Broadoak Bridge to Barley Mow, Cosgrove

We are starting to play leapfrog with the speedy boat from yesterday and Anne’s boat. Anne’s boat (as it has Anne’s name on the side, Mick’s sister) is normally moored at Cassio Wharf and we consider to be the last truly shiny boat before London. They passed us this morning whilst we were having breakfast, so we took a bit more time before we set off as the first bit of our cruise today would be the Soulbury Three Locks.

As we approached it looked like a group were about to make camp just above the locks, there were poles coming out of bags, but as I walked up the shape being formed was that of a canoe. We keep seeing these collapsable canoes and they are quite ingenious, no need for a roof rack just a bit of time to assemble them.

It seemed to be busy at the locks, no volunteers on duty, but there was a narrowboat coming up in the last lock being followed by a widebeam. A chap from the narrowboat said that the pounds between the three chambers were well down and the following widebeam didn’t know what they were doing. He was right the pound below the top lock was very low and about to become even lower as the next lock down was filled. So Mick and I decided to empty the top lock, to give them a chance of getting across without having to try to pass us. They were a bit bemused by an empty lock and us waiting above, but the chap at the helm was having enough difficulty steering as it was, giving the lock entrance a very large biff. There was an 83 year old Dad on the stern being taken for a jaunt and two daughters in the cabin who were screaming everytime the boat hit touched anything. However the lady with it seemed more concerned that the contents of her coke can didn’t get spilt when moving the lock gates!

Once they were out of the way we made our way down quietly and calmly. A few gongoozlers were already about and a chap taking a breather on his run helped open and close some gates for me. On the moorings below the locks were two familiar boats. As we passed we both doffed our caps and said thank you for our cratch repairs, we wished we’d had a few flowers that we could have left on the roof of Allan’s boat.

Onwards now to Stoke Hammond Lock. A boat was just coming into the lock with incredibly loud MEOWing going on. Their cat had managed to get out onto the roof of the boat and was scared so shouting it’s head off! Once safely back inside they started to lock up. Next Fenny Stratford Lock where we topped up with water and then pulled up for lunch. NB Freespirit was up ahead but nobody was onboard. We waved as we went by as we did to the lady in her house. Now we had the eleven mile pound that goes round Milton Keynes. I like some bits of this journey, but found important things to do below. The skies were getting darker and inside I was considering turning on the lights even though it was only 5pm.

By Bridge 74 we pulled over. Mick had spotted on Briar Rose’s blog that there was a Council Tip nearby. With a couple of services worth of oil on board and the remains of oily bilge water from Lillian’s engine bay taking up too much space Mick did a couple of journeys to dispose of it all. Despite there being a sign at the gate saying no pedestrian access the chap there had no problems with Mick turning up wheeless. On the second trip the heavens opened, but only for a short period, not enough time to get a soaking.

The approach to Cosgrove Lock takes you over the Ouse Aqueduct where far below cows were paddling in the shallow water. Up ahead we could see a Wyvern Hire boat lining up for the lock, today we’ve seen just as many of these blue boats as any others, our estimate when we passed through Leighton Buzzard the other day was that at least 22 boats were out. We were a long way off so not surprised when they didn’t wait for us. Anne’s boat and the speedy one were moored amongst the long line that we trundled past. Mr Anne’s Boat chatted out of his side hatch as we passed, suspect we’ll be seeing them again in the morning.

The moorings in the centre of Cosgrove, opposite the Barley Mow were empty so we chose our spot. A late finish to a long day, we’re not used to this!

6 locks, 16.8 miles, 1 can of coke with a tipple added?! 3 big bangs, 1 almost empty pound, 2 caps doffed, 1 less gentleman on the cut, 1 roof riding cat, 1 full water tank, 1 blogging boat, 0 one home, 11 long miles, 4 bottles oil, 1 large bottle of erggh, 2 paddling cows, 1 life history, 2 helpers, 1 late finish, 1 depressed cat.

Margees Garden to Broadoak Bridge 109

Yesterday evening a swan that had been sitting on her nest a month ago in the bottom of Alison and Laura’s garden brought her babies along to meet us. Still quite small,  the cute factor enhanced by them still being so fluffy. I apologised to Mum that I had nothing for them, but would defrost some peas for the morning. So when Mick had headed off for a newspaper this morning they headed over to see what goodies I had. Mum let her youngsters dive for the peas whilst she watched, she wasn’t interested, maybe some white sliced would have been more appealing. But then if this was a swan that knew Laura I suspect it would have a far superior pallet. The cygnets ducked and dived to retrieve the peas (which all wanted to sink) and all ended up with spiky hair dos.

