Ahh, tea in bed again! Wonderful, well except it was quite early as we seem to have gotten used to early mornings now. Once breakfast was over I headed to catch a bus to Aldgate to buy some card.
All sorts of wood
4D Model Shop has just about everything a model maker could want, I think they used to be near Holborn and I visited them many years ago when I still lived in Brixton. What I was after today was some sheets of grey board, card that is fairly easy to cut and cheap that I could make stencils from for the panto portals, reducing the amount of time spent drawing things out to a quarter.
I did have a good look round. You could buy any tree or any colour at a variety of scales, plenty of scale people several having a great time in a bowl of breakfast cereal. All sorts of wood, card, styrene shapes, sphere’s of all sizes. I could have spent an absolute age here, but managed to refrain from it. Over the last couple of years I’ve been wanting to find a magnifying glass to help when doing very fine things. The chap showed me a pair of glasses on which you can change the lenses to increase magnification, Something to add to my Christmas list.
Mick, Siobhán and Patrick
Once back on the bus there was enough time for a breather before we had visitors arrive. Siobhán and Patrick arrived from Australia on Monday, Siobhán is an old school friend of Micks. We’ve not seen them for several years as trips back to the UK were cancelled due to covid. They brought along with them Fionnuala, Siobhán’s sister who came to visit us once in Paddington.
Wine sorted
We had a lovely few hours with them catching up, seeing photos of their new grandchildren. Tea on board was followed by a walk up into Islington for something to eat. We chose Crepeaffaire, who make crepes and buckwheat galettes. They were nice, but could have done with being a touch warmer and a bit more filling. The lady serving us whipped out her pay machine which was all of a bit sudden. Because Mick was the first to get a card out, the others protested and we ended up visiting Sainsburys so they could help top up our wine cellar.
A lovely day with great friends, another reason for dashing down to London.
Just before we got straightened out
The boat behind us this evening pulled away leaving a gap on the straight that Oleanna would fit into. So we pulled back and breasted up against NB Keeping up with the Jones’, a boat that many may know, but now has a new owner. Our new mooring meant that the very short boat on the inside would now be able to pull out when they wanted to this evening.
Because the blog is published a couple of days behind I thought it only fair to share a photo from the flotilla, to wet your appetite. There may be a delay in further photos as I’ve a lot to sort through from the day.
Ballot Box Bridge to Colebrook Eco Moorings, Regents Canal
We’d planned to be on our way by 7:30 but that didn’t quite happen, it was nearer 8 by the time we’d pushed off. The journey in towards London always takes time, add into the mix weed and other boats, it can always take longer.
A new development sits up high, hang on was that a boat up there? NB Pavo, we’d seen the boat about. Our deduction from down on the canal is that this boat has found itself a pool of water to sit on off Canal and River Trust water a bit like the boat on the South Oxford Canal. Maybe it is going to be an office for someone, or maybe it’s just a big water feature for the complex.
More boats all individual, more paintings on walls.
Very slow boats
Soon we could see a breasted up pair ahead of us some distance away, each bend brought them closer and closer, each bend gave them shallow water that they needed to pole off, it was the Polish coal boat. We caught them up and slowly followed them, tick over then neutral then tick over again. There was nowhere suitable for them to pullover to let us pass until their bow got stuck again. They freed themselves leaving a gap just wide enough for us to go through between them and a moored boat, we were waved on.
Kensal Town brings with it office windows to look into. From above Ainsley and Nicholas peered back down on us, nosy blighters! Duck weed covered the whole canal by now. The bubbles at Westbourne Terrace Bridge doing their best to hold the mass of green back and away from Little Venice. The water point was free, we pulled in to make use of the tap and bins and make a brew.
Left at Little Venice, Rembrandt Gardens moorings were full, we hoped our booked space further along would be available.
At least it won’t go yellow!
The steep bank outside one of the posh houses on the Regents Canal has been clad in astroturf, their gardeners no longer having to mow that part of the garden, they might just have to weed it instead in years to come.
Warthogs biffed at large balls containing edible treats. A lazy Colobus Monkey lounged in what used to be the Snowden Aviary it is now a walk through monkey valley exhibit with high up perches for the monkeys.
There’s Heather!
Stood waiting for us at Hampstead Road Locks was a familiar figure, Heather, she’d walked up from St Pancras to help us with the locks. No volunteers on today and thankfully I remembered which gate had a problem last year, so I used the other one.
Heather set off to set the middle of the three locks. A trip boat set the bottom lock for us, all easy going. Around us the new buildings we’ve seen going up over the last few years all look complete, walkways criss crossing everywhere.
A short pootle and we arrived at St Pancras Lock, two volunteers on duty, one of whom we’d done the Tideway with last year. Sadly there was no room for us to moor at the cruising club this time, but there was plenty to chat about as the lock was set in our favour.
