Today was to be a day in Oxford, making use of being in a city we know. A visit to the fish market, Whittards to stock up on tea amongst other things. But first we had time for a breakfast.
Yum!
Yesterday I’d started to get a bit of a sore throat and in the evening I did a lateral flow test, negative. Today the soar throat was accompanied by a headache. After breakfast I decided to take another test. There on the indicator below the big control line was a faint line. Mick checked it too, only just visible but it was there. I wouldn’t be going out shopping!
This afternoon we’d planned on dropping back down Isis Lock so that in the morning we could get a supermarket delivery whilst I headed to Chippy to sort through things I’d be needing next week when I start painting the set.
Autumn
I cancelled my trip to Chippy, I may have to have a hand held zoom later in the week so that I get sent what I need. The covid policy at the theatre is that you can return to work 5 days after testing positive unless you still have symptoms. Here’s hoping I’m better next Monday!
Not enough room to wind above the lock
What to do? We could stay put, but that wouldn’t get the boat to Banbury where it needs to be for work. So we decided to carry on with our plan and hope that between the two of us we can manage to get to Banbury without coming into contact with anyone.
Going down
Mick reversed Oleanna back to the lock, he’d already been stopped by a lovely Canadian chap called Greg. I worked the lock taking great care to leave as much room between myself and Greg as possible, it may have seemed a touch rude backing away.
Then once down the lock we winded , returned down Sheepcote Wash, turned left back onto the Thames and pootled down the river to East Street. Winded again and pulled into a space. The demolition works at the Power Station were quite noisy so we nudged round to be in front of the façade that is being kept. Here we can get a delivery, then hopefully we’ll start to make our way up towards Banbury, doing our best to avoid people. I’ll have a mask in my back pocket to try to deter people and hand sanitizer before I touch anything. Here’s hoping it remains just a bad cold and that Mick doesn’t come down with it.
Covid view Day 1
Where might I have picked it up? Well almost certainly not from the lock keepers yesterday. Saturdays visit to the pub also seems a bit too close, but maybe my steak came with added covid! I think I’m most likely to have picked it up in Reading when I went on a hunt for shopping.
What will be, will be and only time will tell how we both do living in a confined space together.
1 lock, 0.54 miles, 2 winds, 1 left, 1 big delivery, 2 packets paracetamol, 2 boxes tissues, 1 big bottle of cough medicine, 0 shore leave for Tilly, 1 faint line, thank goodness it was this week not next!
A slow start this morning so that we could join the Geraghty zoom. Subjects today acorns, anti-virals and loft insulation.
Goodbye Abingdon
Another sunny day meant the river was busy. A canoe stopped a wide beam from pulling out across the way, they were wanting to wind so waited patiently then waved us on before they started their manoeuvre.
A tall affair
Abingdon Lock was set for us and we rose up with plenty of people watching, then pulled along onto the water point. It seems that some of the water points are being changed, the other day at Cleeve Lock I’d noticed the new short hose already attached to the tap, here the water point is long and tall with a yellow surround to it.
Backflow protection
The pressure wasn’t too great and the hose just managed to reach our water filler on the off side of the bow. Water seems to be pumped up high to a small tank and then it flows through the hose to your boat. This is all to do with not wanting to have river water flowing back into the water mains, which is understandable with the amount of sewage that is allowed into the rivers. But it all takes time. We were patient and made use of the big skips to dispose of our rubbish and recycling. Talking of which, if you are a boater, have you filled in the C&RT survey regarding services and distances between them? It’s anonymous so no reason not to have your say in what C&RT will see as the national standard for services. Survey Link
The next river reach goes on and on. Not as bad as when Mick did it a few years ago with an overheating engine with a large amount of fresh coming the other way. The sunk boat is still mid channel, then numerous rowing boats and plenty of cruisers out for a Sunday pootle.
