Mon 21st July
As is usual I left home in Beckenham early (7.a.m.) with my daughter (Chloe) and her boyfriend (Rob). The crew also included two Labradors, Bella and Cassie. Leaving early we beat the traffic and routing via the S Circular to Battersea Bridge and then the A40, we arrive at Harefield Marina within an hour.
A quick loading saw us leaving the mooring at 8:10 destination Tesco at Rickmansworth for revictualling and ships stores (mostly beer). Stopping for lunch above Common Moor Lock we made King's Langley that evening. Quite a few boats moored up there by the time we arrived, but we found somewhere just on the bend past the winding hole.
Tuesday 22nd July
Tha Captain believes in early starts, but in deference to the crew, left Kings Langley at 8:50. Stopped for water at Apsley and 15 minutes later were on our way again. We made the Three Horseshoes for lunch, having first negotiated the Winkwell swing bridge. Even though it is a small lane there seems to be an enormous amount of traffic and it is difficult to find the right moment to operate the electric bridge. Its a nice stop for guests though as the pub is reasonable and there is plenty to watch. We commented on the fact that the decking for the outdoor seating has no guard rail for the canal and the seating is positioned right alongside the edge. Strange that Health and Safety hasn't had a go! We like the hint of a bit of risk to add exitement. On the way onward we passed two boats that we recognised from previous trips, Meinzapint from Harefield Village and Comet - a boat that we travelled up the Thames with last year with Roger Allsop. Comet was going our way and we were to leapfrog each other for a while, although our schedule was more relaxed. Stopped for the night opposite Bridgewater Boats in Berhampstead.
Wednesday 23rd July
Took the dogs out early for their morning constitutional ( and dump). On the way back met Paula from a Boat with no Name on her way with two young Swedes to Macclesfield. Ended up travelling with her to Cowroast where we temporarily parted company. She had just bought the boat and was new to the canals. I tend to work the locks always as if I am single handed even when crew is available. It seems churlish somehow to stand imobile of the back of the boat in a lock while others are running around (or holding up passage) and besides I like the excercise. Chloe has her helmsman's certificate and is perfectly capable of managing the boat anyway. So I got chatting to Paula and passed on a few single handed operating tips for what they are worth.
We stopped for lunch outside the White Lion at Marsworth where I was to meet up briefly with a business partner who needed a document signing. Its one of those erie experiences one has when narrowboating. You have been travelling for days - a friend rings you up at the top of Marsworth locks and says he needs to meet up urgently and there he is, waiting at the bottom having driven all the way from Surrey in a few hours. Now you see why I call the boat a time machine. Went on and stopped at Horton Locks for the night. Very quiet (apart from the cows) lonely mooring opposite a farm. Saw Paula again briefly, but she hadn't lasted the course. Don't know how she was going to make the Macclesfield in the time she had allowed.
Thursday 24th July
Set off early leaving the boat in Chloe's hands at Grove Lock to walk with the dogs into Leighton Buzzard. Had to stop at Tesco again, but there was great difficulty in finding a mooring, so we had quite a walk to the supermarket.
After a long and rather tedious day, ending up still in the rain we stopped at Milton Keynes opposite the marina entrance. Very disappointed with the pub, which inspite of being a new building appeared very run down. Perhaps it was the weather.
Friday 25th July
Rob and Chloe were to catch the train at Wolverton to return home, so an early start while crew were still asleep to get them there by 10:15. Fine rain and chilly all the way, so just gritted my teeth and kept the vessel at warp factor 4, the most you can expect on a broad canal. Made it in reasonable time and dispersed the crew, leaving me alone with the dogs for company - whereupon I set off on the next leg of the journey to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne via a water stop at Cosgrove Lock. Had some company up the Stoke Bruerne flight and ended up totally drenched from the waist uo. Got the fire going to dry things off. Tried to get into the Museum, but it was approaching closing time, so walked the dogs and ended up in The Boat.
Saturday 26th July
Just got into the Blisworth tunnel to find a boat coming the other way and unfortunately struck the tunnel roof with the corner of the cabin roof causing minor damage to the cratch cover. After Blisworth, there is again a fairly long motor to the bottom of the Buckby flight. There was quite a lot of opposite direction traffic at this stage and I picked up company for the climb. Today's target was to get to the bottom of the Watford Locks, but I made good time and by the time I arrived there it seemed a good idea to go up. Problem was that there was a queue of about 6 boats waiting. However, the lock keeper seemed unperturbed, even though it was about 4.30 and after about an hours wait, the batch of boats was allowed to go up. I find it amusing the reaction of other boaters to a lone boater in this situation. There is an overwhelming desire on their part to offer help, which of course is gratefully received, but if their motive is to speed things up, it seems to me , that they slow themselves down.
