Yesterday was a rest day, so little to report. Of note I did wash and polish the roof. Cannot remember whe that last happened, but the sides need doing. They still bear wet rope marks from the wet days and the windows also need attention.
Today an earlyish start. It took 20 minutes to get up Cowley Lock, starting with emptying it. Then onto the water point and a trip to the rubbish bins on the other side of the road. Falling the water tank took 40 minutes. I guess a slow flow, so I mopped the Stbd side down while waiting. Then I got going past the lines of moored boats. The Grand Union is wider than the Oxford Canal and deeper being a “mainline” with wide locks. The deeper water makes it possible to travel at a faster speed without causing any real disturbance to moored boats. Furthermore much of the canal at the southern end is really river navigation with a strong current at the moment due to all the recent rain. The water is also crystal clear in places so it is possible to see what has been thrown in. I’ve seen nothing of note. Reconnoitring Widewater Lock, there was a boat in there and the solo skipper couldn’t open the top gates. A quick scan showed that he had not opened the ground paddles. He confessed he didn’t know what they were for and that he was on his first boat trip from Hayes. A little strange I thought because he had somehow managed Uxbridge and Denham Deep, the latter not being for the faint hearted. The HS2 viaduct is largely hidden from view at canal level by all the vegetation. On the London side the huge gantry used to lift the pre-cast concrete components in place can be seen. I don’t think there is much further to go in that direction, then the railway will go into tunnel. Back to the boat, help at Batchworth Lock was appreciated and I found uncontested mooring near to the disused Rickmansworth/Watford Junction railway bridge where I moored last year. Another rest day tomorrow and a walk to Tesco no doubt.
For he more discerning reader I am now a day ahead of plan, having leapfrogged Harefield. I have plans for this day later, but I will be back on schedule by Berkhamsted.
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