Sandford being emptied
There was a blue board at Sandford Lock, but someone had set it to empty. I walked up with the boat hook and opened the gate. The Lock Keeper arrived, he’d been just about to go for lunch as we arrived, could he help with ropes? We got ourselves sorted and then waited for a cruiser to join us. They had no idea! A rope from the bow was put round a bollard as their boat continued into the lock. The rope was moved along, then again and again. The Lock Keeper went to help, pulling them back in the lock and making sure they had two ropes round the bollards. This lock fills from the sides as well as from the end, so you need to keep hold of your rope.
Just about full
We led the way, coming across numerous rowers all at bends which made positioning ourselves very awkward! I don’t think we’ve ever come into Oxford on a sunny Sunday in term time before. I think we’ll do our best to avoid it in future!
Iffley!
Iffley Lock, the Lavender Lock was on Self Service, it always feels like we’ve arrived in Oxford when we go through here . I headed up to see what needed doing. A small day boat was just entering the lock above to be followed by an eight, the lock just wide enough for them. A chap asked if I could open the gates for them so they could get back on board, of course I could. But this all took time as they hadn’t got a rope round a bollard, the boat tipping from side to side as people got on and off.
All that Lavender
Then a Lock Keeper appeared and requested that they put a rope around a bollard and then actually hold on to it! A request came from the boat, could he help with the rope. ‘No, I’ve got covid’ he then retreated to the other side of his garden.
Our turn next with the cruiser. We let them leave first as they’d be quicker than us, all we both had to do was negotiate our way around the waiting rowing boats and those also heading towards the lock.
Someone with a different style has been decorating the walls under bridges. An Arthurian subject, with knights on horse back jousting and a unicorn.
Trip boat 1 out of the way
Towards Folly Bridge there was a log jam. The cruiser we’d been sharing with had pulled over to the side, two eights were sat waiting for a big trip boat to wind and head down stream. The eights then had to wind themselves, another trip boat was about to back away from it’s moorings, but we got in first only to meet four canoes coming under the arch of the bridge. Hopefully now the river would calm down.
Canoes next
No! The cruiser suddenly appeared having come round the island of the bridge the other way. They headed off and we soon passed them trying to moor. Hopefully NOW the river would be quieter.
Demolition works
Osney Lock had a boat coming in from above. A lady closed the gates behind the boat the chap held onto his centre line. I suggested that I could work the bottom gates and sluice allowing the lady to get on board. She was happy with this and just carried on walking away from the lock, I suspect a helpful passerby rather than crew.
Here we were on our own, no Lock Keeper. A fella walked past and informed us that the Lockie here also had covid. There was space on East Street, maybe because the old Power Station is being demolished opposite.
On upstream under the bridge to Sheepwash Channel where we turned right. The old railway swing bridge that last year was shrouded in covers has been restored, sleepers and track, the workings all shiny black and yellow. Not that there is anywhere for it to connect to as houses stand where the line once used to be.
Isis
Isis Lock. Time to dig out the windlass again. This lock means Panto, Autumn leaves, Inspector Morse watching, Christmas shopping, fish and waiting for the River Cherwell to come out of flood. It’s nice to be back.
Going up
We pulled into the first space. Tilly was given 2.5 hours, Yeh yeh, I know where I am! It’s that isthmus outside! You always tie this one up! Still no new complex opposite. Time to put a Sunday roast on and have a catch up with my brother.
5 locks, 1 narrow one, 9.58 miles, 1 right, 1 left, 2 many boats, 1 tall waterpoint, 2 poorly Lockies, 2 boats with no idea, 1 near miss, 2.5 hours, 1 roast chicken, 1 sore throat!
Apologies for yesterdays post arriving late. Our host seemed to have some problems and we couldn’t access the blog for a couple of hours. Hopefully those who receive the blog via email still got it even though it was a couple of hours late. We think/hope the problem is now resolved.
