Grand Union Canal:Berkhamsted

Woke up this morning to rain.   Graham went ahead and set the first lock, so it was straight from mooring to rise in the lock, then repeat many times.  Graham wanted a little exercise and was happy to run between locks, so we made fast progress in spite of (or perhaps because of) the rain.   Leaving Topside Lock there was a horrible vibration and juddering from the propeller and we had no power.  And drifted around in the wind.  The engine was OK, so bow thrusters worked at it was possible to get the bow to the shore, land Graham, and then get safely moored up to investigate. Delving into the weed hatch revealed a length of green rope wound on the propeller but attached below the water to something heavy which couldd be lifted but not through the hatch.  So just elected to cut whatever it was ioff and let it sink out of harms way.   All back to normal and continued on to be lucky to find a mooring outside the Crystal Palace pub.   The wind was getting up making mooring difficult.   Here we had a change of crew scheduled and both shared drinks and food in the pub before separating.   Wanting to visit the supermarket for supplies it seemed easier to move the boat to the park moorings.  Not so easy in the wind as it happened.  Again we were pleased to find a mooring space.