We should have set off two days ago leaving via Brentford and the Thames to Oxford then South Oxford Canal to our destination at Long Itchington. However, with all the recent rain "up country", the Thames was on red and yellow boards, so not for us. We have decided to reverse the direction and go up the Grand Union returning via the Thames if things have settled down by then. This weather all seems to be the residues of the hurricanes that we have been hearing of recently. So arriving at the marina about 7:00 we cleared the car, ran the central heating to air the boat, restocked the wine cellar and got the freezer going. This time I have disconnected the car battery, so hopefully, no surprises when we return. There was a huge mass of dense duckweed around the marina entrance but this had all but disappeared further up the canal. We stopped at Tesco, Rickmansworth for the inevitable large shop for victuals and pressed on, not in any real hurry. Just dawdling up to Batchworth lock we took a large object on the prop which immobilised the boat. Fortunately I was ging very slowly, Pat had already disembarked to deal with the lock. A visit to the weedhatch produced a fleece jacket, much to the amusement of the boatman waiting with the Rickmansworth Trust Trip Boat. Cassio Lock was overtopping as usual making the bottom gates difficult to open because of the water coming through the lock weirs. Ironbridge was beastly as usual. I am informed that one of the culverts is smaller than it should be and the bottom gates have a one inch gap at the bottom giving a huge leak. I managed to staunch the flow a bit by jamming a stick in the gap as the water was let into the lock. But still one has to be very patient with the top gates. Better to put the kettle on. Finally we arrived at our assigned (Canalplan) overnight stop and got sorted out for the night.
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