12th October 2015. Waltham Abbey to Broxbourne and we lose our washing.

We started late, spending the morning on general chores and Robin took Scooby for a long awaited bike ride. Jo did the laundry and hung it out, pegging it onto an airer on the front of the boat. We eventually set off in sunshine and soon left any hustle behind as we went through the Lee Valley Park. There were even  long stretches where we could see no moored boats at all!

However, on one corner there was a little settlement of boats and Robin recognised one resident as one of his best and most frequent customers in Hoddesdon custody. Now we know we are home.
Just as we were heading for Aqueduct lock, our airer and it's washing blew overboard and sank without trace. Despite sterling efforts with the boathook we were only able to salvage Jo's Levi's. Clearly, the airer should have been tied on now Autumn winds have arrived. Another lesson learned in an educational week. We continued on to Broxbourne, counting the cost in tops and underwear, and moored by the Crown pub. It was a lovely evening and Robin got down to some fishing, so all was not lost. Tomorrow we will turn onto the River Stort and head for Sawbridgeworth and Bishops Stortford, where some shopping (clothes and a new airer) may be in order.

Harold waiting at Cheshunt lock, before the ill-fated airer fell overboard.
 

11th October 2015. Ponders End the Cheshunt without mishap :)

5 miles and 5 locks today. A lovely day, a bit of a chilly wind but sunny. Being a bit anxious after yesterday, we thoroughly sussed out Ponders End lock before setting off and got through successfully. There was industry to the left and reservoirs and marshes to the right most of the way. We met nice people at the locks and all went smoothly. It was strange to get to Enfield lock and see houses and boat-free bank along the canal. For so long it's been industry or huge flats and endless moored boats.  It made us feel like we were really in Hertfordshire at last.


Hertfordshire houses at Enfield lock.

We moored at Waltham Abbey, venturing as far as MacDonalds for dinner and Poundland for milk (last time we shopped was in Waitrose in Paddington, Westminster - we are certainly embracing social mobility!). There is a nice park to walk Scooby and it was easy to find a mooring spot, so a nice relaxed way to mark our return to home territory.
We lit the fire for the first time this evening and found that a join in the flue pipe is leaking, so the boat became rather smokey. It certainly added atmosphere to the Strictly results show. 
Towards Bishops Stortford tomorrow  while it's dry and the river is behaving.  

10th October 2015. Limehouse to Ponders End, but only just.

10 miles and 3 locks and our most challenging day yet. After a night somewhat disturbed by the party people living around the Limehouse Marina, we left via the Limehouse Cut, which turns out to be a rather dreary stretch of waterway.

The Limehouse Cut.

 

 

We did see a group of Scouts out and about collecting rubbish from the towpath and around. Good for them!

East End Scouts collecting Rubbish (of which there was lots!)

 

We eventually met the River Lea at Bow Locks (careful). There were boats moored all along the route (and in every useable space) and so even though we might have liked to stop and look around there was no way to do so. The pond weed disappeared though, so small mercies!

 

Bow locks where the Limehouse Cut joins the river Lea coming up from its mouth on the Thames.

We made our way around the Western side of the Olympic Park but apart from this one view of the stadium we saw nothing except fences, building work and an endless line of moored boats. It was all a bit of mess. Can't help feeling a bit disappointed.

 

Our one view of anything Olympic.

We kept moving but Scooby needed his midday walk. Eventually we had to pull over on a water point as there was nowhere else. The towpath was busy and the mooring not very secure and Scooby ended up falling in the canal as he got off the boat. Fortunately he was wearing his harness and Robin soon fished him out. Its only the second time he's fallen in during 2 years of boating (the first time was the day we picked up the boat and as he first went to set foot on it!)

We went through Tottenham and Stonebridge locks, both electronic and although big, not as scary as they seemed. Then we got to Picketts lock which was much more difficult. Not electronic and with horrible turbulence as the sluices opened so the boat was thrown across and forward, despite Jo's efforts to control it. The metal ring which holds on the front fender then got caught in the lock gate which the held the bow down while the water level went up. Fortunately we noticed it in time and by hard reverse and pushing off the side managed to break free (the ring sheared off) and the front bobbed up like a cork. Although Robin and Scooby were on the bank and Jo on the back of the boat and easily able to get off, we nearly lost our boat and were very shaken. 

Once safely out of the lock Robin reattached the front fender and we made our way the short distance to Ponders End Mill Stream where Robin's friend is moored. We had a cup of tea with him and were calmer by the time we eventually got moored for the night by asking a Dutch barge to budge up a bit. Its not such a glamorous mooring but it's quiet and peaceful and we are just grateful to be here at all. We will enjoy our Strictly and Rugby with a glass of wine tonight.

 

A relieved Harold and crew moored for the night at Ponders End.

 

 

 

8th and 9th October 2015. Kings Cross to Limehouse.

On Thursday we found a very glamorous mooring at the back of Kings Cross station for Robin and Scooby to lurk during the day while Jo met with friends. At 3pm they returned to the canal museum which Robin visited. After a slightly drunken evening with friend Lisa, our second night at Battlebridge Basin passed uneventfully. On the morning of the 9th we were on our way again, this time heading East to Limehouse Basin. We went through the Islington Tunnel and then locks at regular intervals. Lots of people and duckweed and interesting buildings of every sort.

