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.