22nd September 2015. Croxley Green to Harefield Marina.

Drizzle first thing this morning but, rather unexpectedly, it was mostly dry and we pottered along nicely. We have got into a routine doing the locks along here on our own. Lots of moored boats, of varying degrees of dilapidation and peculiarity.

What were they thinking?!!

And we found the reason for the no swimming sign we saw yesterday...

At Copper Mill lock there was a lock-keeper as building work was being done around it. The white water looked more scary than it was.

 

We made our way to Harefield Marina which is tucked away just past Widewater lock; a journey of 4.5 miles with 8 locks. We are going home for a few days and want to leave the boat somewhere secure. The Marina is not the most modern we have seen but it has thriving bird population.

 



A heron and cormorants clearly don't mind the more tatty bits of the marina.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21st September 2015. The M25 to Common Moor lock, Croxley Green.

Intermittent rain and drizzle this morning, but we got underway and managed 3 miles and 8 locks altogether. Most of our journey was through country parks so it felt very rural as we left the railway and motorway behind.

We went past the Grove Park Golf course; pretty posh with lots of golf buggies whizzing around. 

A rather handsome bridge in Cassiobury Park.

We stopped at Nash Mills locks for lunch and set off again, but didn't get much farther before it started hammering it down. Eventually we found a safe haven near Croxley Green and called it a day. We saw just a few boats on the move and did all the locks on our own. The wildlife was interesting though...

This notice was at Iron Bridge lock.

And this smart fellow with a group of the more dowdy variety on the canal bank.  

Scooby (who really hates rain and doesn't like locks much either) had a boring day but eventually got a decent walk in when it cleared up in the evening. We need to be at Harefield boatyard tomorrow where we will leave the boat to have a few days at home. 

A converted mill house glimpsed as we turned a corner, the browning leaves
reminding us it's nearly October.  

20th September 2015. Through Hemel and under the M25.

Another fine day. The morning started with getting up to find a fisherman practically set up on our stern. All his stuff was strewn over the bank, including where we get on and off the boat. When we looked further we saw fishermen dotted at regular intervals between the boats. Either a competition or just a popular Sunday hobby.


Our new close neighbour!

We were just about to set off when we saw that a widebeam with another small boat breasted to it had drifted across the canal, blocking our way. Robin and Carole investigated to find the boat was empty and the bow (front) peg had come out of the ground. This crisis heroically resolved by our gallant captain and his glamorous assistant, we eventually set off.  

Carole takes control of the loose boat (!!)......

....... while Robin does technical things with ropes to secure it again.  

Our day continued much more smoothly as we worked our way through Hemel, doing 10 locks and 5.5 miles in all. Only a few other boats were on the move and it was nice peaceful journey. We saw a young kingfisher; not just a quick flash but actually sitting on a  branch so we got a good long look at his lovely colours. Lots of handsome herons, of course, including one plastic one that fooled us for quite a while. Eventually the time came for our visiting crew to leave us in Kings Langley. They will be missed, it was really lovely to share our lifestyle and our boat with good friends and we certainly enjoyed their company. As did Scooby..... 

Scooby being fussed...

...and fussed....



...and fussed some more!
 

We carried on for a little further, going under the M25, and found the best mooring spot we could. It's noisy with road and rail traffic; it all takes the easy route through this valley, made by the river Gade. Altogether a lovely weekend. Thank you Carole and Emma (and bump).    

19th of September 2015. Berko to the Fishery Lock (almost Hemel).

We awoke to a lovely sunny day. The crew went shopping in Berkhamstead, leaving Robin to his own devices (and to make bread for tea). We finally set the boat off about 12.30 and managed 4 miles, 10 locks and a call in to a boatyard with an Elson point to empty the loo (much to the relief of all) before calling it a good day about 5.30. There were lots of people about on this sunny Saturday, (although not so many boats) and gongoozlers at most of the locks. Our crew behaved impeccably, helping Robin make short work of the locks and even making lunch!

Berkhampstead celebrates it's canal.

Robin and the crew wait for the lock with a bevy of gongoozlers.



This bit of canal (London to Braunston) was originally called the Grand Junction Canal until the
managing company merged with others to make the Grand Union in 1929.  

We are on the approach Hemel Hempstead, and should get through the town tomorrow. Home-made pasta and meatballs are on the menu for tea followed by a card school in the dinette to round things off nicely.

18th of September 2015. To Wendover and Berkhamstead with Crew.

8 and a half miles and 7 locks today - so a busy day by our recent standards but we did have help. Our guests joined us in the morning and we set off in drizzle to the Wendover arm.

The turn to Wendover, just before the rain started in earnest.

Just as we began the turn, the heavens opened and it rained all the way down there......

As far as you can get down the Wendover Arm - for the moment at least.

..........and all the way back!  We think the arm is probably lovely, and certainly quiet but it was hard to tell really. Robin did spot some huge Carp, so we may be back for a spot of fishing in the future. Just as we rejoined the Grand Union and turned South, the rain began to ease. We pottered along the summit of the canal, through a deep cutting, and finally emerged to sunshine and the first lock on the way to Berkhamstead.


