31st October 2015. Harefield to Stockers Lock.

We arrived back at the boat yesterday evening, still moored to his rather precarious pontoon. In our week away we had got things done that needed to be done and spent time with the kids. But it was nice to get 'home' again!

Harold moored to his wobbly finger pontoon.

We awoke to a beautiful day today! As we left the marina we went past this heron sitting on a branch. We love the herons on the canal, they are real characters, and he (or she?) made us smile and feel welcomed back to our watery life.

It was warm (2 layer warm) and sunny. The canal looked lovely in the Autumn colours. A beautiful way to start the next few weeks of our adventure




The canal just above the first lock on our journey today (Widewater lock).

Our route today took us past the Colne Valley reservoirs and we caught a glimpse of them through the partly leafless trees and hedgerows that line the canal. Each season will be a different experience on the boat it seems. Perhaps one of the joys of winter may be being able see much more of the surrounding countryside than we do when our canalside flora is in full leaf.

We filled up with water at the water point below Copper Mill lock, diluting the Milton fluid we put in the tank sufficiently to no longer taste it in our tea!

We wanted to watch the Rugby, so pottered along in the sun for just 3 miles and 3 more locks before finding a quiet spot to moor.



Before settling down for the evening, we went for a walk along a footpath which looked like it promised a view from the top of a hill. Unfortunately it didn't deliver, fizzling out at a lane and farm building, but we enjoyed it anyway.

We had a lovely evening, with the Rugby world cup final proving to be exciting and Robin's fish pie quite spectacular. Scooby is still loving the fire; we may have been in the middle of nowhere, but we were warm and cosy this Halloween.

23rd October 2015. Back to Harefield Marina for Harold and home for us.

10 miles and 3 locks today. All the locks were towards the end of the journey so Jo spent the morning packing and cleaning while Robin got us along. We said goodbye to the Paddington Arm and turned North onto the Grand Union proper. The sign said 87 miles to Braunston.

Approaching the turn back onto the Grand Union proper.

We went past a huge Nestle factory but also through some lovely Autumn colours.

The Nestle factory

 

We shared the locks or there was help at hand and we arrived at Harefield Marina in good time to close everything up before our lift home. Unfortunately we didn't get the same space in the marina as last time, but instead a berth onto a very short and very wobbly finger pontoon. Fingers crossed it holds up until we come back for Harold next weekend!

 

The red from this bush by the marina was reflected in the water.

 

22n October 2015. Battlebridge Basin (Camden) to Willowtree Park (Hillingdon)

Dry today, a relief after yesterday. We headed off in good time (for us) as we had a way to go. We revisited the site of our glamorous Kings Cross mooring and found the green steps are no longer green.

 

Continuing to retrace our steps, we passed Regents Park, Little Venice and the turning into the Paddington Basin.  At the Camden locks we met and travelled along with a hire boat. It was crewed by a group of New Zealanders here for the Rugby World Cup and including a few days on London's canals in their holiday. They were very nice and with the extra help at the locks, Jo could relax. As before, the lock by Camden Market was awash with gongoolzlers.

Photographing the photographers at Camden Lock.

A glimpse of Camden Market as we pass.

The landscape is all built up as you would expect but quite varied. It is mostly high rise buildings which line the canal, but there are some exceptions.   

 

We met a big work boat coming out of the Maida Hill tunnel and had to make a quick reverse. We tied up with the waterbus while we waited for the boat to clear the tunnel. 

 

The work boat we met going into the tunnel.

Leaving the Maida Hill tunnel behind. The glass is a café sited right overhead.

We tied to a bit of railing to take Scooby for a lunchtime walk around a patch of green below a huge block of flats. The community art on the opposite wall made brave effort to add a bit of class.

Harold pit-stopped to the railings. 

After a short stop at Sainsbury's for milk and pizzas, it was a straight run until we arrived at our mooring around 5pm. We met a narrow boat which had come free of its moorings and was just stationary in the middle of the canal with no-one in it (ghost-ship like). Then a flotilla of water people boats going along together, 5 in all, with only one engine between them. They were roped together, but not very securely and one drifted off across the canal. We waited patiently behind while they gathered it back in and let us past. Between Alperton and Northolt was the coconut stretch where, for no fathomable reason, there were lots of coconuts in the water, both naked and in plastic bags.
After a total of 15 miles we moored at Willowtree Park and Scooby got a well deserved walk we had a well-deserved glass of wine :)

21st October 2015. Back to the Canal Museum.

A very wet morning. However, Robin bravely took the tiller in his Musto.

Our brave captain.

Altogether we made 7 miles with 7 locks and one tunnel (the Islington). We finally left the river Lea and headed down the Hertford Union Canal and joined the Regents canal.

The Hertford Union canal as we left it.