Hello!
We waved goodbye to Heather and David and carried on our way, we’d be seeing them both at the flotilla. The Queen had done her washing and watched us go by as we approached Islington Tunnel.
This looked hopeful
The tunnel was clear, I zoomed in with my camera. One boat in view on the Eco Moorings where we’d booked for two nights. There was a possibility that the boat was breasted up and there’d not be room alongside the towpath. We carried on through the tunnel.
Maybe not so hopeful!
By the time we’d reached the other end the boat I’d seen was breasted up, in fact it was the third boat out from the towpath. All along the Eco-moorings the boats were breasted up apart from one small gap. Was someone overstaying? Had the C&RT website calculated the wrong length of mooring available?
Mooring spaghetti
We pulled through the next bridge and I walked down to check on any spaces below the lock. Every space was full with boats breasted up. Pooh! Only yesterday Mick had tried to look to see if there were any spaces available at the other eco-moorings, but as we’d already got a booking it wouldn’t show us. We’d past a space on the other side of the tunnel, admittedly by a building site, but we’d have been bank side there enabling Oleanna to finish being washed.
Jaunty
Only one thing for it, to reverse back into the space that was available, do the best we could mooring at a jaunty angle and try to sus out when those we were blocking in would be wanting to move off. The angle did have one benefit, we’d be able to open our hatch! Soon after mooring the Puppet Barge came past, thankfully there was enough room for them.
That’s a big one!
We settled in and explained to Tilly that there would be no shore leave for the foreseeable future. The hook up cable came out and after quite a bit of grring from Mick we had power, £10 credited to our account. We’d be able to do washing and use the electric kettle. Cheryl from a few boats up (NB Firecrest) came to say hello as she reads the blog.
Onion Bhaji
This evening we caught a bus and headed over to Kentish Town to meet up with Christine and Paul for an Indian meal at the Bengal Lancer. A very nice meal with great company and the delivery of our nav lights. These came in a really rather big box, four times the size of the lights! We just need a battery for the white one now and somewhere to strap it to. Thank you Christine for the use of your address.
Tomorrow we’ll be heading out onto the Thames with many other boats, both motor-powered and manpowered. Much of the day will be spent on the Tideway. The Thames barrier will be dropped at midday to hold the tide, even so we’ll still have some push upstream.
Motorised craft will loiter above Chelsea Bridge for a few hours before the flotilla will get into order. Oleanna will be on the northern side of the flotilla, Bleasdale the southern side and the narrowboat/widebeam section will be a little bit in front of Glorianna.
Timings for those wanting to come and watch are as follows.
7pm | Chelsea Bridge
7.10pm | Vauxhall Bridge
7.30pm | Westminster Bridge
7.50pm | Blackfriars Bridge
8:05pm | London Bridge
8:18pm | Tower Bridge
If you come and watch we really hope you enjoy the spectacle.
Bridge 182 to Ballot Box Bridge, Paddington Branch
Yesterday evening we’d had quite a few people stop to chat as we set up the lights on Oleanna. One lady had been concerned that Denham Deep Lock (the next one) may be closed as the bottom gates were open a little bit and in front of the top gates there was a mass of weed, surely we’d not be able to get through! Neither of us were concerned at what she said and when we got to the lock this morning it was nothing compared to the amount of pennywort we’d come across at Wide Water Lock and the bottom gates were just open because that was they way they rested when the lock was empty.
Filling Denham Deep
Denham Deep is very deep, but thankfully with fairly new gates it doesn’t leek so it filled in no time compared to the shallower locks we’d recently come through.
Piggyback
Below the lock the floating dry dock was giving a piggyback to another boat.
Onwards to Uxbridge. Here two boats were breasted up on the lock landing and the last people to have gone through the lock had left both bottom gates open with the paddles up! We are now in the land of not giving a monkeys and the number of parakeets way out numbers blackbirds, robins and kingfishers. Thankfully we weren’t a widebeam, as some of the broader boats would have had difficulty getting into the lock and there was space on the off side for me to hop off to set the lock.
Only 29 litres today
We’d arrived shortly after Denham Yacht Station had opened for the day. A top up of diesel was required and Mick had dug out our 5litre can which also got filled. Going out onto the Tideway you want a full tank and we knew we’d not be at St Pancras Cruising Club at the right time to top up there.
Volunteers waiting for a boat
At Cowley Lock three volunteers stood awaiting our arrival, we were to be their first boat of the day.
Quite a house boat
Below someone is building themselves quite a large house boat. New stainless steel tanks sit in the water and a wooden structure is going up above.
Now we were on the level with Paddington. We pootled along passing large building sites, two fellas working their way through a pallet of turf.
Under Murderers Bridge where eight years ago we said a final goodnight to Houdini my old cat.
