Wednesday 12 October 2016

Not too far to go today.  We pushed off at 9am.  I can’t believe that another season is over.  The waterways around here feel very familiar now and it only feels like last week that we were heading towards London from the River Lee.

There seem to be a few more boats moving around but again we had all the locks to ourselves.  We did pass one boat coming in the opposite direction at Cheshunt Lock – they moor at Roydon where we are heading for!

At Pickets Lock – now known as Alfie’s Lock – I think he still lives in the lock house, there was a guy washing his plastic boat at the water point in the lock so we waited whilst he pulled his boat out and helped us do the lock.  We also saw a CRT guy on his pushbike who said he was taking boat numbers and checking licences etc – he said it was the third time he had seen us this morning! 

There are lots of people living on boats around here but unfortunately many of them seem to takeover the surrounding ground, under bridges or on the towpath and fill it up with all sorts of rubbish making it a less desirable place for the rest of us.

Through Carthagena Lock and we saw Jane and Vince – Vince is helping Jane fit her widebeam out so we went on board and had a look to see how she is getting on – nice job Jane – and Vince!  We bumped into Joanne too as we were leaving and expressed our interest once more at taking a permanent mooring there when or if one becomes available.

Through Fieldes Weir Lock and turned right onto the River Stort.  Through Lower Lock and left into Roydon.  We left here at the end of June last summer – very quickly we bumped into a few old faces who seemed pleased to see us!

I have yet to work out exactly how many miles and locks we did this year but will soon and add a post to let you know.

Thank you for continuing to follow the blog – it makes it worthwhile.

….Until the next time x

Another bright morning - leaving Ramey Marsh.

Through the lock and under the M25.

Passing the moorings at Cheshunt - there would have been a space for us!

Taking a break on a submerged wheelbarrow!

Broxbourne looks busy.

Coming home - arriving at Carthagena Lock - wish we were back there this year.

Unbelieveable!

And onto the River Stort.

Through the lock and into the lake at Roydon.

Heading for our winer mooring.

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Lovely peaceful night in Battlebridge Basin.  The sun is shining and the sky is blue.  We said goodbye to Jono who looks after the residential moorings in the basin and set off at 9.00am.

Through the Islington Tunnel and a little way down the canal we saw Martin who I used to work with - he has a narrowboat called Mrs B – we saw the boat in Hungerford last summer then bumped into him on board in Hertford last October.

We can’t believe how many boats there are moored in every possible available bit of space heading out of London.  Many boats are moored two abreast, look like they haven’t got licences and nearly all of them have seen better days.

At 4.00pm we decided to call it a day – we were heading for Cheshunt but started to worry that we would get there and there wouldn’t be any available space to moor so we stopped just before Ramey Marsh lock opposite the permanent moorings.  There are plenty of boats moored along the towpath side too.

Another beautiful morning - the sun definitely shines more in the South than it does in the North!

Through Islington Tunnel - 960 yards.

Egyptian Geese - haven't seen any of these for a while.

Must be a big dog living on board!

Little Autumn tree in Victoria Park.

Looking back at the City.

I see this balcony is still full of plastic bags!

West Ham United - making use of the Olympic Park.

Tottenham Lock - Somebody is sleeping in there.

And in there - we spoke to a CRT guy who said you would amazed at how many people are living on the towpath.

New buses.

There are two guys working away here - what a mess.

The Waterways office at Enfield.

We shared Enfield Lock with this guy - well he stayed on the boat and let me do all the work!  He did get off to close the gate though!

That's a handy bench over there!

Ramey Marsh Lock - we'll spend the night here.

Monday 10 October 2016

We have booked a mooring at the London Canal Museum in Battlebridge Basin for tonight so have a goal to aim for.  It also takes the stress out of finding somewhere we would be happy to moor and if there is any space.

We left our mooring at Bulls Bridge at 7.20am.  Lovely bright morning and oh so fresh!  There was a lorry driver having a wash under the outside tap….!  By the time we got to Camden Locks at 11.45am we were frozen solid – I got off the boat in the second lock to help the volunteers and could barely walk! 

We went through St Pancras Lock opposite the new development where apartments have been built inside the gasometers – I wonder how much they cost.

We arrived at Battlebridge Basin at 2.00pm, lit the fire and had a nice hot shower.  We then went to meet our old neighbours Graeme and Keith in the Parcelyard in Kings Cross Station –  it was lovely to see them and nice that we only had a five minute walk home! 

Three point turn and off down the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union.

I've never noticed the lighthouse before - I think it is just a company logo - Sure Guard.  Can you feel how cold it is this morning!

Towpath 'nikers!

Traffic jam on the North Circular.

Back in life raft land - you don't see these up north at all.

Past the cemetery at Kensal Rise. 

Really...!

Arriving at Little Venice.

Interesting - this is probably the most expensive mooring in London - what is this used for?

Through Maida Hill Tunnel - quick wave to the people having breakfast in the restaurant above!

Past London Zoo - I think this is a dingo?

And of course the huge Avery.

Photo Shoot!

Hi Amy.

Arriving at Camden Locks.

In the bottom lock - I'm back on board - there were three volunteers at these locks so limited help needed!

The new development at St Pancras Lock - making use of the Victorian Gasometers.

The floating library - good to see it is still going.

Arriving in Battlebridge Basin.

And our mooring outside the Museum.

Sunday 9 October 2016

Long day today – 19 locks and 17 miles – it took us just over ten hours.  The weather was good for most of the day which meant there were plenty of people out and about.

I enlisted the help of several people on our travels.  We managed to share a few locks today and did the last five or six with a family who were good company.

Two locks from Bulls Bridge Junction and the heavens opened - just enough to make us cold and very wet!

Somebody told us that it could be noisy with the lorries delivering to Tesco at Bulls Bridge but we slept through it - must have been all those locks!

Leaving the M25 behind.

Some lovely big houses and gardens 

What's going on at The Grove.

It's the British Masters this week!

Through Iron Bridge Lock on the edge of Cassiobury Park. 

Not quite Boaty McBoat Face!

Towpath Tea Party!

Very clever - tie yourself on!

We only shared one lock with this young couple before their engine overheated so they had to pull over.

Interesting mushrooms!

The miniature canal at Rickmansworth. 

That teddy is still hanging around!

And the boat with the car attached is still there.

Canalside cottages.

The crocodile is still at Black Jack's Lock.

I've never noticed the pillbox in the garden before.

Going down!

You can just about see the rainbow after our downpour. 

Somewhere near Heathrow.

Mooring up at Bulls Bridge Junction.