Return to Harefield

The dinner party of last night and the chef (First Mate) had departed by 9 am, so having donned the long johns, jeans, three layers of top clothing plus waterproof/windproof jacket, "russian hat" (which folds down over the ears) and thinsulate gloves I set off to wind in the pool before commencing the return journey.   Apart from a boat seen emerging from Maida Vale Tunnel in the distance, nothing was seen moving until past Alperton where I had to wait briefly for a large workboat with mechanical excavator and spoil barge working on towpath renovations, to move out of the way.   A brief stop at Black Horse Greenford was used for a fast sandwich lunch and warm up, before continuing on to Bulls Bridge and turning right for the Main Line.   Unlike Sunday when all was quiet, the Denham gravel traffic was active with movement on the quay at West Drayton and sight of one of the special barges in the distance making its way towards me.  They travel quite slowly, but even so I was trying to calculate the wisdom of putting on a spurt for the intervening bridge hole when the helmsman gave me three flashes indicating that he was giving way.  Nearing West Drayton station at the end of the long straight section I noticed a tug following me in the distance.  By Cowley Peachey it had caught up with me, trailing a breaking wave in its wake.   The reason for its tuen of speed was evident when reaching the lock, for two massive dumb barges were being roped through the lock and the tug was just in time to pick up the second to establish what looked like a push pull train.   I wonder if this is intended as yet another attempt to try and increase the efficiency of the gravel traffic.   To my mind, automating Cowley and Uxbridge locks would bring the geatest benefit.      Further on at Uxbridge, yet another delay, this time for dredging works opposite the Hillingdon Canal Club moorings.   The sludge was being taken up past Uxbridge Boat Centre to a makeshift wharf where a long reach excavator was loading it into waiting lorries.   Arrival at the marina was uneventful, 7 hours after departure from Little Venice.