A plant peeked up out of the hold of a boat, was it what we thought it was? Yes, most probably. Soon we were at Bulls Bridge where the Boat of Fame is currently moored in it’s Mind The Gap coat of paint, very whimsical.
Left onto the Paddington Arm. All sorts of boats. Jolly dogs and grumpy cats. Heftily insulated boats. You see everything down here, some we now recognise each time we’re here.
Sunflower
A sunflower has reached up for light at the edge of the towpath surrounded by new builds. A cormorant took advantage of a high up post.
surrounded by new builds
I ducked below to have a catch up with Jo the props lady for panto leaving Mick to cruise us onwards to near Ballot Box Bridge at the foot of Horsenden Hill. Almost two hours later I finished chatting to Jo and could finally have my lunch. Then it was out with the buckets and cloths, time to give Oleanna a bit of a wash before the flotilla. The starboard side seems to have caught the sun more than the port side, so hopefully a wash might make her look better. Who knows if the starboard side will get washed it depends on time and on how busy our mooring in London will be, at least that side looks a touch smarter.
Eeevil!
Mick busied himself attaching the cratch lights. These haven’t been on Oleanna for two years, they are our normal arrangement for Christmas. These will stay on now for Saturday, a little less to do.
3 locks, 12.92 miles, 1 left, 1 tear, 1 tube boat, 3 volunteers, 2 hours talking props, boat 71, 1/10th of lights fitted, 1 clean bow for the first time in years.
Our cruising schedule has allowed for a little time off, but today we’d not be able to sit still in front of the TV, we needed to keep moving. So we were up and on the move a little later than of late.
The towpath was quite busy and we had people watch us as we dropped down Ironbridge Lock. We pulled into the water point above Cassiobridge Lock and quenched Oleanna’s thirst, the tank was really quite low.
Marching past Bridgewater Basin
We worked our way through the locks all set apart by half a mile or a mile, all with leaky bottom gates. As we cruised between locks we watched the thousands of soldiers in London marching, guns reversed, drums with black surrounds. Had they all had segs hammered into the soles of their boots? Or was it just that there were SO many of them creating such an incredible noise?
Down through Common Moor and Lock Mead Locks, tube trains still running, people taking the advantage of a day off to work on their boat roofs, we passed at least six, all as past Prime Ministers arrived for the service and the gun carriage rumbled around West Minster.
Just above Batchworth Lock we passed the car/boat on a permanent mooring, car seats in the bow protected by perspex. Two lads of about 7 helped me with the bottom gates of the lock chatting away, smiles on their faces at being asked to help.
Not the prettiest of Lock cottages on the GU
We paused below the lock to empty the yellow water tank and then were on our way again, slowly passing the many moored boats as the two minutes silence took place.
Stokers Lock
At Stokers Lock there was a large family ready to watch and ask questions, I enlisted another seven year olds assistance with the gates. Mum asked if we had to book the locks, a Dad asked if we needed a licence to drive the boat. I was asked what I used to do before the boat.
Just how many years has he been hanging around for?
There were more boats on the move than we’d expected today and plenty out on the towpath. We watched the pallbearers move the coffin back to the gun carriage and the procession past Buckingham Palace. Up above us the monkey and the bear hung from the old building having no idea what was going on elsewhere today.
Near the waterworks a Jules Fuels boat was doing an odd manoeuvre, he was heading up onto the River Colne where a cruiser seemed to have got stuck. At Coppermill Lock we joined a downhill boat with a crew of South Africans, not the chattiest of people but it was still nice to share the next few locks having had a pause to help fill the bins.
Mounds of pennywort
Towards Wide Water Lock the amount of Pennywort was quite something, huge mounds of it gradually taking over the canal. There has obviously been some clearing of it going on as by the lock there were huge piles of the stuff.
Another leaking lock, would it ever equalise. Two old fellas stood and watched as Mick and I tried to open the top gates. In the end I enlisted them to help, their inner 7 year olds gleaming with joy at being asked to push and pull a lock gate. Today we’d made five young/old boys days.
Floating road
Here we lost our partners as they headed into the marina and we continued onwards. Approaching HS2 there were priority signs for boats coming the other way. A roadway has been added around the construction site keeping a right of way open, a car timed it’s arrival very well to demonstrate the floating roadway.
We pulled in just after Bridge 182 just before 3pm. Tilly went out whilst we sat down to a late lunch and to watch the hearse drive up the Long Walk in Windsor. If ever a road was made for such a moment!
Time to get the lights outs and see how we could decorate Oleanna for next Saturday’s flotilla. With magnets and magnetic pole we hoped we’d got everything we’d needed now.
