Sunday 11th October 2009

Drizzly start to the day.  Set off for Bishop Stortford by 9.30am.  Want to get up to BS and back to the moorings above Sawbridgeworth Lock today.  Lovely scenery and very rural.  At the first lock of the day, Sheering Mill Lock, there’s a commemorative plaque to show that this is where the wings of the WW” fighter bomber plane the Mosquito were made – and the link – well my dad joined the RAF in 1936 and served in  a Mosquito squadron throughout the war in North Africa, Italy, Crete, Burma and India.  Well I never.  Got to Bishop Stortford and back out again PDQ, sadly not very enticing with the odd wino lying on the towpath.  Even though there are plenty of visitor moorings there wasn’t one boat staying over.  Got back to Sawbridgeworth in pretty good time and tied up by 3pm.  Went up into town to explore and found the Queen’s Head, A BEER AT LAST and Bill is very welcome, ah heaven.

Monday 12th October 2009

Staying over today.  Had a good walk back along the towpath to a big meadow with Bill’s Ball Twanger and had a good run around.  Caught up on some chores and went up to explore the town and get some shopping in Budgens.  Nice town with MANY PUBS plus and Indian, Tex-Mex, and Chinese restaurants and a chippy.  Lovely weather again and a nice restful day.  Few beers early doors in the Queen’s Head.

Tuesday 13th October 2009

Took Bill for a walk along the towpath and then up into town to get a paper.  Had a natter in passing with the landlord of the Good Intent and Bill would be very welcome there too.  Beautiful weather, hardly a breath of wind and a cloudless blue sky.  Set off by 10am in these glorious conditions.  Got through seven locks to then join a queue of three boats at Parndon Lock and we were making such good progress.  Hey ho, after the next lock, Hundon Mill Lock, decided to moor up above Roydon Lock.  Good choice, nice moorings with a massive meadow back up the towpath for Bill to play in.While we were in the meadow playing with Bill’s Ball Twanger he lost sight of the ball.  It was then that I found out the he instantly responded to right and left commands and changed direction instantly and I was able to direct him from some distance to find the lost ball.  Fantastic, what a clever lad.  Also a short walk over the railway line and up a little lane there is the village of Roydon with THREE pubs, a chemist and a village store.  Tried the Saracens Head first and bingo, Bill’s welcome.  Sadly not so in the White Hart – boo.  Didn’t get to try the New Inn but as we’ll stay over tomorrow will give it a try.

Wednesday 14th October 2009

Staying over here today.  Nice walk up into the village for the papers.  After breakfast a major clean up is required.  There’s so much of Bill’s fur on the rug you can’t see him when he lies on it!!!  So out with the Dyson and off we go.  Cor the rugs are deep red and not black and white!  Even washed the floors,  cleaned the kitchen and hob and the bathroom and dusted throughout.  Looks like a new boat.  Took Bill up to Hunsden Mead, the big big meadow and had a good old run around.  collected a poo bag (empty I hasten to add) full of sloe berries to make some sloe gin, shame it takes so long.  Quite getting into this DIY pickles, relishes and booze.  Off to the Saracen’s Head for a few scoops.

Thursday 15th October 2009

Off up to the shops for the papers and off to Hertford after breakfast.  Overcast to start but promising very nice weather later.  Only three locks to get off the River Stort then a major change as we go back onto the very River Lee.  Only four locks to get to Hertford but they are incredibly heavy especially Hertford Lock No 1 and Stanstead Lock has an incredibly fast wash out of the paddles – BEWARE and work it SLOWLY and you must also open the swing bridge over the lock.  Turned the boat around at Folly Bridge and tied up at the brand new visitor moorings in Hertford by 2.30pm.  Lovely cruise now off to explore the town.  Had a few beers in the Old Barge early doors, sadly Bill not welcome so he had to stay on the boat.

Friday 16th October 2009

Took Bill for a walk to get the papers and few bits and pieces in town.  Staying over today cos we can.  Lazy day with a nice long walk with Bill and the ball twanger to the nearby playing fields.  Few beers in the Barge later.

Saturday 17th October 2009

Quick walk up into town to Waitrose to get some bits, also bought a couple of lovely woolly jumpers in The Scottish Woollen Mill sales.  Set off by 9.30am aiming for Broxbourne.  Hurt my back the other day and it’s not quite back to normal so lock 1, Hertford Lock, has done it in again.  I nearly couldn’t get the gate open!!!  This must be the hardest lock I’ve ever done.  Gingerly worked our way back through the notorious Stanstead Lock No 4 and got to Crown Bridge in Broxbourne by 3pm.  Tied up outside the Crown pub on the visitor mooring but, BOO, Bill not welcome.  Went for a walk instead.

Sunday 18th October 2009

Up early and off for a long walk with Bill then set off for Cow Bridge next to the Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve to tie up by 3.30pm.  This part of the River Lee back to London is boring because it’s practically straight with lots of industry on the west side of the navigation.  However, at least some of the locks are either part or totally electric so that will help the old back that is apart from Enfield Lock where I had to get two guys from the lock cottage to help me open the gate.  Took Bill for a long walk around the nature reserve and back for an early night.  On a final thought for the day how would you describe the following sign I noticed -

Authorised Treatment Centre for End Of Life Vehicles????  In my day I’m sure they were called scrap yards!!!

Is it me?

Monday 19th October 2009

Up early and a good run for Bill on Hackney Marshes.  Cor must be 50 full size football pitches here.  Set off at 9am down the Limehouse Cut to Limehouse Basin.  Bit boring again with lots of industrial sites apart from Old Ford Lock where there is the house that the Big Breakfast was filmed in and also Bow Locks – so bollocks to you too mate!!  Back on the Regents Canal and sensible locks at last.  Had a bit of a ding in the Islington Tunnel as the headlight went off for some reason I came together with the wall which tore the tonneau cover slightly and snapping two of the lacky bands.  Tried to get into Paddington Basin but no room so had to come back out and tied up at the top of Little Venice at 6pm – long day – took Bill into the park next door and an early night.

Tuesday 20th October 2009

Up early again, well 8am, and a good run in the park for Bill.  Set off at 9am aiming for Cowley Peachy.  Cold wind and overcast.  NO LOCKS today just a long cruise.  Turned off the Paddington Arm  and back onto the Grand Union Canal proper at Bull’s Bridge and tied up in Cowley Peachy by 3pm.  1st job is to get down in the weed hatch to clear the fishing line off the prop.  Took Bill for a long run along the towpath and back in for the rest of the afternoon.  Out into the park before dinner with Bills ball twanger.  In for an early night.  By the way I know coconuts come from palm trees but why are there so many in the canal???  Must have seen at least 20 today – any ideas?  Oh and I’ve decided not to go down the Slough Arm as considered opinion is that it’s very weedy and there’s nothing there anyway worth seeing.