Our visiting crew working out how to work the locks. Go Carole!

And relaxing afterwards.

At one lock we met the fuel boat and filled up with diesel. Much more fun than at a boatyard, and cheaper too.

We ended up in Berkhamstead and just managed to squeeze in a walk to the castle ruins before back to the boat for dinner and rugby. A lovely day with friends :)

17th September 2015. Back to the Grand Union.

We awoke to a soggy but sunny day and a small bullock wandering along the tow path. He had found his way through the hedgerow and was particularly enjoying the ivy. We made our way up the canal and the lovely narrow locks. The animal theme continued around lock nine when we saw, in the space of around 15 minutes, a mink running across the top lock gate, a sparrow hawk which flew just over our heads, a kingfisher (twice) and a family of red kites. The hedgerows are full of berries of every sort and they make a very colourful display on a sunny day. We wonder if such an abundance is a sign of a bad winter to come (and hope not!).

We made it back to the GU by lunchtime and emptied the loo - no sign of the annoyed house-owner this time. As it was a sunny day and nice to be out and about, we decided to do the Marsworth locks (7 in total) to get to the Wendover Arm. Altogether we did 16 locks today and travelled about 3 miles.

Lock house on the Marsworth flight.

We moored for the night near The Grand Junction Arms, an easy spot for our visitors to access in the morning. Robin took Scooby for a long bike ride around Tring Reservoirs to make up for being boat-bound in Aylesbury and Jo cleaned and tidied the boat. We are all ready for guests tomorrow and a saunter along the Wendover Arm before heading south again. We are at the summit now and so will be heading downhill through Berkhamstead and towards London.   
 

16th September 2015. In which Scooby escapes Aylesbury but hits bad weather.

After a few days in Aylesbury we finally got going again. This was much to the relief of Scooby the dog who didn't like the boat being moored on a pontoon (no-one walking past to bark at) and nothing much happening for dogs except walks between the showers.

The pontoons in Aylesbury town centre.

However, the humans enjoyed their stay in Aylesbury. Robin serviced his engine, finding a notable and satisfactory amount of gunk in his filters!

The gunky fuel filter!

And we went to the waterside theatre to see a showing of the opera Aida, which along with a town to explore and some decent shops made for a happy Jo too.

The waterside theatre. The sitting statue is of Ronnie Barker who first performed professionally at the old theatre.

St. Mary's Church. It has a café in the refectory where Jo took shelter during one of the
many downpours we had in Aylesbury.

After stocking up on provisions for visitors we expect later this week we set off and got 4.5 miles and 7 locks back along the Aylesbury Arm when heavy rain set in. We gave up for the day, mooring where we had on our way down. On the way we met this floating log with occupant.

As we come out of the lock we see this obstacle ahead.

As we get nearer the log drifts to the side and the heron is pretending to ignore us.
He flew off when we were a few feet away.

13th September 2015. Aylesbury.

4.5 miles and 7 locks today, again in nice weather. It was a very pretty stretch with reeds overgrowing what is already a narrow canal.

Following the trail through the reeds.

Fortunately not meeting another boat until it broadened out.

We arrived at a pontoon in the basin at the end of the canal in the late afternoon, surrounded by new and half finished buildings, including a Waitrose (so we will eat well), a Travelodge  and a very smart new theatre. We explored the town a bit and will have a better look tomorrow. Maybe even the theatre... :)

PS Robin found a new use for the clothes airer last night; drying his pasta! Very nice it was too.

Being inventive in a small space!

12th September 2015. Not getting far down the Aylesbury Arm.

Lovely surprises today. Firstly unexpected sunshine and then the Aylesbury Arm turns out to not only to be beautiful and quiet, it also has lovely narrow locks easy for Jo to work.
We started the day by pulling into the sanitary station before the junction. While Robin was emptying our loo, a woman on the balcony above the mooring asked us how long we would be as she wanted to ask us to turn off our engine. The houses were brand new and according to the workman painting the outside she had only just moved in. We wondered how she will get on in high summer with boats pulling in all the time to empty their loos. She clearly wasn't a boater and didn't understand just exactly where her new house is!

The new houses. The sanitary station is just past the bridge and the mooring for it is beside the furthest house.

Still chuckling, we turned down the Aylesbury Arm and were straight into the first lock. We got a clue that it was going to be a quiet stretch by the plant growth on the lock walls!

Single narrow locks were a nice surprise as they are quick and easy.  There was also plenty of water in the canal (the main canal had been quite low) which makes it easy to moor (because you don't run aground) but causes waterfalls over the top of lock gates. It also meant that the water is quite clear, more like a river.


Robin keeps the boat forward to avoid a soaking.

It being a truly lovely day, we decided to stop at lunchtime in a quiet spot. After a Scooby walk Robin settled in to do some fishing, catching 4 perch on a spinner (apparently).




Robin fishing off the back of the boat. 