It soon became obvious that we’d need more height on the pole to act as a mast, the broom handle was perfect cable tied to it. Then just which lights to use for what? The cabin sides were measured, 14 meters in length, magnets deployed at regular intervals along the side. One set of lights reached the mast and came back down again, another had a lot of spare, but not enough to go round the hole cabin, these ended up going round the stern deck. The newest set of lights 80 meters long ended up going round the boat twice and heading up to the mast twice.
Someone has to keep an eye on quality control
With some of the lights in position, it starting to rain and the light fading we switched everything on to see what we thought. Repositioning of magnets got the lights in a better position and tension will be the key to it looking good. We could really do with a few more magnets, but there’s unlikely to be enough time to get them delivered now, so we’ll have to make do with what we’ve got.
Half of the lights
The biggest decision will be when to put all our lights up. Before we head out onto the Thames, possibility of lumpy water disturbing our display. Or whilst we’re moored awaiting the flotilla to muster out on the Thames, possibly not sufficient time to get them looking good whilst balancing on gunnels! At lest there won’t be any tide as the barrier will be shut.
10 locks, 8.93 miles, 1 funeral watched from on deck, 5 lock helpers, 1 mountain of pennywort, 1 floating roadway, 1000 white lights, 1 Thames barrier closing, 1 plan starting to be formulated, 1 feline assistant.
Whilst Tilly continued her explorations we tucked into a bacon butty and joined the Geraghty zoom. Queues, sound rigging in suits and ties and flotillas were the subjects today along with telephonic sleeping sickness.
Time to tidy up, sweep through the boat. The galley got a good clean. It’s been a long time since we’ve had visitors so there was quite a bit to do!
Here we all are
Then the white sauce was made up and rolling out of pasta for the lasagne. I knew I’d made more than enough, maybe I shouldn’t have rolled it so thinly but there is more than enough now in the freezer for another lasagne for two or some tagliatelle.
The London Leckenbys arrived and there were tales of Josh’s trip to France with a school friend, lots about food and his first week of sixth form.
Presents
This year we’d not managed to be together for four out of our five birthdays, so presents needed exchanging, everyone apart from me had something to unwrap. Mick got a new pair of boating gloves and some overalls. The pair he’s had since we bought Lillian are now very diesely so hopefully will go into the bin somewhere. Everyone else got goodies from Cambridge.
Lasagne and green salad
They had brought with them my box of pasta and a parcel full of magnets that we’d bought cheaply due to imperfect paint which will be used to help tether fairy lights to Oleanna for the flotilla. All we need to do now is find time to have a try out.
Back to front 200
The lasagne was very tasty, its the first time I’ve made one quite so big and it ended up being rather gooey, a touch like soup! My meat sauce a touch wetter than needed for fresh pasta and the gluten free flours didn’t absorb as much as normal, so in the future I’ll try to keep the sauce drier. A nice green salad accompanied it.
An average of 50, sorry Josh
As today was a sort of birthday party, I’d totted up everyones ages. Excluding myself it had added up to a nice round 200 so the Queen of Sheba cake even had candles to mark the occasion.
A lovely day with family, although Tilly preferred to out and about.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 lie in, 2 cuppas in bed, 7 presents, 0 for me, 12 magnets, 1 big box of pasta, 1 soupy lasagne, 1 big chocolate cake, 1 punnet of raspberries forgotten about, 2 many woofers! 10 years without Dad.
Thankfully those people who like to leave rubber on tarmac stopped their screeching around the car parks before we went to bed which left us with just the noise of water over flowing the lock. When we’ve moored here before Mick has walked back and emptied it for a quieter nights sleep, but at the moment we don’t have any difficulty dropping of to zzz land.
First lock of the day
We were on our way after Mick succeeded in buying a full Saturday newspaper and some firelighters. The nice lady in Sainsburys tracked him down once she’d found all the bits that come with a Saturday paper.
Grown up arch, kiddy arch
Brrr chilly! Might have to get the hand warmers out if it carries on like this. Fewer dog walkers this morning but more boats on the move. We dipped under the larger of the two arches at Bridge 154, passing where we’d watched a Kingfisher fishing years ago.
Nash Mills Lock 68 had a new blue sign as others had yesterday. Then Red Lion Lock had one two, but it wasn’t Red Lion anymore! Nash Mills Lock 69?! We wonder why locks along this stretch have had a change of name. Then we must have crossed a C&RT border of some sort as at Lock 69A there was no sign at the lock and Home Park Lock 70 still has a black and white swan and bridge logo.
Lacking teeth
We were following another boat, the off side paddle at 69A was dropped. When I came to close it I realised why. I’d only just walked past it on the beam and the catch jumped out of the teeth, the paddle rushing to the ground. A lot of the teeth have been lost, a tweet was sent to C&RT as the paddle is on a suicide mission.