The plan was to moor overnight above Watford Locks, however the noise from the motorway bridge was too overwhelming to make this a practical proposition. I continued on just around the corner to the first decent bit of metal piling and stopped there. Quiet! Good dog walking possibilities also.
Sunday 27th July
Set off at 7:25 and did the Crick tunnel, but just as I was reaching Crick Wharf a boat pulled out about 100 yards ahead and I had to slow down. It appeared to be going irritatingly slowly, so much so that tickover was almost too fast. I decided to let the dogs off for a walk on their own - first time I had tried this. They were happy enough to get off, but as soon as they realised they were alone, became rather agitated and looked as if they were attempting to get into the water to swim to the boat. Fortunately the piling was too high and this deterred them. They were very happy get to the next bridge hole which they always recognise as a boarding point. I resumed speed, but soon caught up with the rear of the preceeding boat again where I seemed doomed to stay. So it was, until Husbands Bosworth Tunnel where there was an almighty flap as this preceeding boat, which seemed to have a committee for a helmsman, realising that there was an oncoming in the tunnel went into full reverse, then wavered before finally entering the tunnel. I decided to wait outside rather than get caught up in a melee inside. When the oncoming had left the tunnel I proceeded and on emerging the other end having caught up again, was relieved to see the slowboat mooring up. Putting Nuggler into Warp Drive (Warp Factor 4), I continued on for another 15 minutes and stopped for a quick scrambled egg and bacon lunch. The remaining trip to the Foxton Staircase Locks went well, arriving there at 14:50. Again, there was a queue and it transpired a 1 hour 30 minutes wait. Good place to fill the water tank though. I should explain at the risk of being boring (more boring still?) that the Foxton Locks consist of two sets of five staircase locks. There is only one passing place for opposite direction boats in the small pound between the two sets of staircases, so the lock keeper when busy operates a one way process allowing a sequence of maybe 6 or more boats following one another. Once again, I had offers of help from the boats behind, although many of the crew did not seem to understand how the locks work. Once again, it soon became apparent, that with a carefully thought out method, I was, even as a single handed boater faster than those following, so left them behind. I was now, even with the delays earlier, ahead of schedule and bedded down for the night at the first opportunity. The slow boat went by....
Monday28th July.
Got up early and upped stakes at 7:05. Proceeding through Saddington Tunnel with the aim of only reaching Kilby that day, I rounded the bend for Kibworth Top Lock to see a boat waiting for me. It was slow boat, the name I can now reveal is Joshua. They had seen me coming through the tunnel and very kindly waited. The boat had been just purchased and it was the first trip for the new owners, aided by a grandfather who had some experience. Discussing plans it transpired they were local to Leicester and wouldn't dream of mooring up anywhere nearby for the night. Kilby would have been fine, but they wanted to move on, aiming for Birstall Lock on the Soar. This seemed a good idea to me, so I had the pleasure of a very friendly and helpful bunch down the canal, onto the River, and through Leicester to Bristall Lock. The sytem that worked best was that their young crew remained at the lock and closed the gates while I left first and prepared the next lock for them. This worked well. Had a reasonable meal in the White Horse, shame though that is was two for the price of one and I was only one!
Tuesday 29th July
I was now 24 hours ahead of schedule, so a leisurely day. Rain was forecast for later in the day. Moored up just above Barrow Deep Lock just in time.
Wednesday 30th July
Still ahead of plan, I thought that a visit to Loughborough would be fun. Reversed down the short arm to the Wharf, but to my amazement there was nothing there. There was a new pontoon mooring, but the only land side access was to a builders yard. What a missed opportunity the burgers of Loughborough have yet to take advantage of. So that was a waste of time - goodbye Loughborough . Arrived at Zouch Lock at 11:am and decided to stay there for the night. The dogs and I enjoyed some good walks in the surrounding countryside and along the river bank. I would be ready for the final push to Sawley Marina the next day.
Thursday 31st July.
Arrived on the Trent and after a weeks worth of single handed lock operation had great difficulty in coping with the lock keeper operated Sawley Lock. All too fast, and not enough time to get roped up properly. No harm done and the gardens were very pretty. Arrived at the Marina and parked up on the visitor moorings. Arranged to stay there for the long weekend, and bought some Launderette pre-pay cards and a token for the pump out. Did the house work. Walked the dogs to the station to see how far it was (about 1/2 hour) and checked out the Chandlery. Watched the stream of Canaltime boats coming & going and listened to the (mostly) american visitors learning what they had got(ten) themselves into. Everyone seemed to be having fun though.
Friday 1st August
Non boating day. Bored with hanging around in the Marina I decided to try and get an earlier train to London. However, the conductor would not allow me to board - said he had the revenue inspectors on board and I would end up having to pay again. My tickets were for a later train with reserved seat. So I had 2 hours to lose and took the dogs to the nearest park and loitered around like a naer-do-well. (Nice toilets). Dogs were really well behaved for the journey back home to the other side of London.