Remenham to Shiplake
The sounds from outside were not good when we woke, it sounded very windy already! We’d hoped to be on the move earlyish, put the miles in before the weather hit, it sounded like it had beaten the forecast. The decision was made quickly to have a cuppa in bed and potter away the morning waiting for things to improve.
Priority Pooh Posting
A post box was required to send a routine sample off to the NHS. Mick looked up on Google for the nearest post box. Google had us walking into Henley to the bridge then back along the road that runs parallel to the river, that route would certainly increase our steps for the day. Instead we walked downstream and then up a footpath to St Nicholas Church and the post box, all of five minutes.
Is the weather vein a dog with a droopy ear? Or a donkey with it’s head bowed down?
Here Remenham Farm and it’s associated cottages and barns creates a small village with it’s own church, everywhere decorated with flint. The barns have now been converted into office space and the farm is more residential than it once was. The Copas Family bought the farm in 1976 and have continued the connection with Henley Regatta which started in 1839, the start of the racing is on part of their land. The famous Barn Bar which first opened in the 1930’s is on their land too, we’ve seen t-pees stretching away from the river in the build up to the regatta, a versatile farm for hospitality, they also grow wheat, barley and oilseed rape. It certainly is well manicured by the river, along the path small square sockets can been seen presumably used for fencing when the regatta is on.
St Nicholas Church
A church has been on the site since 1066. There have been two restorations, one in 1838 the other in 1870 which eliminated much of the ancient church and was when the south isle was added.
Its a small affair with lots of stained glass windows all donated by locals. The building curves around the alter and a narrow window depicts Christ on the cross.
Twisted ropes and vine leaves
A pair of iron gates sit at the end of the south isle masking off the organ pipes. The hand wrought gates were made in Sienna in 1873 and are rather fine.
Temple Island highlighted in a small patch of sun
Back on board the wind picked up, the rain came. We pottered away the late morning and afternoon. Some book keeping, carrot and orange soup consumed, more stencil cutting, schedule for panto looked at in detail. Then the wind abated, should we move off or should we stay? Another £12 would be better in our pockets than someone else’s.
Grey day Henley
So a little over our 24 hours we pushed away Remenham. Were the people who named Remenham and Medmenham related? And were they all mumblers?
It always makes me smile
We made our way towards Henley proper, I kept a look out for the lovely little wooden boat called Tiddley Pom Pom. My Grandfather on my mum’s side was known as PomPom so I like to imagine him, ex-minor from Pontefract pootling along the Thames in such a pretty boat, eating his Nuttall’s Mintoes and Pontefract Cakes.
Henley Bridge
A Lock Keeper worked us up through Marsh Lock with a cruiser. A dark cloud started to grow, the river turning to meet it’s course. Heavy and dark overhead we decided we’d achieved enough for the day especially as a space showed itself on the 24hr Shiplake moorings. We pulled in, tied to the wooden posts, Tilly was offered some shore leave, she wasn’t that keen!
If only…
1 lock, 2.95 miles, 1 church, 1 pooh sample, 1 small church, 7 stencils cut, 2 receipts, 1 list of questions, 1 wet blowy day, 1 Tiddley PomPom.
We allowed ourselves a cuppa in bed with the papers this morning, hours still need to be cruised but not quite so many a day. By 10:30 we were ready to make a move the board at Marlow Lock being blue (Self Service) I prepared the bow rope on the cratch board for ease of picking up with the boat hook.
Marlow Lock
Gongoozlers awaited our arrival, one of them filming our every move! I pressed buttons, got the bow rope, secured the bow, closed gates, pressed buttons, adjusted rope, etc, then we were on our way again.
Bridge works
A big pontoon sat below Marlow Bridge, two chaps stood looking up at something.
Wonder how much for this place now?
The big houses and their gardens stretch off into the distance, a balustrade wall with an urn full of flowers every 16ft or so marks the edge of their estate. We’ve seen staff moving around these properties in golf buggies before!