Paddle boarders passed us at Home Park Lock. I waited until they’d got far enough ahead and steady on their feet for me to lift the paddles to empty the lock. The scaffolding on the M25 viaduct has now mostly been removed, some left at the far end for comfort. It all looks very smart under there now.
Inside the M25
A boat came towards us from the lock, they seemed to want to pass on our right, but then we twigged that they were picking up crew some distance away from the lock. They pulled in only to get grounded at the stern. With plenty of people on board they needed to move the weight to the bow to help rather than everyone come to the back to try to push them off. They managed it in the end.
We just beat a widebeam to the two Hunton Bridge Locks, the chap kindly walked ahead to set the lower one for us, so in return I lifted a paddle for them once we were through. Under Lady Capel’s Bridge a cyclist in red a bright contrast to the white and green. Past the posh golf course and a huge pile of rubbish left around the dog pooh bin, such skuzzy boaters!
This might have been here a while
Now the two Cassiobury Locks. This is where we caught up with the boat ahead. The crew chatted and informed me they were letting water down into the pound between the locks, it is quite often low due to leaky gates and having to leave the bottom lock empty.
Last lock of the day
Their boat was just a rusty hull, filled with all sorts of rubbish, no roof, just plenty of beer cans. The boat was bow hauled out of the bottom of the first lock and I half expected them to wait for us at the second lock as they pulled themselves between the locks. But no. We waited for them to close up after themselves, me closing a half lifted paddle and helping with gates. I got a very slurred thank you from them and comments about the gates not opening fully, they suggested that the next lock was totally blocked. We’d wait and see how many boats were moored waiting for it to open, hopefully we’d find room for ourselves to moor.
Dappled mooring
We were fortunate, a length of armco vacant before the line of boats before the lock. We’d reached our destination for the day and before lunchtime. I walked up towards the lock to check if there was anywhere nicer, but we’d actually got a really good spot. Five and a half hours in Tilly wonderland.
There was a cake to bake, pasta dough to finish off. I’d decided to make three times the quantities of pasta I normally do in case two was a little bit short, but couldn’t find a new bag of tapioca starch, a main ingredient in many gluten free things. Thankfully we’re close to Watford, with several Asian shops, so Mick was dispatched on a bike.
Avalon Two heading northwards
During the afternoon we were passed by several boats, one being NB Avalon Two, They stopped for a quick hello but as they were sharing locks with another boat they needed to be on their way. Lovely to see you Helen and Pete.
Later on, the boat we’d followed down Cassiobury Locks came past breasted up with another boat. Music, smoky engine, shouting, I hoped they’d keep going. Their course was a surprisingly straight one, they’d been drinking for at least 5 hours by now, but this actually meant they didn’t manage to negotiate the bend, getting stuck on the bank for a while. But thankfully they managed to correct their course and headed back up the locks and out of ear shot.
Steering with the aid of poles and beer
Three dough balls resting in the fridge, one cake iced, bathroom given a good going over, clean pooh box for Tilly and all windows washed inside. The props list for panto was updated then we could relax in front of the TV and stove with a glass of wine.
11 locks, 5.42 miles, 1 newspaper, 500grams tapioca starch, 5.5 hours shore leave, 1 clean bathroom, 1 location relayed, 1 cake, 2 much pasta, I hope it freezes!
A boat that had pulled in behind us last night was still very much asleep this morning as we pushed off, no chance of sharing locks with them. The paths were busy, the occasional runner, but mostly dog walkers. One lady was a dog runner, although she only got to do the occasional bit of running as her dog had plenty of other ideas!
Berko
Brentford had been our original planned route, but to get up to Teddington we may only end up using the Tideway. When we re-joined the Grand Union at Gayton Brentford was 77 miles away, now 33.
On past the familiar landmarks of Berko, the totem pole, the lovely house with all the hanging baskets and an owner who last year asked if Oleanna was named after the David Mamet play.
Today the lock cottage looked particularly fine, the edges of the grass around the lock very trim. A lady popped out to say hello, she loves the boats going by and commented on Oleanna. I returned the complement as the cottage looked so fine, had it had a new coat of paint? The lady said that it had and that they’d only been moved in a month. I don’t remember it looking a state before, but now it looks totally loved and immaculate.
What an immaculate house
The landlord of The Rising Sun was one of the dog walkers returning home as we dropped down the lock. It was chilly out there this morning, one chap by a lock, walking his dog, in his pyjamas and dressing gown, hope they were fleecy lined!
Filling at the Rising Sun
I’ve noticed that my breakfast doesn’t kick in until we’ve been cruising for an hour. Working the first locks of the day I wonder how I’ll be by lock ten, twelve, sixteen! But this soon fades as breakfast filters through to my muscles and brain.
That’s a good one
Down the locks where you should leave a paddle up, the gods of the southern waterways bequeathing us a fat fender. The locks had already been used, the sides wet, no paddle left up, maybe someone new to these parts. Sewer Lock smelt ripe today and we wondered who paid who for the clean water to come into the canal below the lock.