 
We knew we were getting near as familiar Docklands buildings began to appear...

We arrived at the lock into Limehouse with the hire boat we had shared our mooring at the canal museum with last night. Robin had done his homework and we led the way to the 24 hour mooring on the far side of the marina.







Our hire boat companions leaving Limehouse lock behind us.


Coming into Limehouse Marina from the lock.

The sun was shining on the smart boats and apartments and the little red Docklands Light Railway trains pottered backwards and forwards above us. Harold moored snugly against the wall and the evening promises a walk along the Thames and a safe peaceful night. There's even a nearby park for Scooby :)

 

 

 

 

Although the Thames is tempting (for Robin anyway!) we will play it safe and head up the Limehouse Cut tomorrow towards the Lea and the Olympic Park.  

 

The impressive lock gates into the marina from the Thames which will keep us safe tonight.

Looking West up the Thames with the top of the Shard touching the clouds.

Looking East towards docklands.

 

7th October 2015. To the Canal Museum at Battlebridge basin.

Dank, drizzly morning. We made our way back down to Little Venice and turned right into the Regents Canal. After a short straight section we went through the Maida Vale tunnel, meeting the boatbus on the way.

Entering the Regents Canal.

The boatbus waits for us to come out of the Maida Vale tunnel.

Soon we were in very grand territory, with huge mansions along the canal to the right and very posh flats and private gardens to the left. It is, unsurprisingly, not possible to moor anywhere on this Regents Park stretch!

 

 

We went past the zoo, where there was no sign of the African hunting dogs. Probably, like Scooby, they were huddled up inside against the rain. All we could see were peacocks and other birds in the aviary.

Looking back towards the aviary of London Zoo.

Leaving the zoo we passed Cumberland basin with it's interesting Chinese restaurant.

We were soon at Camden lock, the first of a flight of three. We were helped by three lock-keepers who said we were the first boat through that day. Lots of duckweed and rubbish rather spoiled the romance of the place, as did all the building work going on all around. This didn't deter the gongoozlers, of whom there were many. Unfortunately there was no opportunity to stop and look around as there is nowhere to moor. The few short visitor moorings we saw all day were double moored by boats already. This is a shame as it takes a long time to get to London by boat and when you do, it's not possible to stop anywhere to look around like you can everywhere else on the network.

 

One of the helpful lock-keepers at Camden locks.

We made our way through the remaining lock at St Pancras and found the mooring by the Canal Museum which we had previously booked by phone. It is £10 per night but we can stay here tonight and tomorrow night but will need to leave it between 10am and 3pm. The school trip boat moors here during the day. Jo is seeing friends tomorrow so Robin and Scooby will have to find a spot to lurk or go for a solo cruise for 5 hours! This bit of canal is proving much more challenging and although there is a 24hour berth at Limehouse basin that we will head for on Friday, after that it may be a dash through the Olympic Park without seeing much and off up the River Lea to find a place to rest our heads. 

 



4th October 2015. In which Harold stays still and Robin floats off.

Day one of our stay in Paddington basin and some canal action to report. However, before that we walked Scooby in Hyde Park, along with most of the rest of the world. It was a lovely day and we walked past many a posh house and apartment and then through the park to the Serpentine which was a awash with pedaloes.

Robin and Scooby by the Serpentine, with an obligatory heron.

This is the Police House in Hyde Park. A bit more grand than the one in Watson-at-Stone!

In the afternoon Robin had booked himself on a learn to stand-up paddleboard, which they teach in the basin. He ended up not only learning how to do it without falling in once, but also going on a group paddle for 3 miles back up the Grand Union. What a hero!

Getting on...

Setting off....

Getting the hang of it!

What is he doing and how do I get to him?

Setting off down the canal!

October 3rd. To Paddington Basin!

12 miles lock free boating to the very end of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union today, after a quiet night at our parkside mooring. It was another dry day which warmed up in the afternoon. The first few miles were accompanied by green parrots squawking and swooping across the canal. There was a lot of them and they made an exotic addition to what is a rather boring bit of canal. Then it started to feel more like London with the appearance of red busses and lots of canal side developments.



Nowhere to go for this cat!





We crossed the North Circular by aqueduct, a very surreal experience.

Going over the North Circular Road.

A heron sits at the entrance to the aqueduct over the North Circular Road.

 As we approached Little Venice, the numbers of boats and people (and both in the form of paddleboarders) increased and some were strange....



Paddleboarders everywhere as we near Little Venice


We stopped briefly to empty the bin and the loo but there was nowhere to moor, however we did get a photo of Harold at little Venice!

 

We turned right down to the end of the Paddington Arm, past the station and to the basin itself where we found a free 7 day mooring. Turning round in the basin was an adventure itself as we nearly rammed a canoe with 2 blokes in taking photos of 2 scantily dressed women paddleboarding and not looking for oncoming narrow boats! The mooring is very dramatic, we are surrounded by high-rise glass buildings which definitely makes a change from hedgerows and trees. Robin took Scooby for a walk and found a park right next to Paddington Green Police station (Scooby had better behave himself).  Strictly and the Rugby tonight so we will be well entertained in our posh new (albeit temporary) home and maybe we will be able to catch up with London friends.