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.