With breakfast consumed we pushed off and soon approached Seabrook Swing Bridge which was open, well almost. We paused for me to jump off to try to close it, but a boat was following, so we left it for them to close and went ahead to set the lock. The next three locks were set against us, but with partners we soon had them filled and cruised on down. Below Seabrook Bottom Lock our partners winded and then were going to reverse back to their mooring. The wind had picked up today so this would take them a bit of doing.

At the Ivinghoe Locks I could see a boat approaching and the lock was in their favour, so I pushed open the bottom gate and waited for them. This was all I did to help as on board there was a troop of scouts, so plenty to work the lock and open gates. They were out for the weekend and when asked if they were enjoying it one replied he liked sleeping on the boat, although they had only this morning discovered barriers that they could pull up to stop them from falling out of their narrow bunk beds! They were going to see how far they could get, possibly the Wendover Arm, before they had to turn to head home. The next lock being in our favour we headed down and as we were finishing a boat appeared below, so I could leave the gates.

Approaching Slapton Lock the world got busier. A boat was on the water point just through the bridge and two were waiting. We joined with one of them down the lock. They used to have a mooring here and had planted all the shrubs which were looking good and very much looked after. They were coming down to the lower pound as the one above had dropped somewhat, but both pounds looked as they had done when we were heading southwards a month ago, quite low. We stopped for some food in amongst the boats, not able to get our stern in, but that didn’t matter, just so long as we could get off when we wanted to.

Church Lock had both it’s bottom gates open, was this due to the wind? No, someone was coming up. Two single handing ladies brought their boats into the lock. One a Sea Otter (small aluminium boat) and the other what looked like a 70’s style cruiser. I helped them up and chatted to the lady on the cruiser. They were on their way to London. Normally when people say this they mean that they are going to join the masses of shufflers living on the Paddington and Regents Canal, but these two ladies were out for the summer from Ripon, both in their 70’s. They’d left in April and were due back at the end of August.

As they were rising we were joined at speed by a narrowboat who just about managed to pull in on the off side. As the ladies pulled out from the lock, Mick gestured for them to go in, but they were waiting for another boat that appeared soon afterwards. We worked our way down and as we got near to opening the bottom gates crew came from the speedy boat and sat on the top gate waiting to refill it. When Mick mentioned that there was a boat waiting to come up, she returned to her boat to wait. Nothing like lending a hand and getting to chat to others, making your wait shorter, oh well, it takes allsorts.

Grove Lock was empty and with an approaching boat I opened the gates for them, might as well save water. The boat came in at such a lick that the lady at the front had no chance of stepping off to help. She finally managed to step off when  the lock was nearly full. A procession of people and their dogs then wanted to cross the top gates, each dog having to be carried over separately in turn. The boat was after a pump out at the marina but that meant a wide beam needed to move, which it did aided by the strong wind after Mick had brought Oleanna into the lock.  The lady from the narrowboat walked to climb on board her boat, but the chap said he’d pick her up on the service mooring. She then crossed the gates and waited behind a set of railings that didn’t allow her access to the services just as her boat was blown right back to the other side infront of the widebeam. As we were going down I could see that the chap had managed to get his stern over to the services and was starting to pull the boat in just as the speedy boat from before arrived above the lock, thankfully managing to stop before ploughing into everyone! To add to the mayhem a young lady was trying to cross the top gates with her toddler in her arms. We were glad to be away from it all.

A quick stop to stock up on suncream from Aldi and some perishables from Tescos before we were on our way again. One last lock for the day stopping with a view of the West Coast Main Line, we should have carried on to the Soulbury Three, but we didn’t fancy going through with a crowd of Saturday afternoon drinkers gongoozling, so that has been left for tomorrow morning before the pub opens.

Once moored up, my brothers old T square came out from storage (I knew it would have another use) and had inches over 2ft marked on it. Our mooring wasn’t deep enough for us to get the end of it under Oleanna’s hull. so Mick slid it down the side until it touched the edge of the base plate. This gave us our current draught, a more accurate measurement than using the boat hook. At the moment we exceed the depth for the Ribble Link, but we are hoping that this will be sorted by Finesse as we know we shouldn’t be quite so low in the water. Another phone call with Bridget and Storm from NB Blackbird who had also been measured today. We decided to go ahead and the two of us clicked through the booking pages on the C&RT site. As we both read out that our passage was confirmed Bridget said “Oh what have we done!” No going back now!! Later on we also booked a week in Liverpool. North here we come.

