UK Canals - Journey reports

Back to Harefield

We woke to the sound of heavy rain at our usual time and it took ages for the dawn, the sky overcast with dark grey.   We needed to be home today so nothing for it but to get kitted up and go for it.   First the boat needed to be winded.  There is allegedly a winding hole above the lock but it is not marked and there are several looking possibilities.  However, the one I selected must have been badly silted because it took ages and a 10 point turn to do it.   Fishermen waiting on the bank in the rain obviously enjoyed the exercise and suggested a better alternative using the weir stream.   Note duly taken!   In spite of the rain and rejecting one totally sodden and useless hat after the second lock, we teamed up with another boat at Common Moor Lock and got back to Harefield in 4 hrs 30 mins.  Nothing else moving.  Not bad going really and most locks were against us.    Rain had more or less stopped by Stockers.  Plenty of water about!

TV Reception on the boat

When we had analogue TV signals it was almost always possible to get some sort of signal on the boat.  It might have been a very grainy picture; usually the sound was OK.  But now that is gone and we have to rely on digital Freeview there is either a marvellous picture or nothing.  After the switchover the digital signals were supposed to be boosted, although hitherto we have seen little evidence of that.  Today we are moored above Ironbridge Lock at the bottom of Cassiobury Park in the Colne Valley.  We never had a good picture here in analogue days and never before an adequate digital signal.   The principal transmitter is Crystal palace, but behind the hills and trees no chance.  However there is a secondary (slaved?) transmitter at Hemel Hempstead, but the polarity is different, so it means taking a spanner to the aerial to twist the thing on its stalk.  Not very practical.

This tiny TV aerial saves a lot of hassle.

However, we do have a "stick" aerial with a magnetic base that just plonks on the roof that doesn't seem to mind the polarity differences and today it is working a treat.

 

Some folk swear by satellite signals.  I've never tried, but the satellites are low on the horizon and direct line of sight is required, so potentially there is the same problem with buildings, trees and hills.  The stick works brilliantly in Paddington Basin surrounded by high buildings.

Only three locks today, but there was a hard frost overnight and the balance beams can be very treacherous if frosty.   Pat used the bridge at Common Moor Lock.   The pound below is down about 9 inches, probably because the gates at Lot Mead leak so badly and the top gates are self opening.  We stopped at Bridgewater Boats for a pump out, but were 15 minutes early.  "Any chance of a pump out?"  "Not till 9 O'Clock when we open".   But it was all done by 6 minutes after.   We were kept waiting at Ironbridge while a curious pair went up, winded and came back down.  The butty if you could call it that was an open frame over the hold which appeared full of plants and chopped wood.  Bit like my fantasy butty which is a vegetable garden complete with shed.

Lot Mead Lock

A chilly morning, but the fire had stayed in alll night and we were snug.  The sun appeared later and one could have said "It's a nice day".

Pat started by walking Alfie to the first bridge hole and then everything proceeded as usual on the way up the canal.  We stopped at Tesco Ricky for supplies as usual, and then at Batchworth Lock the usual mele of boats right at the lock throat.  There is only room for one boat on the lock mooring which doubles as a rubbish disposal, water point and even self pump out and given the large number of liveaboards in the neighbourhood it is always busy.  Our solution is to put the lock operative off on the lock landing on the offside and work from there.   If single handing this is preferred anyway as the easy access up on the locklanding side has been blocked by railings.   There is no other place to moor for the lock as all spaces are taken up by trip boat, and permanent moorings.  Moving on you come to Lot Mead Lock which has top gates which will always swing open given half a chance.  The bottom gates leak badly, not good for the water levels in the long pound above if the top gates are always open.  To work this lock it is necessary to crack a bottom paddle before attempting to close the top gates so that they stay closed.   We moored up above the lock as a new place to stop and explore.  There is a footpath that leads to Rickmansworth High Street.  We had also expected a TV signal here but no such luck.  Hills and trees make TV reception very difficult in this valley.

Widewater

Off for a long weekend, but first some routine maintenance.  Up one lock to Widewater where the dog can wander a bit without getting run over.  In the evening an excellent chinese from Harefield Chinese Takeaway.  Getting cold!