Grand Union Canal:Kensal Green

We had guests to join us as far as Paddington, so left later than usual.  The weather was good.   The large number of moored boats throughout the canal was in stark contrast to previous trips, such that mooring was more or less impossible.   Hoping to stop below City Road lock for lunch we were about to be disappointed and then noticed the visitor moorings in the basin which were free, but obviously unattractive to continuous moorers because of access issues.   I have not used this site before.  It looks good for an overnight as well, with good edge and bollards.    Moving on, Camden was the usual mayhem with lots of folk out in the nice weather, jumping into Kentish Town road lock and sitting on the bank with feet dangling in the water.   Frightening trying to keep the boat off in the light wind which hovering for the next lock.   Busy with boats too.    Arriving at Paddington later than usual there was nowhere to moor until we found a spot right at the end of the basin with one ring only, so moored up using a chain on the adjacent pontoon.   Then we got told to leave by security.    There was another spot that we tried, but again no proper mooring rings and we had to move on.    Little Venice straight was full of course and CRT in their wisdom in the peak summer season had decided to improve moorings further on so these were all blocked off.   No alternative but to move on to Kensal Green.   Howeber, as we moved on, now into dusk and finally night, it became apparent that the whole area was on the fringe of the Notting Hill carnival with madness everywhere, boats moored all over and no sign of any space at Kensal Green Visitor Moorings.    Having spotted sme space on the Sainsbury Shopping moorings we reversed back and stopped there.  Not ideal at all.    Fortunately we had another guest who joined us at Paddington as our original ones had left.   So he too ended up at Kensal Green.   In its way it is not a bad spot on the proper moorings under ordinary circumstances.  There is grass, rings and it is fairly quiet.  The cemetery is opposite!   The No 18 bus stops nearby on the Harrow Road and goes to Euston, past Paddington.