10 locks, 9.04 miles, 4 shared, 100 floz of peas, 6 spiky heads, 2 single handing ladies, 10 scouts, 1 queue, 3 dogs, 1 toddler, 2 bottles suncream, 2 lots mushrooms, 1 more late finish! 1 week Liverpool, 1 month Lancaster Canal, 2 slightly nervous boaters, 1 oblivious cat.

Berko to Margees Garden, Cheddington Bridge

Time to get going but first to fill the water tank. This is the emptiest it’s been, an exclamation mark had come on on the gauge! With wanting to use the dish washer and washing machine we needed water sooner rather than later so nothing for it but to reverse back to the water point. We pushed off and despite the strong breeze and aided by the bow thruster Mick took us backwards in one go, like cutting butter with a hot knife. Once the hose was filling the tank you could hear just how empty it was.

With the dishwasher on drying mode the washing machine could go on and had done it’s first fill before we pushed off again. Good job the water pressure was good here. Onwards and upwards. First the Gas Locks, both were full and I could see a boat at the top, so I opened the top gates and we waited for them to come down. The by wash was running furiously which caused a bit of a problem with the two boats coming down. A discussion had been had that the day boat should go first as they were continuing, he’d spotted the by wash, but then didn’t move. The other boat then started to leave the lock, all it’s crew were on board then joined by the day boat who had to stop to pick up crew. The bywash pushed both boats over towards our bow leaving little room for manoeuvring. Eventually everyone was back on the right boats and heading away from the lock, peace returned. Upwards for us.

At the second lock the Lockie from the other day appeared. The pound we’d got stuck in two days ago was low again, so he was letting water down from the top. Today he had no help as all the other lockies were helping to erect an aluminium bridge on the Aylesbury arm. So he was working his way up and down the locks between Cowroast and Hemel to restore the levels. As soon as we were through he emptied the lock. Next lock up he appeared again as if by teleport. We waved our goodbyes and thanked him for the other day. At Northchurch Lock there was one coming down and another waiting above, both looked narrow, so I didn’t understand why they weren’t sharing. Once we were up I asked if they needed both gates open, no umming from this lady, ‘Both please, we’re eight foot wide’. Too wide to share and only an extra foot more space for all the extra work.

We could see that Dudswell Bottom Lock had boats in it as we approached, not sure which way they were facing I walked up to see if I could help. NB Nomad and NB Goblin were sat in the lock almost at the top, but all gates and paddles were closed. The two chaps were pawing over a Nicholsons and in deep discussion. When they noticed me they were apologetic and got ready to move their boats out of our way. I went up to open the gates, but they had been there so long that the level had dropped by at least a eighteen inches! They apologised again and I was told I was a hero, ‘Just don’t do it again at the next one!’

They moved on up and I reset the lock for us. By the time we were up and moving along the pound I could see that there was only one of the boats in the lock, blimey only two locks to the summit, but how long would this take us! However one boat was stopping for some lunch and the other was waiting for us. Up the last two locks in no time and on the summit pound, where we decided to stop for some lunch ourselves. NB Nomad carried on with the aim of stopping at Marsworth tonight. Our aim was similar but after a phone call from the agents who look after our house, we decided that we should get a move on as a visit to Scarborough would be needed next week, meaning we’d loose another days cruising.

Across the three mile top and we started our descent down the other side. I would set the lock, open a gate and then leave Mick to start coming down so that I could walk ahead to set the next lock, returning to let him and Oleanna out and close the lock behind. I’d then leapfrog and set the next one down. After three locks we had caught up with NB Nomad. I carried on going ahead to set the next chamber as the boys brought themselves down and opened one gate, I then returned to close that behind them. Mr Nomad was pleased with his locking partners and as everyone was doing their bit I reckon we got down the flight quicker than if we’d been on our own.

We carried on wanting to get a bit further along before stopping for the day and waved goodbye to NB Nomad. The bell ringers were starting to practice as we passed the village, the sound being swept along by the stiff breeze. We’d already had to put an extra layer on! Down the last two locks of the day we meandered along for half a mile more and then pulled up at the bottom of the Margees garden. Here we were ahead of our selves and could get a Saturday paper in the morning before setting off again.