Bourne End Lock seems to have had a change of identity, now Winkwell Top Lock, followed by Winkwell Middle Lock and Bottom Lock (which has retained it’s name). Winkwell Swing Bridge now has one of the small control posts with two illuminated buttons. A pause for the traffic to clear and I turned my key of power, four held up today.
What a pretty hull
New houses are being built behind the moorings, I wonder what the boat owners make of their new neighbours? Lots of activity at Hemelmarina, a new high up poly tunnel protected a Tjalk. Some work having been done on it’s hull and a new lick of paint, what pleasing shapes these boats have. It seems as if Tjalks are a speciality of the yard as there are quite a few on hard standing and below the lock, one for sale at £22,000 in need of a fitout.
Sharing again
At the lock we’d caught up with the boat ahead a single hander, he waited for us at Boxmoor Top Lock. He’d bought his boat in Wigan and had spent the last three or so weeks cruising 12 hours a day to reach Watford. He’s a builder and has been bored of commuting across London to site, so he’ll move his boat to be close, we’re not sure he’s aware of the continuous cruising rules.
Fishery Lock
We soon got into a rhythm and worked our way down the locks towards Aspley. At the top lock we’d filled the chamber, just opened the gates when a clicking noise was heard from the bottom end of the lock. A chap had started to lift the paddle. Lots of shouts from all three of us stopped him in his tracks. He’s only been a boater for three days and is heading to Wigrams to a mooring for a year before he sets off to explore the network.
Plenty of C&RT boats
The Sainsburys mooring was available so we waved goodbye to our builder partner and tied up at the far end. We were stopping before 3pm, it was time for lunch. A shopping trip to stock up on food for a Leckenby get together at the weekend and enough supplies to see us into London. Mick went off in search of spare bulbs for our nav lights. Oleanna being five years old it would be sods law for a bulb to go just before the flotilla.
Click image for more info
Yesterday an order for some magnetic nav lights had been placed. For some reason when Oleanna was built the white stern light was omitted. Heading out onto the Thames at night we really should have the correct navigation lights as part of the flotilla. Yes no-one will be able to miss us because of the 1000 plus fairy lights, but we still should show a white light. One day we’ll get one fitted by someone happy to drill into Oleanna’s hull.
Blue Moon
Preparations for the family meal were started today. The menu has been planned out to fit in with our cruising. This afternoon I made a big pan of bolognaise sauce, Which has just fitted into the packed fridge, tomorrow I’ll make some buckwheat pasta dough and a pudding.
16 locks, 5.13 miles, 5 locks shared, 1 C&RT nod, 1 paddle, 1 big fat fender, 0 shore leave, 1 full fridge, 1 big vat of bolognaise sauce, 1 boater heading for London, 1 boater heading away from London, 4th props list on it’s way.
Another 8am start, no tea in bed since Northampton!
Lock 37 was empty but thankfully Lock 38 was full, the pound between them short and in the past has been quite low. When we came up sharing with NB Tyseley a few years ago it was touch and go if there would be enough water to get her into the second lock. Today our only problem was the amount the bottom gates at Lock 37 were leaking. Mick had started to close the paddles to open the gate, but the amount of water flowing out between the gates was so great the top gate needed opening whilst all the paddles were still up.
Jan’s favourite canal side property
Signs on lock gates yesterday had warned us that the Marsworth flight was locked overnight, Cowroast end of the summit pound was also locked and that moorings in Marsworth might be a touch busy. There were certainly quite a few boats, but we’d have found a space.
As we turned the bend towards the bottom of the flight a C&RT Lock Keeper was stood at the top of the Aylesbury Arm. We waved, maybe the next time we come this way we should take Oleanna down there as she’s not been as yet.
It’s a good view from the high path
The start of Marsworth, 7 locks up to the summit. The first lock is a little away from the others. A Grandad stood with twin girls watching as Oleanna rose up. I took the high path to the next lock, saying hello to Les as I walked. The water levels in the reservoirs low but not alarmingly.
Filling with help
As I set the next lock I could see two volunteers walking towards us. The lady asked if we’d like some assistance, today that would be very welcome. After a while they walked ahead and set the locks for us, another four blue sweatshirts arriving, but walking down the flight.
I love the dates in the structures
We stuck to our routine, ground paddle same side, gate opposite, ground that side followed by the gate paddle on the same side as the boat, slowly.
The lock cottage half way up the flight
A couple of locks from the top a Wyvern boat sat in the pound and waited for us to ascend the lock in our favour. As we ascended the penultimate lock I could see that above there was another boat coming down. A chap could be seen winding paddles. Then he could be seen winding them again. The sound of a paddle being dropped in between times recurring.