The rain kept the tow paths much quieter and we met few boats, very different from the way up. We did meet a work boat, a big container pushed by a tug in the old fashioned way.

 

Work boat being pushed by a tug.

Jo struggled with the locks once we were off the Lea, still spooked by her experience at Picketts lock. The new locks don't have bridges so it means a choice between her fear of heights on the lock gates and the fear of being in charge of the boat in the lock.  Robin's patience is being tested but it's not easy to regain confidence once it's lost. Hopefully time and just keeping on will help.

 

We made the Canal Museum at Battlebridge Basin by 4 o'clock. Robin and Scooby revisited the local park which is in a rough neighbourhood. They managed to avoid the Pit-bull training session and Scooby returned to curl up in his bed in front of the fire, his favourite place in the world now the fire is working!

 

Tomorrow we aim for the Willowtree Park mooring we used on the way up. Then it's just one day's boating to Harefield marina where we will leave the boat again to go home for another week of medical appointments and catching up with the kids. 

 

 

20th October 2015. Broxbourne to Walthamstow Marshes.

After a lovely dinner at the Crown (Jo) and successful fire door mending (Robin) we got an early night to encourage us to make an early start today. We had a full day; altogether we made 12 miles and 9 locks.
We revisited the sight of the overboard laundry but all was quiet with no sign of the carnage that was.


Still no sign of the lost laundry.

 

We stopped at the Elsan point at Waltham Abbey to empty the loo and take for Scooby for his midday walk. He managed to find the only pheasant in Waltham Abbey and encouraged (dragged) Robin to chase after it with him. Underway again, we knew we were making progress into London when we went under the M25 once more.

The M25 (again)

Of course we also had to revisit Picketts lock, the scene of our near sinking. As we went in we met some geese who needed to be shoo'ed out before we shut the gates and then all went smoothly with no mishaps. We were glad to see the back of it though.

The geese leaving Picketts lock.

Leaving Picketts lock behind.

We went past the reservoirs again, this time seeing sheep grazing on the embankments. Robin spotted a kingfisher sitting on a branch. He grabbed the camera and just managed to catch a flash of blue as it flew off. Very camera shy birds!

Sheep on the reservoir embankments.

The kingfisher, if you look carefully!

We had tried to book a overnight mooring at the Lea Valley marina at Springfield but they had no room, so we just hoped for the best. Eventually we found a space between a long row of boats and a No Mooring sign and nipped in quick. It's not very salubrious but it is by the Walthamstow Marshes so nice for Scooby. It feels safe enough and we were pleased to have found somewhere. Back to Battlebridge Basin and the canal Museum tomorrow.

Harold shining in the Walthamstow evening sunshine. 



Monday 19th October 2015 Leaving Hertford and Heading South to Broxbourne.

 

 

We are leaving Hertford after meeting up with family and letting them see Harold and have a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Hertford has changed a bit and there are houses everywhere where there used to be derelict land and very busy with people.

 We set off and went to Hertford lock where Jo was helped by a group of ramblers with the lock gate.

 

 

 

The helpful ramblers.



 We then headed to Ware under the A10 viaduct, it still seems odd being able to cruise along on Harold under the A10.  I used to drive on the A10 over the canal on my way to and from work at Hoddesdon dreaming of being able to do this.

A clump of Dab Chicks (Hiding behind the Coot)

Just coming into Ware lock and saw a nice little clump of Dab Chicks, the only time we've seen them is on the River Stort and the Lee navigation.
On to Stanstead Abbotts and stopped at the marina and got some rope for the fire door, filled up with diesel and water. Pottered along to stop outside the Crown pub in Broxbourne where Jo is meeting Carol for dinner.

16th and 17th of October 2015. To Hertford!

On the 16th we made our quiet way down the Stort for 11 locks and about 9 miles, eventually shopping at a rural mooring about 3/4 of a mile from the junction with the Lee. We didn't meet many  other boats and with the locks all in our favour, it made for a pleasant and relaxing journey.

Well kept lock cottages at Sawbridgeworth.

These geese all went past us in a single file line, only bunching up once they were past. Funny creatures.

Robin took Scooby for a bike ride when we moored but twisted his already sore foot awkwardly, causing him a lot of pain and Jo to temporarily take over cooking and dog walking duties. We seemed to be in the middle of nowhere but the towpath was still plagued by joggers and cyclists.

On the 17th we turned northwards up the Lee, which seemed wide and majestic after the narrow, winding river Stort. We stopped at Sawbridgeworth chandlery and bought fire cement and a shiny new coal bucket.

 

Visitor moorings at Sawbridgeworth.

Sawbridgeworth lock is a difficult lock with very strong currents and Jo opened the sluices with some trepidation and Robin worked hard to keep the boat under control. We met several day hire boats as we went through, and they were much more blasé! Ware was next stop, for a Scooby walk, and then on through the town itself.