This evening we’ve been in conversation with Bridget and Storm with the aim of booking our passage to cross the Ribble Link. On C&RT’s booking page neither of our boats had our draughts marked. We both put in the dimensions we thought that we were, but these were both too deep to make the booking! We will both double check how deep we are and reconvene tomorrow to hopefully make our booking. Reading up on it lots of people say they have managed fine being deeper than the recommended depth. Fingers crossed!!!

16 locks, 7.84 miles, 6 locks shared, 6 water riding cygnets, 1 dog pooh incident, 2 wrongs don’t make a right! 1 nice lockie, 1 beautiful UGLY cat!  1 grey day, 2 boats hogging a lock, 2 jumpers, 1 house needing it’s owners, 2 boaters now on a mission, 2 annoyed blackbirds, 4 cute baby blackbirds, 0 friends thankfully.

Berko

A lie in and it was cooler. Oleanna was going to stay put today and when we rose the temperature was 20 C but cloud cover was keeping the sun at bay. Phew! Yesterday had reminded me of being in France on holiday as a child, returning to the boat last night after the show there had been no air. This is the reason I prefer winter. There are nearly always means of getting warm when cold (exceptional circumstances exempt), but if it’s hot and muggy there is no way to cool down, in the end it makes me feel claustrophobic.

Today I put some none boating clothes on and headed with the laptop to the station. NB Endeavour was rising in the lock as I passed, they were hoping to get up to Cowroast to wind and then head back down today. At the station I bought my ticket for West Brompton and joined the throngs of people travelling on cheap fares, a lot heading to Ascot. Then the heavens opened with huge booms of thunder. Luckily this only lasted a short time and was the only down pour of the day.

Once I reached West Brompton I took my time walking down Lillie Road to my meeting. Every charity shop had a cursory look for any bedding I could make some rugs out of for Oleanna, but none jumped out at me. I made my way to the Dancers Attic to meet with a director, show him my photos and see if we got on. This is only the second time I’ve done this, most of my work has come from either me being given to someone or them having seen my work, being in the right place at the right time, so I was quite nervous. But this soon disappeared as we got chatting about the show. I seemed to match what he was looking for in a designer and the company and show were appealing. I’ll find out if I ticked enough boxes next week after he’s met more people.

There was just enough time to get back to the station and catch the one train an hour that would take me on to Balham to meet with my school friend Morag. I’d not been in touch with her when we were in London as I’d seen her on my last couple of visits. Sadly her mother passed away unexpectedly last week so it was important to see her. We had a good couple of hours over lunch, the sort of conversation that only long standing friends can have. If you are ever in Balham try out Milk, their version of eggs benedict was wonderful.

I returned to the station with five minutes to go before the next direct train back to Berko, so my journeys had been perfectly timed and I managed to avoid using the tube. Walking past the lock, NB Endeavour was on it’s way down. A very similar height in the lock to when I’d seen them in the morning, just facing the other way six hours later.

Mick had spent the morning giving Oleanna her first 250 hour service, an oil change, a new filter, check the belts and he filled the stern greaser. All ready for her next 250 hours running. Once Mick had finished Tilly was allowed out. He doesn’t seem to want my help with getting into tight spaces. Anything he drops I could so easily bat around for him! But I’m not allowed under the big bit of floor. She spent much of the afternoon watching people pass by sitting on the stern.

0 locks, 0 miles, 9 litres oil, 1 filter, 1 thunder storm, 5 fascinators, 10 sharp suits, 0 duvet covers, 3 shows too many, 1 nice chap, 1 once proudly owned art work, 2 hours of friendship, 3 trains perfectly timed, 1 boat 6 hours later, 1 much cooler day thank goodness.

Sainsbury’s, Apsley to Waitrose, Berkhamsted

A bit further to cruise today so another early morning. Even Tilly  was expecting us to be up at 4.30am as she started twitching the curtains. No early morning spring to our step today, it was more like slow motion.