As I walked up to join the lock keepers, one whispered in my ear that this was a new boater and he’d requested to do the lock without any assistance. I couldn’t help myself, I suggested putting the catch on the paddle gear was a good thing, the ‘clicking noise is a good noise’, it also saves the paddle gear from being dropped constantly!
No time for the Wendover Arm this time
We all watched as he ran around the lock, opening both gates, dropping paddles, climbing back onto his boat to head down passing Mick where one gate was left open for him. His trip down the flight was going to be a lengthy one without any assistance.
The new houses at the old yard due to be finished September 2022!
Thanking the Lockies we waved them goodbye as they sat on the lock beam waiting for someone else to help. They’d be keeping an eye on their TV on the 24th in case the flotilla made it onto the news.
Freshly baked
A cuppa was very much needed. I remembered that there was still a bit of cookie dough in the freezer, a cookie would be just the right thing whilst crossing the summit. The oven was turned on, frozen dough cut up and popped in the oven and baked for 12 minutes. The hardest bit was leaving them long enough to cool.
Lying down on the job
Once we’d come through the dark cutting and back out into the light we spotted a coal boat, NB Stratford, a new one to us. They seemed to be untying. I spotted their price for diesel £1.30, 10p cheaper than in Uxbridge at the moment. We stopped and breasted up for a fill of the tank, two bags of Excel put on the roof. Mick would have liked to buy more coal, but I was reluctant to fill the roof with bags before the flotilla. What coal we have we’ll wrap in one of our heat wave white sheets so it doesn’t stand out like a soar thumb.
Swans wanting a lift up
NB Stratford trades between Bulbourne and Harefield, we’d not come across them before as they’ve only been trading for about 18 months. They’d seen us coming and were hoping to share the locks with us down the other side. We filled up and both boats headed towards Cowroast. A top up of water and empty of yellow water were done whilst waiting then both boats descended in the lock. A bottle of gas was precariously lifted out from the hold as the boats started to sink, this was for a boat that had arrived on the lock landing below.
We led the way down through the next couple of locks, Emma with windlass in hand very chatty, the chap giving orders, he seemed to like things done his way! We met another boat requiring a bottle of gas at Dunswell Bottom Lock then we were on our way again. NB Stratford pulled over just before Northchurch Lock, tomorrow they were expecting a delivery of coal, so this was as far as they’d be going today.
Feathery friends
Just departing the lock was a single hander, we caught him up at Bushes Lock and shared the remaining three locks into Berko. He was carrying on to just outside town today, we’d had enough and pulled into the first space we found.
New partners
Spikes hammered in, then a quick cat health and safety check revealed a footbridge leading to a road with cars. We decided to move up to past the shopping mooring where the stream would keep Tilly out of Waitrose car park. Only problem was we didn’t seem to have the mallet anymore! Mick walked back to where we’d first pulled in, luckily no one had found it and taken claim.
Going down ready or not!
I wanted to visit the excellent art and craft shop for some card, but checking it’s whereabouts on line discovered that they had closed in July. Brexit then the pandemic had done for them sadly. My purchase will have to wait for London now.
Next to last lock of the day
This evening I finished re-reading the newest version of the panto script. Two things jumped out at me, all the savoury puddings Jo and I have been discussing over the last week have been cut. The other is that a panto sized Christmas Pudding had been added. I sent the director a quick email to double check before stopping Jo in her tracks making up Boiled Egg Ice Cream and Sardine Jelly. The director confirmed the savouries had been cut, but had no idea about the Christmas Pudding, turns out I had a newer version of the script than she did!
Cosy by the stove
Click image for more info
Today we had notification of the changes to the Reflections Flotilla. The organisers have asked us all to dress and behave in a way appropriate for a memorial event, the boats will move down the river in silence. Tower Bridge will open in salute and it is hoped that the event will be seen as a fitting conclusion to the events of the next few days.
16 locks, 7.4 miles, 6 locks shared, 6 Lockies, 1 pair of twins, 70 litres, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 50kgs of coal, 1 stove lit, 1 happy Tilly.
Plenty of boats moored on our way to the Soulbury 3 Locks, one right by the lock landing that had come past us late last night, would they be awake and ready to share the locks? There was no sign of movement.
There was a boat just entering the middle lock of the three and the bottom lock was all but empty, so I lifted the paddles and waited for it level out. Well that was the idea, except the chap above lifted the paddles filling the pound in between so that it almost over topped , the bywash ran and water bubbled up through the ground paddles in our lock, it took an age for it to level out. What a waste of water! If it had been us coming down we’d have waited for the lock below to start filling before lifting our paddles so that our lock full could fill their lock and not just bypass it going round the bywash! It certainly didn’t make his descent any the quicker.
