Saturday 1st May 2004
The weather this weekend was not forecast to be good. We arrived at the marina at 7:00 in a light rain, prepped the boat, lit the fire and set off at 7:20. No dogs with us this time as we were due to both be away from the boat at Watford for 5 hours or so and we are not too keen on leaving them locked up inside on their own for this length of time. Whether this had any bearing on things I do not know, but we made excellent time and reached Ironbridge Lock before 12 MD. Certainly the weather seemed to keep all other traffic off the canal apart from a small tug at Springwell Lock opposite direction and a plastic boat which joined us for the last two locks up to Cassiobury Park. They were on their way to the Nene. After a perfectly executed wind (the boat BUXTON is still there) we descended the lock and were moored up by 12:15. Lunch, as is the tradition was smoked salmon, Italian salad and new potatoes washed down with a bottle of Villacava. Excellent. Set off for afternoon meeting at 16:00 - about 1/2 hour walk and returned by 9:45.
Sunday 2nd May 2004
After a light breakfast we left at 8:25 for the journey back to Harefield. On the whole a "good road", but with a few locks needing top paddles opening just to correct levels before the gates would open. We were joined by ICENI from Coppermill, but at 12:25 we stopped for lunch above Widewater. ICENI was hopoing to make Little Venice. The afternoon turned out quite warm and reluctantly we returned to the marina at 15:50 and the journey home.
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