The second  lock up (it always smells of coffee) is meant to be left empty, but it was full. We’d not seen any boats go past yesterday afternoon so we wondered if we were following a boat that had started earlier than us. The next few locks were all full apart from Fishery Lock which had been left empty and the walls seemed to be dry, maybe no one else was cruising yet. By the time we reached Lock 61 plenty of trains were whizzing by and there were plenty of people up and about in Winkwell marina. I was worried that we’d arrive at the swing bridge between locks just as the locals were heading to work and I might end up with many angry car drivers. A gap soon showed itself, I turned the key and pressed the button. Pretty quickly the lanes filled in both directions, then cars started to turn round. At least the impatient drivers were taking themselves away. Once the stern cleared the bridge I pushed the close button and opened the road again. Only twelve held up, but at least four gave up.

As we approached lock 59 there was someone emptying the chamber. The gate opened but there wasn’t a boat. NB Endeavour was moored close to the lock landing and one of the chaps on board had gone up to the lock to empty it for us. I hopped off and thanked him. They had been moored in the pound above us yesterday, but had set off when the day had cooled off a bit, so we were following them! They were still having their morning cuppa so wouldn’t join us to come up the remaining locks to Berko. I said if we saw them we’d wait, saving water in this hot weather.

On we pootled, a passing walker warned us of a low pound ahead. In Nicholsons it warns you not to moor between locks 57 and 58 as the level drops overnight. But past experience is that it’s actually between 57 and 56 and today this pound was low, the walker was right. Mud banks were showing on the offside, but with a bit of a distance to the next lock it looked like we’d be okay going up. So the lock was filled and Mick started to gradually work his way to the next lock, I stayed on the towpath just in case. The lock should be left empty so I did this, just as Oleanna ground to a halt mid channel.

I walked up ahead to see if I could send down water without causing a problem for others as Mick called C&RT. Two boats were moored in the pound, well and truly sat on the bottom, their mooring ropes almost audibly straining. Above the next lock the level was down by about six inches and the long line of moored boats put me off letting water down. With no walkie talkie or phone to hand I walked back to report to Mick. C&RT were trying to get hold of the local chap and would call back. Mick could reverse Oleanna and trying to move forwards again he gained some more distance. By now NB Endeavour was pulling up below the lock, so I walked down to warn them. I got them to ring my phone which was on Oleanna, I’d then be able to let them know when we were in the next lock and if it was safe to come up themselves. Mick was now stuck again and having no luck pushing Oleanna off the bottom, but the sight of a chap in a blue t-shirt gave us hope.

He opened paddles at both ends of the lock above and rang back to control to see if someone could be sent to let water down from the Waitrose pound. His morning had been spent sorting out the levels in Berko and he’d just finished that when he got the call about us. This pound quite often drops overnight, but had been fine all week. He asked if the gates were open or had it not been emptied, but I’d found it as it should be, empty with paddles raised. However the amount of water leaking from under the top gates was likely to have been the cause and I showed him a picture. Once he’d got us through he’d go down and clear whatever it was stopping the gate from sealing properly.

It took us an hour and a quarter to get through both locks and Mick had scraped his way along the bottom once the level had risen by a foot. A boat had appeared above the lock, once we were up they would go down. Now back on the boat and reunited with my phone I could call Kevin and Matt on NB Endeavour and tell them to fill the lock, but wait for the boat coming down so that they could swap over at the lock as there wouldn’t be enough depth for them to pass mid pound. We were back floating and the sun was getting hotter.

Not much further to go before we’d reach our destination and hopefully shade for the rest of the day. Another lockie was by Ravens Lane Lock letting water down, the levels would soon be back to where they should be. Our water tank could do with filling but more importantly we wanted a shady mooring, so we continued until one came into view. Not quite in the shade when we arrived but after an hour the trees did their job. But with the temperature outside being 30+ again and there being no breeze the cabin got warmer and warmer. I finished off editing my folio during the afternoon as Mick and Tilly bimbled around, all of us feeling the heat.

Yesterday I’d noticed that Mikron had been doing one of their shows at The Rising Sun, luckily we hadn’t missed them totally as their other show In At The Deep End about the RNLI was on tonight. So we put on fresh clothes and walked back down the cut in the still sweltering heat. Plastic garden chairs were lined up alongside the lock and they were already three quarters full. Mick joined the queue for liquid refreshments as I baggsied chairs. The view wasn’t going to be that good from so far back, but shortly before the show started the landlord of the pub suggested that the back few rows move up and add a chair at the side of the further forward rows. So our timing had worked out very well, with much better views.

