Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2015

We left Rickmansworth at about 9.00am and made our way through Harefield, Denham and into Uxbridge.  Everything looks different in the Autumn than in the Spring but the memories of being here six months ago come flooding back as we approach each lock and we can remember who we met and spoke to.  Today I have a T-shirt, jumper and jacket on, in April I had shorts and a linen top on!

There were not nearly as many people walking along the towpath which is a shame as it was still lovely with all the Autumn colours and it wasn’t raining!

The canal is much quieter too, we haven’t seen many boats moving around.  At 2.00pm we arrived at Packet Boat Marina, run by British Waterways, just in the beginning of the Slough Arm.  We decided that we would book in so we could have hook up for a couple of nights and just stand still so we can catch up with things.

Untying ready to leave Rickmansworth.

Several kids in canoes to negotiate!

This is the boat we touch when trying to moor - looks like he has done enough bumping of his own!

A zoomed in shot of where we left - can't believe we got in there - nobody else wanted to attempt it that's why it was free!

The Stig lives here!

A Pochard - first time I have seen one, shame he was taking a nap!

The crocodile is still here - just through Black Jacks Lock!

And through Denham Deep Lock.

Funny place to park your bike!

I'm finding lots of different ones!

A car - that's a first too!

And a frog!

I bet it is warm and cosy in there.....!

And another!

This couple were hilarious - they bought a beautiful boat and today was their first time out in it.  We met them at Cowley Lock, the last lock before the 27 mile stretch to Camden Locks.  They can't have been through a lock because they didn't have a clue.  We waited for them then they watched whilst I ran around the lock closing the gates and paddles so I asked them if they had a windlass - yes I think so somewhere!!! they eventually found it and she stayed on the boat we let the water out then I explained that he needed to drop the paddle and close the gate.  Steve waited for me so I could jump on just outside the lock but she was off - then rammed the front of the boat into the bank, he managed to jump on then he is walking down the side of the boat to the back and she reversing at full speed back into us - everyone on the bank had their heads in their hands and were looking on in disbelief - Steve is shouting at her to put it in neutral but she didn't know how so we are now reversing out of the way.  Then he made it to the back and she dived down inside...just slightly embarrassed!  They have got a mooring at Little Venice - I would have loved to have seen them moor when they got there!      

Hope there is a warning sign on the inside of this cat flap - danger sheer drop, deep water!

Arriving in the Slough Arm where we are going into Packet Boat Marina - the book reads "This waterway is now badly silted and the basin is in a sorry and decrepit state, making progress both difficult and unrewarding" - think we'll give that a miss! 

Steve's boat - can't believe it - I have always said he should have a boat called this!

In Packet Boat Marina with hook up - we can watch TV, do the ironing, hoover and I can use my hairdryer on full!!