Leighton Buzzard Lock
When we’d pushed off this morning we could see our breath but by now the sun was starting to peek it’s head out between the clouds. At Leighton Buzzard Lock the sky was turning blue, no sign of anyone wanting to move. The Wyvern Hire base had three boats in, the rest of their massive fleet being kept busy, most of them north of here.
Shopping to the hatch
We pulled in at the shopping mooring alongside Tescos and Mick headed off to see if our click and collect order could be collected early. He returned with the crates on the trolley which were emptied straight in through the hatch. We allowed ourselves a morning cuppa sitting down inside but were soon on our way again, plenty more locks to work through today.
The new surface on the towpath seems to have caused consternation amongst local boaters but from what we could see there was still a good green edge to put your spikes into which plenty of boats had succeeded in doing. A Diamond Resort boat had just passed us, we hoped they’d be carrying on, a locking partner, but no they’d pulled in.
Jules
We passed Joules Fuels who were breasted up, a little awkward both boats being on the move for us to top up with diesel. A couple of bags of coal would have been good too. I’m sure they’d have obliged but we’d only just got started again.
Before we got it wrong
As we approached Grove Lock there was a boat descending. Mick held back. The chap opened the off side bottom gate and started to bow haul his boat out. He stopped and started gesturing to us. What was he trying to say/ask? Was he asking if we were using the lock? Surely that was fairly obvious as we’d come past the winding hole. He gestured some more, What? No idea. We tried signalling that we were waiting for him to leave the lock to be able to use it. More gestures. Mick moved Oleanna over towards the towpath as that is what it looked like he wanted us to do even though we were quite some distance away.
He stepped back on his boat and started to move it forward, thankfully leaving us an open gate. As he passed us we got a rather snotty look and then as he went on his way he was shaking his head. What did we do? Or what hadn’t we done? We had no idea. Maybe he wanted us to open the other gate, meaning extra work to close his. We are still baffled.
South!
The flower baskets were as good as ever at the pub, the first Fullers sign, we’re in the south now! The locks from here on come at mile or half mile intervals, not long enough to put the kettle on. We had to be following someone as most locks were full.
Church, Slapton, Horton. The Whipsnade Lion.
We met two pairs of boats coming down in the same pound.
The two Invinghoe Locks.
The three Seabrook Locks. Followed by the swing bridge.
Hello!
By now we were feeling a touch pooped. Should we tick the next two locks off the list for tomorrow? We waved at the Margees house as we always do, even though Alison and Laura sold it before we even met them.
The decision was made that if the next lock was full we’d moor up for the day. If empty we’d take advantage of it. Thankfully it was full, draining itself, but full. There were a couple of boats moored below the locks, a bit of a git gap going on between them, but enough space for us at the end. As we pulled up Mick made a comment to the chap behind, ‘Looks like you’ve a new neighbour’. The chap just grunted. When Mick asked if he had a dog, ‘No pets on this boat!’ We let Tilly out.
About ten minutes later the chap behind us pushed of, pulling in on the other side of the boat ahead of him. Had we done something wrong again? Had Tilly been for a walk through his boat? Another boat arrived, winded and then pulled up in front of Mr Grumpy, they’d had a rendez vous and it looked like we’d taken the space he’d been saving for his mate.
One very late lunch was had, even Tilly was hungry although we didn’t appreciate her bringing a friend in with her for lunch!
Today we got the official confirmation that the appointment we’ve been aiming for will be going ahead. About a month ago Heather Bleasdale got in touch, she was going to be taking part in the River Thames Reflections Flotilla. Around a 150 boats would be taking part, all illuminated with white lights, the first night time flotilla on the Thames and it was to be part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. To take part you had to have registered an interest back in May, we’d obviously missed that date when we first heard about it all. But they were short of a few boats, Heather dropped us a line to see if we were interested. Our original plan would have us at Brentford on the day, a slight alteration of route and timings and we’d be able to join the flotilla.
We applied including a photo of Oleanna, it took a few days before we got our Congratulations email from Thames Alive, we’d been accepted. Now all we needed was loads and loads of white lights. First we aimed to borrow extra lights which Ken and Sue kindly helped us out with. Then we ordered more as some of their lights were faulty. Then three locks broke ahead of us. Then the Queen passed away, it was always a possibility. Would the flotilla go ahead?
Thames Alive hoped that with some small alterations to the event that Buckingham Palace would give the go ahead. Today permission was given. Instead of being for the Jubilee, ‘the flotilla will express the river communities’ sadness at the passing of Her Majesty the Queen’. So we have to keep up the hours to reach London for the 24th September.
13 locks, 11.38 miles, 1 swing bridge, 1 click and collect, 1 sitting down tea break, 15:45 lunch break, 3 waterside cats, 2 grumpy men, 1 mouse, Act 1 re-read, 1 Royal appointment to keep.