The four actor musicians worked their socks off to give us a very entertaining show with plenty of laughs and a tear from one or two of the audience members towards the end. We the audience were glad not to be in full sun, the actors who had to wear oil skins or thick fleeces for some of the show were even more relieved. Only one boat came through the lock as we watched the show, the landlord assisting them, but at least 20 bikes, joggers and a bull dog with a mouth full of tennis ball negotiated their way through the audience chairs. This is all part of seeing a Mikron show even if it’s a bit distracting.

14 locks, 5.3 miles, 1 swing bridge, 12 held up, 1 creeper, 1 bottom at the top, 2 men in blue to the rescue, 1 marooned cat, 0 call back, 4 patches of shade along the way, 20C up to at least 31C, 4 hours photo sorting, 17 shows to show off, 2 hot 2 do anything! 4 actors, 8 socks worked off, 6 yellow wellies, 3 life jackets, 1 boat, 1 boxer, 3.5 pints.

Lady Capels Bridge to Sainsburys, Apsley

Not so easy getting up at 4.30am this morning, but we managed it. As we were surrounded by boats this morning Mick waited to start the engine until we had pushed out from the bank. 17C this morning, but still in the 20’s inside Oleanna. Convection fog was rolling off the fields onto the cut as the sun rose. Very pretty. The hands adjacent to Lady Capels Lock looked like they were stretching upwards from the earth to the sun. Here we saw our first walker shortly after 5am, she was obviously out for a pre-work walk.

As we neared North Grove Lock there was a chap in jogging bottom shorts and a t-shirt strolling along the towpath smoking. He was taking his time and spending quite a bit of time looking away from the canal. This wouldn’t have been odd if there was a view, but it was very thickly overgrown. Neither would it have been odd if he was looking for a dog or cat, I spend hours of my life doing just that looking for Tilly. A short way below the lock NB Lay Zee Daze was moored up and with the heat they had the front doors wide open and the rear hatch was open too. Most boats we’d passed this morning were quite well open, many with the glazing from their windows removed. The chap slowed down even more as he passed the narrowboat, we kept watching him, quite blatantly.

The lock was full so that gave us time to keep an eye on him, still slowly moving our way. Once Oleanna was in the lock and paddles opened he appeared at the bottom gates, now his attention seemed to be the lock side cottage with it’s windows also open. Was he a chancer ready to see what he could pick up and then make a run for it? Who knows, he may just have been out for a stroll. The cottage was pretty in the morning light and the abundance of roses and clematis on the wall nearby needed to have it’s picture taken. So I took some photos, and included a few of the chap whilst I was at it. Strangely enough he soon moved on towards Kings Langley! He wasn’t taking his time anymore. As we left the lock we could see him up towards the M25 bridge running. We both agreed that sometimes somethings just don’t feel right and this chap at 6.20am certainly didn’t feel right.

Under the M25 and we had left London behind, we’d need permission to return now! From here on we are back into the land where the West Coast Main Line accompanies the canal and trains were speeding their way too and fro. A heron took advantage of lock filling, standing above and watching fish getting dragged towards the paddles. He didn’t catch anything though. At Kings Langley Lock the swans we’d seen sitting on eggs a month ago now have two cygnets that they brought for us to see. Well that’s what we thought until they swam into the lock as I opened the gate. This left me with only one option and that was to not fully close the gates so that they’d be able to get out.

At Nash Mills lock I just beat another boat to the half filled lock and had just started to empty it as they came right up to the gates. It looked like they weren’t expecting anyone to be moving so early, but to us it was late we’d been going for three hours already! They had just come from the Sainsburys mooring so hopefully it would still be free and be in shade.

Plenty of boats were moored up under the trees where we’d moored and watched a Kingfisher fish a couple of years ago. Towards the end of the line was a familiar sight, yet it wasn’t. Here was the boatcar or is it a carboat. Since we headed south it has had a coat of paint making all the filler and fibreglass mould in together. I think it looks quite good even if a bit odd. I wonder what colour it will end up being as this seemed like it was an undercoat.

We rounded the bend and the Sainsburys mooring was free and just about in shade. Moored up in pole position before 9am.

First was a trip to look at Bunnings Warehouse, now open. What a lot of stock! Just about any make and model of power tool was on display. I got carried away picking up various painting supplies that would come in handy and Mick restrained himself and only picked up one spanner for the yellow water tank outlet. We priced up a scaff plank so that we could compare them with B&Q later. Then it was time to do a big shop at Sainsburys as you can get a trolley back to the mooring. What a wonderful place it must be to work in at the moment, wonderfully cool.

