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.