The approach into Ware.

Going under the road bridge into Ware high street.

Then on to Hertford. It was odd travelling on the boat through such familiar places and on a stretch of water we have previously walked and cycled beside, and sailed on in canoes and even on rafts (Ware to Hertford Scout raft races - now defunct, for health and safety reasons apparently...).

Riverside boathouses at ware.

The Ware to Hertford water buses.

Ware Lock

Leaving Ware.

After negotiating Ware lock, we went under the A10 flyover and Robin recalled countless car journeys over it going to and from work in Hoddesdon and thinking, one day I will be going under here on my own boat. Today was the day :) 

 

 

 

As we neared Hertford we could see the houses, church and water-tower of Bengeo (where Jo grew up) in the distance.  

 

 

We headed through Hartham and Hertford lock to the end of the navigation where we turned round and, after an altercation with residents on Folly Island who objected to our mooring outside their houses, moved a bit further down and moored at the back of Hertford East station. Altogether a strange experience to come back by boat to this so-familiar place with all it's memories. After a very stressful walk with Scooby in the majorly busy Hartham park, we lit our (almost) mended fire and settled down for Strictly and rugby. We have survived another week, although with some injuries. A day of visits from Robin's family tomorrow and then we turn round and dash back across London before the Regents canal closes.   

 

 

 

 

 

15th October 2015. A brief encounter with Bishops Stortford and back to Tednambury lock.

After a quiet night in Bishops Stortford, Jo headed off shopping in the morning, leaving Robin in charge of making the bed and walking the dog. By lunchtime it was all over - replacement boxer shorts, towels, clothes and airer all safely gathered in - and we set off back South again. The river is so quiet and rural it was odd to be occasionally accompanied by other, faster, forms of transport, reminding us that Stanstead airport is not far away.

A jumbo jet on its way to land.

The Stanstead Express.

We got three locks down the river, mooring at a rare spot we had identified on the way up. It was a short walk to the Little Hallingbury marina and their chandlery for some hardware supplies. They had everything we needed except something to mend the leaky flue on the fire, so Scooby will continue to need his pyjamas. Robin took Scooby for a bike ride and did some fishing while Jo pottered about tidying the boat and having a shower. All very civilised. It's a lovely spot here, with some handsome cattle in the field opposite.

Our mooring tonight.

14th October 2015. Harlow to Bishops Stortford.

As the fire isn't working properly, Scooby's end of the boat is chilly at night (he sleeps on the sofa) and so he wore his pyjama's last night and was toasty warm this morning :) 

 

 

We set off fairly early for us. We learned last night that the Regents canal in London is being closed from November the 2nd, so we have only a short time to enjoy the delights of the Stort and the Lee before we must sprint back to avoid getting stuck over here until Christmas.

It was bright sunshine for most of the day, with a few heavy showers here and there. The river properly meanders; it felt like we were going in circles at times.

 

 

We met only a few boats, including one widebeam which seemed to have to breathe in to fit in the lock. The bridges are very low on this river too, many with only inches to spare and the crew ducking.

 

 

After 8 miles and 8 locks we reached Bishops Stortford where there is good mooring and went to Sainsbury's. The mooring is at the very end of the navigable reach of the river Stort, so we have come as far as we can. There is internet here but, oddly, no TV or radio reception. After some clothes shopping tomorrow we will head back South again, to the junction which will take us to Hertford,  the end of the navigable reach of the river Lee. 

The bridge marking the end of the line at Bishops Stortford.



13th of October. We turn onto the river Stort and make it as far as Harlow.

6.5 miles and 9 locks today. Cloudy, windy and a bit chilly but dry. Jo realised she was wearing 5 layers and it's only October! We filled up with water at (or rather in as that's where the tap is) the wonderfully named Carthagena lock. Then it was Dobbs Weir, remembered fondly by us both for different reasons, and onto Feildes Weir lock where we emptied the loo and took a sharp right turn onto the river Stort.

The road not taken; view up the Lea as we turned right onto the Stort.

The Stort is very pretty but definitely a rural river with not many suitable mooring places.

Hunsdon Meads nature reserve.

We saw no boats coming the other way and only also one making it's way behind us. The locks are too narrow for two boats (but at 13 foot much wider than one boat) which makes them awkward to use as both gates have to be opened and shut each time but there's no easy hopping across the boat. Fortunately they all have bridges so Jo earned her pie tonight doing all the locking. We eventually stopped outside the Moorhens pub on the outskirts of Harlow. A nice day with interesting sights and a satisfactory amount of effort!

Cottage at Brick Lock.

Houses on stilts at Roydon.

Handsome buildings at Parndon Mill