UK Canals - Journey reports

Barby Moorings

Sunday April 16th

Last day of the trip.

Just the last lock of the Barby Flight to do this morning, then the tunnel which we had to ourselves.   We were welcomed at the top of the Braunston six locks by an upcoming boat and a very helpful volunteer lock-keeper.   There was one boat ahead of us going down, but also more moving up.  The lock-keeper worked tirelessly up and down checking that the locks were ideally set for these various movements and we had a really good run down.  There was a unusually large gathering of moored boats to pass before we got clear passage again, but thereafter made good speed.  How nice to be able to take up our mooring without the wind interfering.

Grand Union Canal:Bucky Top Lock (below)

No rain today, but cloudy.  Cold first thing but warming up.  Followed a boat in the distance through the tunnel then full ahead for the long cruise to the bottom of the Buckby Locks.  We passed quite a few opposite direction boats, but little to hold us up.  A Gayton hire boat was moving ahead of us very gingerly at Nether Heyford, but allowed us to pass.  Stopped for lunch in sight of the bottom Lock where nb Bluebell passed.  Bluebell was just sitting in the lock waiting when we set off again, so joined them in the lock and continued together.   About three locks up it appeared that a widebeam boat had slipped its moorings and was blocking the lock exit.  Bob managed to climb aboard from the offside lock landing and the boat was eventually secured.  This emphasises the fact that mooring in short lock pounds in extremely unwise.  Water levels rise and fall considerably even to te point of a dry pound.   A moored boat will be resting on its mooring pins in this situation and it was not surprise that the “safety pin” piling hook had been bent out of shape before slipping off.  Another reason not to moor in short pounds is that it sets the water levels out of balance by not passing it steadily down the hill with each lock cycle.   Bluebell and Nuggler continued to moor below the top lock.

Grand Union Canal:Wolverton

A windy day in promise but not as bad as yesterday and mostly sunny.   The Soulbury 3 Locks were the first obstacle after 44 minutes.   I guess the volunteer lock-keepers heard the clatter of the top gate paddles being wound, for one appeared and immediately began prepping the lock below for us.  Pleasing because in strong windy conditions one really wants to have no delay in moving from one lock to another rath3r than getting blown around waiting.  So the next lock in turn was the same and we cleared the flight in record time.   Stoke Hammond was next but quickly done.   Then the long cruise punctuated only by the swing-bridge lock at Fenny Stratford.   After that we encountered 6 Wyvern Shipping Hire boats in quick succession.  The first couldn’t make the turn under the road bridge just north of Fenny and blocked us.  The second appeared round the corner ahead and lost control swinging across our path and ramming the bank.   We had stopped.   Probably going too fast.  The remaining our were well behaved.   Much further on we stopped at Gifford Park for the pub (lunch) and a quick visit to the Tesco Express before continuing for the final hours cruise to Wolverton.   We have moored right under the railway embankment before the road bridge and flats to avoid our chimney smoke spoiling the residents’ evenings.   I’m amazed by the proliferation of wide/broad Beam boats in this area of Milton Keynes.  Logically, these have to be live-aboard continuous cruisers for the most part because the in-line permanent moorings are very limited, and they can’t leave the GU except for the Thames.  I get the impression that the majority of marinas are not planned for wide beam boats.

Grand Union Canal:he Globe Inn

After mooring yesterday and our explore of the Tring Rexervoirs the weather deteriorated with strong wind and torrential rain showers.  We were cozy on the boat and the wind generator was indeed generating.  Looking at the weather forecast for today it looked like more of the same with sunshine a.m. then wind peaking around lunchtime and further rain.  Not wanting to get caught in that I was rather hesitant to move today, but it would have meant 2 lost days before sign of improvement.  On balance we decided to go (a) the canals are generally sheltered (b) at least we could make some ground (c) there are plenty of places to stop (d) we do need a shop.  Good fortune was with us.  We paired up with single boaters and so many of the locks we reached had top gates wide open and at Slapton a hire boat family were keen to help while they waited “for their breakfast to be cooked”.   The wind was worst approaching Grove lock.   There were moorings outside Tesco at Leighton Buzzard and a helpful opposite direction boat had gates open for us at Leighton Lock.  Finally we found moorings outside the Globe - never a certainly as this is a popular spot. Then the rain came.  Looking forward to eating there again.

