and tidy and lots of open spaces for dog walking.
As I type this it is still windy with fairly frequent rain showers, looking now like Friday may be the day to move on.

The wind doth blow.

I was woken last night at 1:30am by the wind which had torn open my cratch cover on one side of the boat and it was flapping and slapping on the roof, it was already damaged, the zips have come unstitched and a few of the press studs are either missing or unable to connect properly due to shrinkage in the cold weather, I guess after 13years of life it’s to be expected, so it’s on my list for replacement at some stage or I may get rid of it altogether.  Being as the boat is  a large steel container all the noises are amplified and it sounded far worse than it was, I did look out but there was no way I was getting dressed and venturing out to attend to it, so what with the noise and the rocking of the boat it was a rather restless night. This morning I went out and rolled up the offending section of the cover so it cannot repeat the disturbances tonight.

I walked the towpath this morning for a couple of miles, it was extremely windy and in a couple of open areas it was fighting to push me backwards, I passed two boats on the move, both attempting to get into locks as I passed, the first boat had two ladies on it and while attempting to get through just one gate they barged open the second gate a bit, not much they could do about it, the wind was the master, the second boat had a couple on it and they decided to haul the boat in using the ropes, a sensible method when there are two of you but not something to attempt if solo when the wind is so powerful, I did wonder why anyone would want to move in these conditions but I suppose they had their reasons, I haven’t seen anyone else moving today.

Having walked a couple of miles I turned and set off back, now the wind was behind me and it blew me right into The Three Horseshoes at the Winkwell locks, so I had no choice but to indulge in a pint of Bombardier, another first for me since taking up this life, a lunchtime pint, I tried to avoid it but the wind was master again, it was my sort of pub 16^th century, oak beams, open fireplace sadly unlit, quiet background music and no machines or TV’s to be seen, and complimentary newspapers to read, a lovely half hours stop.

This lovely old boat caught my eye, it looked absolutely beautiful and well maintained, the owner should be proud.

And this house had its own bridge onto a little island in the river that runs alongside the canal, a delightful spot for a glass of Pimms when the sun is shining.

Back on the boat I intended to look around the area but the weather turned wet again so I’ll keep that for tomorrow, 

it’s sunny again now but the wind is still very strong, hopefully it will die down in time for Easter.