Nearly but not quite halfway
Temple Lock marks almost the half way point between London and Oxford on the river. Here two chaps who looked like they were working on the gates pressed the buttons for us, a big sign besides them with a phone number should you have any problems with the lock 24/7.
So many coats of varnish o their boats.
A short distance on is Hurley Lock, blue signs lied to us as there were two Lock Keepers on duty. There was just enough time to have a peek over the fence into Peter Freebody and Co to look at the pretty boats. Oleanna was the fifth boat they’d had through the lock this morning, a quiet day.
Just over three and a half miles to the next lock. We were wanting to be moored up before the weather took hold today, should we stop at Medmenham? There was plenty of space but we really needed to be at least another hour on especially if the weather tomorrow is bad.
Boats settling in for winter
Passing the weir cut for Hambledon Lock we waved to where WB Still Rockin used to winter, wonder where she is now with her new owners?
The wind was starting to pick up by now and dropping me off to work the lock took a while to get the bow in so I could head of with the boat pole. A couple were just entering the lock from above on a Kris hire boat. Their skills suggested they’d done this before a few times. The lock took forever to empty, I suggested the lady get back on and I’d open the gates for them. But still it took forever, not helped by very few of the lights working on the extensive panel, of which you only need three buttons! Then at last the gates moved, they were set free and the lock was now ours.
Control Panel B
With no gate paddles obvious I suspected this to be a side filler. The bow rope was wrapped round the bollard several times, no lugs to hold it tight. I pressed the button to fill the lock and gently the water started to flow in. The bow rope was adjusted and as the flow of water increased Oleanna sat a distance out from the side of the lock, kept away by the filling water. Thankfully we could leave the top gates open as a cruiser appeared with perfect timing to go down.
It now started to rain. That rain that soaks you when you’re not looking! Our scheduled stop today was Temple Island the start of the boat racing in Henley. Waterway Routes suggested there were moorings beside the island, so we headed towards where there was a sign that confirmed this, however all along the bank were signs saying Private Mooring with names of boats on them. Winter moorings maybe, the signs didn’t look permanent.
Henley ahead!
Up ahead on the other bank were a few boats, a sign fixed to a tree suggested that maybe these were pay for moorings. We pulled in along the good edge, sign checked £12, but it would mean we wouldn’t have to battle onwards in the weather.
Rubbish!
We were soon settled and the doors opened up for Tilly to explore. We knew she wouldn’t be too keen due to the manicured nature of the field and gardens.
Boring!
After an initial explore she preferred to sit on the stern and watch the world go by, or walk along the catwalk keeping a close eye on the woofers. Inside I ticked off a few more jobs for panto and cut out another couple of stencils. A logo was drawn out, scanned and sent on to Jo the props maker, I quite like it and may see if I can get a t-shirt printed for first night.
Up, out of bed, breakfasted and walking towards the station this morning for Mick to catch a train into Maidenhead, then one to London, the tube, on to York and the final train of that leg to Scarborough. Our latest lodgers had moved out yesterday, so the house needed checking over and the grass cutting.
Only a bit of space on York to moor today
I meanwhile headed off to Sainsburys to see how much I could carry back to the boat ending up doing an intermediate shop which would keep us going until we reach Tescos in Reading.
Just look at those!
The shop windows in Marlow have tantalising things in them. I SO wish I ate gluten still as one cafe had the most enticing looking bread in their window and trays of wonderous baked goods filling the counters. Oh well I most probably saved myself a fortune.
I behaved and didn’t stock up on yarns
A shop down a side street caught my eye, a crafty shop with fabrics and yarn. My bumbag needs the zip replacing, so I waited outside for the shop to open then purchased what I hope is the correct length zip for the job. Just need to find the time with enough daylight to put it in now.