Grand Union Canal:Marsworth

We are advised that the locks down from Marsworth to Bushes are locked overnight from 15:30 hrs until 08:30 due to vandalism, so we times our departure to avoid the early morning shutdown.  We had no problems except for a slipping pinion on the top gate offside paddles on lock 52.   It was a lovely sunshine clear blue sky morning.   By the time we got to Marsworth Locks it was clouding over and the wind was increasing making management of the boat difficult in a crosswind.  First the wind blows he boat to one side of the lock, then as it descends it bounces off the downwind side of the lock ad blows the boat back.   Roping the boat out of the lock which I do as a single hander there is a risk that the boat will blow away from the landing before the process of closing the lock gate is complete, thus requiring a formal departure, moor up and return to close the gate, all time wasting.   Anyway Marsworth bottom was reached with out major incident and the visitor moorings just to the right of the road bridge were free.   After lunch we had time for a stroll around the reservoir before the heavens opened.  The wind generator is doing sterling work today.  We tried the Angler’s Retreat for dining this evening, but due to staff illness we were disappointed.   Gemma cooked a lovely spaghetti Bolognese in compensation.  Very glad we decided to stop here in the event.  Tomorrow looks better in the morning.

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.

Grand Union Canal:Winkwell

LEAVING Hutton Bridge we had a pretty well straightforward cruise.  We were getting good as a team and locks were being dealt with expeditiously.   I had a planned stop at Fisheries for a pre-lunch drink and I must say that I was very impressed with the pub and its decor.  It was very busy.   Moving on past the loads of walkers and children all out enjoying the weather we very quickly arrived at The Three Horseshoes our final destination for the day.

Grand Union Canal:Hunton Bridge

Saturday 8th April

i agreed to meet my guests at Croxley. Aka Common Moor Lock at 10am.  There. Is no room to moor there overnight so I staged at Lot Mesd and left at around 8:30.   Common Moor both gates were open which saved sime time and I reach level at precisely 10:00.  My friends had arrived early and not expected me to be hidden in the lock so gone looking along the tow path.  All resolved pretty quickly,  First stop was Bridgewater Boats for services and then a very leisurely cruise followed after some brief “traing”. Lunch at the Grove.  Moored up at HB where I was days ago.  Went down to the Kings Herad to discover that they don’t do food after 4pm.  The barmaid suggested Kings Lodge Hotel a bit further on.  We should have gone there in the first place.  Welcoming, busy bar and restaurant, good menu and excellent food.   

Grand Union Canal:Lot Mead Lock

Thursday April 6th

 

Another quiet day in the new position facing up hill.  Logging on to the Canal & River Trust website there was no mention of Winkwell on the stoppage site, so one can only assume that all is well there.  Still needing the fire overnight as temperatures are still down, 4 at night 10 daytime, although tomorrow is forecast sunny all day.  There were a few showers today.  I checked the C&RT website for waste disposal and it confirmed that there are facilities at Batchworth Lock, so decided to take the key this time and explore fully and see if I can finally get rid of my empty plastic bottles.  The key opens the Elsan and a clean toilet area, but nothing else.  I walked across the bridge to the Rickmansworth Canal Trust visitor reception and enquired there.  Yes there is a refuse collection point.  Follow the path alongside the River Chess around the back of the Premier Inn and you will find it there.  It is quite invisible from the main lockside and so you know what it looks like I took a photo.   There has been a small fire there destroying the fence and there is one bin outside the enclosure also piled high.  I returned to the boat along the Ebury Way.  It’s a good walk and not much longer than the towpath to get to Lot Mead.

Grand Union Canal:Lot Mead Lock

Wednesday 5th April

It was some years ago at Lot Mead Lock that I felt compelled to intervene in a territorial swan fight.  Each was trying to drown the other.  Today I discovered a days long dead dog on he offside on the bank down by the river.   The river Gade joins the canal just below the lock, so I thought I would go down and try turning there, then subsequently moor up below facing the way back.   This turned out to be very straightforward and the current of the river had little adverse effect.   Well I did use the bowthruster.  Having achieved that I set off for Tesco, again along Ebury Way as its easy walking on the good surface.  I took with me a collection of empty plastic bottles feeling sure that there would be recycling bins there.  No!  I thought  this was a large Tesco Extra, but it isn’t and the range of groceries on sale seemed small in comparison to my local Chatham ASDA.   Prices also appeared to be much higher.  A small tub of blueberries £2; ASDA £1 for example.   Had a lot of trouble with the self service till, but I guess I had the same issues at ASDA before I worked it all out.  Back to the boat with some top up shopping and will need to go again tomorrow.  The walk does me good!.  After a lovely start to he day, rain set in around 4pm.  I finished off the beef stew that was started on Monday.