This afternoon we’ve heard the sad news that Allan Cazaly the cratch repair man has passed away. He expertly and quickly repaired Lillians covers for us twice, the last time was earlier this year. What a lovely gentle man he was, his family and the cut will miss him.

We had planned to move on again today, but having found a shady mooring we decided to stay put. I hate to think what it must be like in the boats opposite as we are averaging 27C!

9 locks, 4.43 miles, 5am push off, 0 sharing, 1 rum ‘un, 2 many boats fully open, 4hrs cruising, 40 more photos, 1 submerged canoe, £40 saving, £36 painting stuff, 0 plank at B&Q, 4 boxes wine, 1 hot boat bound cat, 27C which could be a whole lot worse.

Stockers Lock to Lady Capels Bridge

A slow relaxed life that is what we signed up for, we rarely get moving until after 10am so this morning was a bit of a shock when the alarm went off at 4.30am! But at least it was through choice and with the hope of being able to enjoy cruising. With our cuppas in hand, not in bed as usual, we pushed off at bang on 5am in a wonderful 18C, Mick even put a jumper on!

The canal had a layer of mist clinging to it’s surface and the sun was just peaking it’s way through the trees. Last night we’d been on our own, but as soon as we came through the next bridge we could see where everyone had been heading as there wasn’t a space free up to Batchworth Lock. We crept by, hoping not to wake anyone who’d actually managed to sleep. A beautiful cool morning, well worth getting up for.

We did our best to be as quiet as we could at locks, the clicking slightly echoing around Rickmondsworth. At Arm Break Lock (Lot Mead) the sun cast an orange glow over everything below, whilst above the mist still clung to the water. On the approach to Common Moor Lock we found out how far NB Ciderapple had got last night, he was sat right in the middle of the lock landing! There was no way of being quiet if I was to hop off, so Mick fought to get the stern into the side before pulling back out again to wait for me to empty the lock. The chap on board appeared to a comment about his mooring from Mick, his reply was “We can argue about it, or share the lock as friends”. So we shared, not much was said, but to his credit he did work his side of the lock.

As Mick brought Oleanna into the next lock NB Ciderapple turned into the marina below, at just gone 7am he’ll have had a wait for the services to open or maybe he moored there. By now the world was waking up, tube trains rattled over the bridge below the lock into Watford, people were heading to work, taking dogs for walks. It was still too early to stop at Cassiobury Park, all those trees wasting away not being climbed! There wasn’t much space to stop anyway. The bottom chamber of the next two locks was full, it’s meant to be left empty as it floods the property next door, and a boat was just pulling up at the next lock. It soon became evident that the boat ahead had novices on board, very nice novices, one of whom walked back to tell us as much and that they were waiting for us.

We’re not sure how they had managed to get this far since Saturday from Tottenham as prior to this none had stepped onto a boat. They hadn’t worked out a rhythm of working the locks and had no hot water for showers. After both of us suggested that they loosened off the centre rope they  realised that passing it round a bollard and then back to the helm would be safer. I tried to explain how best to work the Grand Union Locks, but they were too busy explaining how they had been doing them. But then if they felt safer working them their way that was more important.

It was now nearly 9am and the trees on the bends by Grove Mill pulled us in. However we were still in the sun, walking up ahead before we tied up I found a space that was 3/4 in the shade so we nudged round there and settled down for breakfast. All the doors were opened up, so Tilly went for an explore, returning after about an hour. By now the sun was starting to work it’s way along the cabin roof, so Mick went for a walk further along and found a space with trees on both sides of the cut. With Tilly inside we pushed off and move 0.18 miles to the shaded spot on a slight bend. Oleanna wouldn’t come in fully, but that didn’t matter as we had good shade. Moored near the green of hole 4 and the Tee of hole 5 we had plenty to watch as golf buggies zoomed along the track from ball to ball. There was even a tuck shop buggie that came round for refreshments. Well at £165 off peak for a round of golf you’d expect no less.

In our shaded mooring I got on with sorting my folio. A huge batch of production photos arrived from a photographer in Scarborough which meant I now had a lot to sort through. Several hours of work and I’m now at the point of reducing what I have. A big thank you to all those who’ve helped with photos, considering last week I only had about six pictures of my work, I now have over a hundred, so I can pick and choose what I show now.

