UK Canals - Journey reports

Rain

It was raining - a light rain - when we surfaced this morning. But Alfie didn't want to go out. That bad. So we togged up for wet weather in the usual way, save that Pat had her nice new waterproof jacket on and We both wore our new leather "Aussie" style hats. Apart from the first, every lock was against us with bottom Gates open and paddles up. Must have been a "working" boat ahead, only no work! It was also cold. After four hours and on my third hat I realised that we have never been out in continuous rain before, because the rain had become heavier, the leather hats were totally sodden and useless, the second felt hat had deteriorated likewise with water running down my forhead into my eyes and my head must have shrunk because the third hat wouldn't stay on properly. Glad to get na,k to the marina and lunch.

Cassiobury

We  left Widewater early so as to make Watford in good time.  It was cold and grey with the canal having a desolate look.  Who would be mad enough to venture on the water today?    We met the lengthsman at Black Jacks, a chatty fellow who helped with the gates and told us that he was there to let water down because Cowley was low.  I didn't ask, but I couldn't follow this logic because the river enters the canal above Uxbridge Lock and there should always be enough water at Cowley and anyway the Widewater bywash was running well.   At Coppermill we arrived behing two Hillingdon Community boats setting off above the lock.  We followed them to the convenient canalside Tesco where the moorings were all taken, so tied up to some trees by the car park.   Pat was faster shopping than the Hillingdon boats, so we were ahead again.   Batchworth was open for us with a broadbeam waiting to come down and another boat left the gates for us at Common Moor Lock, so the canal was busy after all.    Finally we met two broadbeam community boats from Nash Mills with a load of cubs on board having fun.  All in all a good day and the sun had even appeared.   

After four months of inactivity the boat needs a little TLC.   The roof has a lot of rust spots, so I endeavoured to take advantage of the weather to rub them out and touch up with suitable paint for a quick job.   One tap needed attention, but otherwise not bad at all.  The batteries seem to be in good shape as judged by the new Smartgauge monitor so justifying the value of the solar panels.

Getting the boat out.

First trip of the year!   We arrived at the marina early, the better to be able to sort out the boat from the winterisation.   It was 5 degrees inside when we arrived, buit the central heating and squirrel stove soon sorted that out.   First job was  to flush the potable antifreeze out of the water system and fill the tank.   The first drops, the dregs of the empty tank and what's in the pipes was drained into an old plastic bottle and the remains with first flushings into the washing up bowl and flushed down the toilet.           The tank and hot water cylinder was then filled.    There remains a little of the chemical in the hot water system, but we don't drink that and it is not toxic.Then I moved on to install the newly aquired Smartgauge.   Some thought was given where to place it, but in the end there was little choice as the only space that would accommodate it was lower on the bulkhead where the existing alternator controller is.  This is on the same side as the batteries, so the wire run is much easier anyway.     Down in the engine hole it was just a matter of bolting the terminals down onto the battery posts until one of the studs just sheared off.   That meant a trip to the chandlery to find a replacement.  We then moved the boat up the first lock (Widewater) to moor up there ready for an easy departure in the morning.    There was only one small craft moored by the lock and the rest of the bank was clear.   The moorings are good, but noise from the adjacent gravel pit puts the continuous moorers off.    Also this spot is well placed to access the excellent Harefield Chinese takeaway.