Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2015

We decided to chug to Hertford for the weekend before stopping at our winter mooring on Sunday.  Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great on Saturday and we got a bit wet but it didn’t seem to matter.  At Ware Lock we bumped into a guy called Damian with his two daughters and we went through the rest of the locks with them.  Great to see Lucy (12) on the helm and Megan (9) doing the locks - a fine job they were both doing too.  I had forgotten how hard the lock gates are on this waterway but had Lou, Megan and her dad to help so between us we managed!

Mooring at Hertford was a bit tight as the towpath is being repaired which meant a chunk of river bank was taken out of action but we were able to find enough room for the two boats.  Steve lent over the back of the boat to tie up in Hertford and plop....phone dropped out of his top pocket into the river, never to be seen again.  We did have a net and tried to find it but no joy.

Poor Steve needed a drink after that so we went to the pub!

On Sunday morning as we left Hertford I saw the boat Mrs B – Martin whom I worked with was on board with his friend so I called out and after a stop to fill and empty he caught us up and we went through several locks.  We last saw Mrs B in Hungerford back in July!  They were heading for Cheshunt today where they will leave the boat for a couple of weeks. 

The weather was kind to us on Sunday and Lou is hooked on the way of life on the river so I think we will be seeing a lot more of her!

So our journey has come to an end for this season.  We have had a fabulous year despite the odd mechanical breakdown and the loss of several items overboard.  I am already planning our route for next year!

Here is what we have done this year:

Rivers and Canals:  River Great Ouse, Middle Level Navigations, River Nene, Grand Union Northampton Arm, Grand Union Canal – Main Line, Lee and Stort Navigations, River Wey, River Thames, Kennet & Avon Canal, River Seven, Bristol Channel, Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, River Avon, Stratford-on-Avon Canal, Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Droitwich Canal, Stourbridge & Dudley Canals, some of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, most of the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

Miles – 1,042

Locks - 730

Running Hours on the clock – 1285.5

If we cruise I will write the blog but will resume writing it next spring when we start the next season.  Thank you all for following our travels.

Leaving Broxbourne

Cathagena Lock - our winter mooring - they have beautiful hanging baskets in the summer.

That's our mooring space on the left!

That's where our nephew Sam lives, by Dobbs Weir Lock.

Family named boats - mum, sister and nephew!

Rye House - this is where Lewis Hamilton became go-karting champion!

Miserable day but the autumn leaves are still lovely.

Alright cock!

This is a posh one - I didn't see it when we came through here in the summer! 

Hoods up crew - Lucy and Steve on the helm, Damian and Megan paddles on the left, Lou waiting for instructions on the right!

Pouring with rain but the willows still look great.

Autumn in a lock!

Sunday morning - plants off the roof as we have to go under Folly Bridge to turn round.

and another to add to the collection!

Bit of a tight squeeze past where CRT are working.

Come on we've got digging to do!

Just caught this one!

but nearly missed this one.

In Hardmead Lock with Mrs B and another boat. 

Arriving back at Carthagena.

And moored - everyone came to help - we were grounding out as the water level is so low and every time the lock opens it sends the silt back this way.  They are a friendly bunch I'm sure we will be happy here for the winter.