Mick sat out on the towpath bimbling away the day whilst Tilly was extremely busy in the undergrowth. At one point she discovered that she didn’t have a private wood and that she’d have to share it with another boat cat. There was no point in arguing over a few trees and friends. So we made sure that we were both aware of each other, had one hiss and then slloowwly moved away, just in case! Boats came past with hot people on the sterns looking jealously at our shady mooring. One chap pulled up behind us and has every intention of moving up when we push off tomorrow.

This evening we have had our first barbecue of the year. Slightly reduced rations compared to normal. Sweetcorn, veg and halloumi kebabs, turkey steaks marinaded with ginger garlic, soya sauce followed by bananas, sadly without chocolate!

7 locks, 5.11 miles, 5am start! 3 moorings, 10.30 finish, 18C up to 28C, 2 boats shared with, 7 hours of freedom, 1 pirate cat, 2 friends, 84 photos, 12 shows, 5 hours work, 1 hour of direct sun, 26 golfers, 1 tuckshop lady, 6 balls flicked out of a pond, 3 hosepipes, 1st barbecue, 1 shady spot to remember.

Denham Deep Lock to Stockers Lock

According to the weather report today the temperature could reach 30C and it certainly had the potential to get higher. Mick dug out a different sun hat for me with a wider brim than my cap so that I’d have a bit more personal shade. Normally on days as hot as this we’d find some shade and stay put. But at the moment we need to keep heading north as we have an appointment at the end of the month which would be easier to get to by boat. But at the same time we don’t want to get too far as I have a meeting in London next week, so the West Coast Main Line needs to be on our doorstep for a few days. So with this all in mind we pushed off to see how far we’d get before the heat got too much for us.

Along the long straight to Widewater Lock a twenty first century Swampy has found himself a clearing and has camped out where HS2 will cross the canal. On our way south I spotted that he wasn’t on his own as his camp fire was surrounded by a selection of cuddly toys, today they must have sought extra shelter as they were nowhere to be seen.

A couple of boats turned out of Harefield Marina one towards us the other towards the lock. There seemed to be plenty of crew on board so we’d have a lock partner for a while. As we approached the lady at the helm realised that we were close behind, seeking permission to join them (it’s only polite to ask). There was a chap who we asked and he said he thought it would be alright, it turned out he was nothing to do with NB Glissanda, but luckily it was fine with them. When you mention how old Oleanna is people sharing locks tend to panic a little, not wanting to bump or scrape us. But by now we’ve already done 350 miles and around 250 locks we already have the scars to prove it. Our partners were only going to do the first two locks, wind, have lunch and then head back to the marina, so we waved goodbye to them at Black Jacks Lock and carried on our way.

My wide brimmed hat was now getting too hot and the outdoor sensor on our weather station was reading in the 40’s. There was a risk of being burnt when touching the hatch as it was soo hot. So after Copper Mill Lock we found a shady spot and pulled over for lunch. We quickly decided that we’d had enough and called it a day. This pleased Tilly as she would have hours to explore the undergrowth. Mick sat outside in the shade whilst I busied myself sorting through photographs that people have sent me to compile a port folio of my theatre work.

Our mooring was shady, but quite close to a sewage works! Every now and then there would be a whiff of pooh, was this a suitable place to spend the night? Maybe not. The afternoon was cooling a little and there was a bit of cloud cover. Tilly had been hanging around the boat exploring the roof so when she got near the side hatch she was encouraged inside, so at 5.30 we pushed off again. Under the giant pipes of pooh we headed on. The pound after Springwell Lock was way down, so we made sure all paddles were closed fully and that the gates were firmly shut before carrying on. We ended up crawling some of the way along the bottom to Stockers Lock. Once up the lock we pulled in at the first of the visitors moorings. Hooray a second place to explore in one day!

A few boats came past us most coming up, the last NB Ciderapple at about 9 pm all making the most of a slightly cooler evening.

With the forecast similar tomorrow we’ve decided that we’ll try to get up extra early and cruise before the heat of the day gets going.

5 locks, 6.53 miles, 1 Eco Warrior, 0 long johns, 0 thick socks, 2 pairs shorts, 1 metal fisherman,  1 excessively large aerial! 1 smelly mooring, 3 hours sorting photos, 32C at 7pm, 3 trees, 2 friends, 2 hot, 1 cool roof, 64,000 going to TMLD.