Grand Union Canal:Lot Mead Lock

Tuesday 4th April

Set off about 9:00 and made steady progress down the hill.  Passed Lady Capel’s Lock, of historical significance for me as I played there watching the working boats as a boy.  Noted that there was space at Grove Bridge moorings.  At Casiobury Park Locks two lengths men stopped work to help me through the lock pair.  Every little helps as the saying goes.  Ironbridge lock had a few gongoozlers as always.  It’s a very popular spot with walkers from the nearby Cassiobury Park.   Then came the water point at Cassio Lock.  Unfortunately a broad beam was moored immediately adjacent to the lock landing, so this was the only place for me to be able to get to the water point. Fortunately there was no traffic until I was nearly ready to leave when a boat came up the lock wanting to stop there.  They left the gates open, paddles up and a windlass still in place for me.   In a few days I am expecting to meet some guests at Croxley, or more precisely Common Moor Lock, so I was on the look out for mooring possibilities.  There were a few round the corner out of sight of the lock, but the straight leading up to the lock was packed apart from the lock landing.  Down below the story was the same until a bit further on when there were gaps.   There was some space between Lot Mead Lock and the railway bridge, but it is a little shallow so I am moored stern out in common with another boat ahead of me.   I thought I would take a walk down the old Watford to Rickmansworth railway line which has been properly paved and designated the Ebury Way.  It took me to Batchworth Lock and comes out at the back of the River Chess Moorings which I had never explored before.

Grand Union Canal:Hunton Bridge

The kids had the treat of working the swingbridge this morning as we continued on.  There seems to be more traffic now the weather is improving.   At Fishery Lock the water coming into the lock chamber overflowing the gates plus the bywashes which empty into the lock when overtopping the ground paddle weirs was so much that the two adults and two small children (one of which can already manage a gate on her own) were unable to open the bottom gates to leave.   It took the addition of a passer by to do this with a great deal of effort.  That was the worst.  We needed access to Kings Langley station to allow the guests to travel back to Berkhamsted where they had left their car.  Home Farm Lock appeared the best option, but it was necessary to descend to find a possible mooring site, but wanting to be near the access bridge, we had to accept a less than suitable spot due to shallow water.  Once the guests had left a move to Hunton Bridge seemed a good idea.  A much better spot and a quick visit to the Kings Arms followed.  It’s down the street at the end on the right.   Two observations today: 1. I have not been down this way for quite a few years and was surprised by the large number of wide beams on the move.  2. The lock gear South of Berkhamsted appears unloved, rusty, squealing and dying for some grease.  Even the brand new gates have bee delivered it seems in this basic state and lacking in a first service, in constrast to everywhere else thus far this trip.  Finally, this photo shows a well known boating hazard.

Grand Union Canal:Winkwell

After the usual Saturday breakfast at which it was discovered that the bacon was going off, an urgent trip was made to the nearby Waitrose for a replacement.  I got seven rashers of some allegedly superior bacon and 4 apples for £7.90.  It was just a matter of waiting for my next guests to arrive which they duly did at about 10:15.  My son-in law and two grandchildren.  They all quickly grasped the details of working locks.  Crossing lock gates is fun after all for 7 and 9 year olds.  After all the rain yesterday water levels wer a little higher than usual.  Immediately above Sewer Lock the canal bank appear to have sunk at one point and water was running over the towpath and streaming down the embankment to the river Gade just below. I thought it should be reported which it was.  In this photo, Kai in the HiViz yellow, waits to take Nuggler out of the lock.  We were hoping to find a mooring between the Winkwell Middle Lock and the swing bridge expecting it to be busy.  In fact the moorings wer empty apart from a distant work boat,as shown in this view taken from the lock side.  The Three Hoseshoes pub  where we were planning to eat is opposite the blue boat in the distance.