Alan, still King of the wall in Scarborough
Today I was going to make use of the table whilst Mick was away and do a bit of prep work for panto. The elaborate portals that I’ve designed have quite a few things that repeat themselves, so a quick means of drawing them out is required. I could project them onto the scenery, a method I’ll use elsewhere this year, but as these are so repetitive I’m going to use stencils.
Rats blown up
I gridded up the card I’d bought in London and transferred the designs across, trying to better the originals I’d used for the model. The correct lines were picked out from the mistakes with pen and later on in the day I started to cut them out. After two I’d had enough, the others can happen over the next few days when we moor up.
Around the lock was busy today. Plenty of boats coming and going. At one point I looked up to see a grey widebeam gliding past with no-one at the helm. They were sorting out their centre rope and ran back down the roof before the boat went off course.
EA getting ready for some work somewhere
A work boat and skip came down the lock. We’ve seen a few worky type vessels about the place, presumably getting ready for winter maintenance.
Several of the overstaying boats moved off too. Notices removed from windows. That left us and one other boat that looks like it is quite happy here.
Thankfully no friends were brought home today!
Council workmen arrived and did a bit of pruning in the park we’re moored alongside so whilst the chipper chipped Tilly was kept in. A big vat of carrot and orange soup was made from the remaining cheap carrots we’d bought at M&S, Not bad for 45p, a roast, a cake and soup.
Scarborough Station
Mick’s return journey from Scarborough wasn’t quite so good. The trains to London from York were cancelled so a detour via Leeds was taken. This train ended up stopping everywhere so got into London late. A fast train to Maidenhead got him slightly back on course where he caught up with a train he’d hoped to catch back to Marlow. He was back on board Oleanna just gone 10:30pm. A long day with a lot of trains.
Cats enlarged
0 locks, 0 miles, 9 trains, 2 tubes, 1 tidy house, 1 load washing, 1 catch up with neighbours, 2 bags shopping, 1 zip, 6 hours shore leave, 2 cancelled, 1 busy river out of season, 7 stencils drawn, 2 cut.
Sadly we could only stay one night on Tilly’s birthday island, we need to keep moving, admittedly not far today.
Sunday morning
But first there was time for Mick to rustle up a breakfast and for us to join the Geraghty zoom. The Basingstoke Canal, flights from Barra and the general state of the country were topics today.
We pushed away the island around 11am, passing our nearest neighbours soon afterwards. I wondered who might be staying in Spring Cottage at the moment (£2,750 a night) an extra £50 a night to include breakfast. Or at the cheaper NT run cottages £896 for three nights, no option of breakfast being included there.
You brought it with you, it’s now lighter, so much easier to take home!
We followed a big hire boat up to Cookham Lock where a volunteer saw both boats in and pressed the buttons for us. Mick had picked up a bag of rubbish on the island so we paused to drop it off at the bins above the lock. Why would you parcel up your rubbish and then hide it behind a tree on an island?! We topped up the water tank as a load of washing spun round in the machine and then carried onwards.
Bourne End can be so sunny, it almost feels like a resort as you glide along the wide water.
Sailing dinghy’s raced back and forth, the wind being in the perfect direction for their course today.
Click photo for details
Another house for sale, with a good length of mooring, only £2,750,000.
We paused at a familiar boat, bipped our horn, but only the wagging tail of a dog greeted us today. Next time we’ll make sure we send a message in advance.
Terraced garden
All the big houses climbing up the cliff and pretty boats moored below.
Round the big bend in the river, we spied space on the EA moorings below Marlow Lock and pulled in. We then nudged along in front of one of several boats with overstay notices on their windows. The route to walk up to the lock takes you round the houses a touch, but does give a great view across to Marlow.
Marlow
Only a volunteer on duty as it was lunchtime. Mick ventured back later in the afternoon to check in with the Lockie and see if it was possible for us to stay for two nights instead of just the one. As it was out of season he gave us permission.
Tilly got busy, bringing a friend inside to the warmth! Luckily it turned out to be easy to catch, but when released in the hedgerow it scarpered so quickly it didn’t see which way it was going and ended up in the river. It did swim, so I’m hoping it found somewhere to climb out.