This canal arm was restored back to use entirely by volunteers and we are very grateful to them. Only two boats have been past this afternoon (although plenty of walkers and cyclists) which is lovely and a change from most of the network we have been on recently. Only 2 miles and 9 locks achieved today. We'll see what else the delightful Aylesbury Arm has to offer tomorrow and hope the rain holds off. 

11th September 2015. Bridge 118 to bridge 130.

Another lovely sunny day. We started the day by watching Homes Under the Hammer and then thought we better do some boating. Some 4.5 miles and 9 locks later we stopped for the night just short of the junction with the Aylesbury Arm. The locks at regular intervals kept us busy as we gradually creep uphill.

Harold waiting at handsome bridge for the lock just after it to empty.  

We had lovely views of the Dunstable Downs all the way. Very rural but lots of moored boats, clearly live-aboards, only likely to increase in number as we get closer to London.

Hills  in the distance. Home is on the other side!

We plan to head down the Aylesbury Arm tomorrow, which should take just a couple of days. More locks and rain forecast but our spirits remain high. Aylesbury will be worth it!

Our mooring this evening.

9th and 10th of September 2015. Through Leighton Buzzard.

10 miles and 7 locks.
On Wednesday we left Fenny Stratford after a short explore found it to be a bit of a dump (sorry FS). A cloudy, chilly day; disappointing after our hopes had been raised by the weather forecasters. Robin and Scooby had to repel a pirate attack at one point. We went past a field with two rottweillers in it. Scooby barked back at them (of course) and one of them jumped into the canal and swam towards the boat, reaching just a few inches of the stern deck. Robin was afraid he would get caught in the propeller! Fortunately the dog gave up eventually, swimming back to his field, and we continued on, rather shaken. We made our way to bridge 111 and stopped at a busy mooring by the Globe Inn where we finally had our anniversary dinner. On Thursday we continued on, stopping only briefly at Tesco's in Leighton Buzzard for fresh provisions. Jo also bought some second hand books from the Book Boat also moored there. It was, at last, the promised lovely sunny day, although the wind had an autumnal chill.

Approaching Grove lock, just south of Leighton Buzzard.

And preparing to leave Grove lock under a lovely blue sky.

The landscape is beginning to change as we leave the gentle rolling of Northamptonshire and approach the Chilterns. We glimpsed the chalk lion of Whipsnade Zook now and then, hunting him through the hedgerows. After being in busy places for a while, we chose to moor by bridge 118 in the middle of nowhere where Robin fished and we could make the most of the sunny evening.

The chalk lion spotted through the undergrowth.

A hedge full of starlings.
Occasionally they burst upwards in a flurry against the blue sky.

 

September the 8th 2015. More MIlton Keynes.

4 boat miles and several more bike miles today. In the morning we cycled to Milton Keynes shopping centre (mostly uphill through an enormous park). We successfully foraged for dog flea treatment and bread and also discovered that the art gallery is closed for refurbishment. We headed back via an impressive trig point monument and view.


Jo modelling fold-up bike, trig point monument and view.

While pottering about when we got back, this young swan poked his head through the side doors looking for a donation. I tried (healthy) porridge oats but he preferred bread (which is junk food apparently).

After a Scooby bike ride (MK brilliant place for cycling dogs) we set off down the canal again, eventually landing at Fenny Stratford Lock. Lots of widebeam boats and bridges and general MK greenness. We washed the boat when we stopped so we will be sparkling as we head towards Leighton Buzzard tomorrow. I hope they are ready!

MK herons just stay put and take the admiration as you motor past.

September the 7th 2015. Cosgrove to central Milton Keynes.

7 miles and 1 lock today. We shared Cosgrove lock with a cygnet, not something we would usually want to do but its a shallow lock and we were told that the whole swan family use it as a lift to get to and from one stretch of water to the other!

Open the doors please!

We also saw this little boat which managed to stay afloat despite all the big boats going past it.


And the Borrowers are also heading for Milton Keynes!

Shortly after the lock we stopped to admire the Great Ouse Aqueduct, walking down underneath it to admire the river itself as well as get a view upwards.

The aqueduct was the first wide iron trough aqueduct to be built.
You can see here that it is literally a big trough full of water supported by pillars! 



The river running underneath the aqueduct was lovely, and full of fish; lots of food for this
handsome fellow on the opposite bank.

Robin took pictures of the views from the aqueduct and we took Harold across, where immediately there was a sign welcoming us to Milton Keynes.





The view to the West on the aqueduct - note no fence, just a
tiny lip and then a sheer drop!

And to the East, the towpath side thankfully has a fence.  

We spent the rest of the day following the canal gently round the town, very few houses in sight, mostly parks and greenery (just the same as from the road) and coming to rest near to the town centre for exploring tomorrow. We were lucky to bag the last mooring space near to the shopping centre so in general very pleased with our day. The tow paths and surround, and the canal itself were all remarkably clean and litter/graffiti free considering it's centre of population; so far Milton Keynes is holding up well!