Wednesday 21st October 2009

Up early as there are a lot of locks to do today.  Took Bill and the ball twanger into the park and over to the shops to get the papers.  There is also a takeaway pizza shop an Indian takeaway and a Chinese for future reference.  What a stroke of luck, another boat Nb Rusty Nail came along just as I was leaving so I buddied up with them.  There are three guys, Bernie and Tim who own the boat between them and have been sailing for years and a pal of theirs, Paul, who’s spending a week with them.  At the end of the day we not only got up through Rickmansworth we got all the way to Abbots Langley which was 18 locks and 14 miles – fantastic, thanks guys.  So went in search of a pub where I could by them a beer or two and found the fantastic Dog and Partridge just up from bridge 167 and had far too much to drink.  We also got roped into a raffle for the ladies darts team and I won three prizes out of my five tickets, but I put two of them back to be redrawn for someone else to win.  Fantastic day apart from a short shower the weather wasn’t too bad either.

Thursday 22nd October 2009

Up early to the shops for a paper and a walk for Bill.  Set off again with the guys at 9am and what another great day in terms of locks and miles.  Today we got right through Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted all the way to Cow Roast.  That’s 26 locks and 12 miles.  Again guys, what can I say but thank you very much.  I certainly wouldn’t have got nearly as far without all your hard work.

Friday 23rd October 2009

Set off early again.  Another lovely day but sadly Paul is leaving Nb Rusty Nail at Tring Station to go back to London.  However, another good days travelling this time with Tim and I working the locks we got through 20 locks in 13 miles to moor up after a quick shop in Tesco’s in Leighton Buzzard by the Globe Inn and a well earned beer or two.

Saturday 24th October 2009

Took Bill for a walk through the fields.  Weather has changed and it’s raining.  However, off we go with only 5 locks for me to get through before we part company in Fenny Stratford.  The water level in the pound fro Leighton Lock to the Soulbury Three Locks is very low, probably about 18” down so dragged me bum all through this stretch of canal.  Watered up and pumped out and tied up in Fenny Stratford by 2pm.  Said tarra to the guys and met up with Mark of Nb One Way Of Life for a few beers in the afternoon.

Sunday 25th October 2009

Staying in Fenny for a few days.  Took Bill up the towpath for a walk and back for a leisurely breakfast.  Lazed about for the rest of the morning and met up with Mark and Nicky for an afternoon in the Red Lion.

Monday 26th October 2009

Took Bill right round Caldecott Lake in which, of course, he had to have a swim.  Met two ladies out for their daily constitutional and it was over a year ago when we first met and chatted, small world again.Came back up into town for the papers and a few bits from the hardware store.  Met up with ark in the afternoon for a few beers.  Got the latest stoppage list from BW and the bad news is I can’t go back up through Leicester to Loughborough because Dunn’s Lock 34 to Gees Lock 36 and bridge 32, which are all in Leicester city are closing on the 2nd November and I can’t get through there in time so I’ll have to go up the Oxford Canal to Hawkesbury Junction then along the Coventry Canal to Fradley Junction then along the Trent and Mersey to Trent Junction then back down the River Soar to Loughborough, hopefully in time for Christmas.

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Took Bill around the lake again and for another swim and back up into town for the papers.  Quiet day today catching up with the Blog and writing up my log.  Few beers in the Lion and an early night.