I put together some photos and words for the Panto programme. They wanted a two page spread about the set design process. Lots of photos and a sentence with each one, I suspect I’ve given them too much.
What a lovely mooring it is here, we’ve only stayed by the park above the lock before which is quite busy, just a shame there is constant nose from the road bridge!
1 lock, 5.16 miles, 1 bag of rubbish, 1 tank of water, 1 load washing drying on the whirligig, 2 nights okay, 4 hours shore leave, 0 island, 7 photos, 7 sentences.
Blue skies greeted us this morning as we pushed away Teddington. This is going to be another trip up stream on the Thames where we keep saying ‘next time’ as we don’t have too much spare time on our hands. We always seem to go up stream on the Thames too, maybe ‘next time’ we’ll come down stream and see things from a different angle, we’ll also save on a bit of diesel too.
We pootled through Kingston, on past Hampton Court Palace, there was space to moor, but not enough time to enjoy ourselves. I wonder if they still sell off their fruit and veg every week?
Up Molesey Lock
Molesey Lock, our first on the none tidal Thames had a lock keeper on duty, we were his fourth boat this morning. On we tootled aiming for about four hours of cruising today, but knowing we’d be a touch short of that due to wanting a suitable mooring for Tilly.
Click on photo for a nosy
Boat houses, big houses. One with a suitable 70ft mooring was for sale. If only we had rich relatives!
Colour coordinated with the rope
A Kingfisher darted along between boats one of several we’d see today.
Open plan and lots of glazing
Plenty of riverside houses are being revamped or started from scratch, most with big windows to appreciate the views.
Bubbles
One property had three sets of bubbles bubbling up from the deep. Was this to keep the duck weed away? Or was it holes in a gas pipe line?
What’s this?
Does anybody know what this thing is? Steps up to it, round like an air shaft?
Rowing
Sunbury Lock was also manned, just the requirement to use bow and stern ropes and to turn your engine off. All the grass cut to perfection and flower beds still showing off some colour.
Maybe they are river huts
Little houses on stilts, looking like big beach huts.
A colourful place to work
Then there was a large pontoon in the middle of the river. The chaps wearing high vis sat about having their lunch break. It looked like there was a drill for collecting samples on the pontoon.
All lined up
We took the route to the north of Desborough Island. Last year we’d moored on the island when it was raining, not a suitable place for Tilly though. Today the moorings here were chocka so we carried on hoping there would be space on the council mooring a distance on.
Brilliant, we were the only boat. Not so brilliant was the large group of school kids heading in our direction! Were they just on lunch of were they skiving? As they hung around all afternoon, admittedly quite a distance from us we assumed they were skiving. This was almost certainly confirmed when they all headed off at school kicking out time!
Pesky kiddies
Tilly wasn’t too sure about it here at first. First there was a woofer that had to be avoided, then lots of screeching kiddies who tried to climb the trees. They were just spoiling it for everyone else, well me! Once they’d gone home for their dingdings I had the place to myself. If it hadn’t been for those pesky kiddies it would have got a stamp of approval!
Just let me get to those trees!
A flurry of panto emails had come through that needed some attention. Then as it was Thursday I put a chicken in to roast, timed to be ready after catching up with the Scarborough Chums. We’ve not had a Chums zoom catch up for what feels like months due to life returning to some kind of normal. Lovely to see people again, a shame some had to be at work. There was so much to catch up with, moving to Scotland, selling houses, buying pubs, a giant cardboard horse and Spanish wedding plans!
2 locks, 9.83 miles, £10,000,000 house, 70ft mooring, 2 many kids, 1 mooring spike, 1 wombled kindling hunt, 5 staying put, but 6 moving to 7 with a 6 inch brail, 1 roast chicken, 1 Sunday on a Thursday.
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.
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.
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!
