The day after arriving at Kensal Green (Friday), I was up at 6 am and off by 6:45. Made very good progress apart from a quick stop at Alperton to remove large quantities of plastic from the propeller. Made even better progress after that, so felt that a brief stop at 10:00 for coffee at Bulls Bridge was allowed. On arrival at Cowley, the luck changed. There was a houseboat going up the lock and I watched as a narrowboat backed up to take up the tow. On the first attempt at pulling away one of the cross straps broke. I decided it was time for lunch. After lunch they were just negotiating the bridge, but by the time I had waited for an opposite direction and used the lock myself they were gone round the corner. I caught up with them again at Uxbridge Boat Centre and waited while they maneuvered - which seemed to take ages. Then the motor boat shot off towards Uxbridge Lock only to decide on a winding at the bridge below the marina entrance. More waiting! However, I thought my luck had changed when I saw Uxbridge Lock gates open. I turned my head to look elsewhere briefly and then they were shut. A blast on the horn did nothing, so I nosed right up to the gates. The top paddles were up already and someone leaned down from the top of the gates saying "Sorry didn't see you". I will have to confess to feeling a little bit of canal-rage rearing up at this point. I must have looked fearsome, because they drained the partly filled lock and opened the gates for me. And it was only a rubber dinghy with outboard motor waiting!
Denham Deep lock was empty and ascended in good style. Then the rush to beat the rush hour home. I failed. Chelsea is a nightmare now that Battersea Bridge is closed after the barge hit it over a week ago.
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