Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 October 2015

As predicted it poured with rain pretty much all day on Wednesday so we didn’t venture out very much only to grab a bit of shopping.

Thursday we decided that we were going to get as near to Carthagena as possible.  We left Paddington Basin just before 8.00am, you could see the remains of a lovely sunrise over the tall buildings surrounding the basin.  Back through Little Venice, Maida Vale Tunnel and past London Zoo and Regent’s Park arriving at the three locks at Camden at about 9.00am.  As we arrived at the top lock another boat, Rea, had just gone in, that was handy.  We got through the first two locks but the pound between the second and third locks was so empty that when we drained the second lock both boats were grounded.  Luckily there was a volunteer on hand who opened the sluice gates further up the flight and we had to sit and wait until there was enough water to get through the third gate.  He thanked the other lady and me for closing the gates and paddles behind us which we thought was strange as on a canal that’s the done thing.  He said you would be surprised at how many people just leave the gates open, hence the reason there is no water in the bottom pound.

Once through there we stopped at St Pancras Lock to do a quick fill up and empty, they had something caught round their prop so had to stop to free it so we carried on together through St Pancras Lock, Islington Tunnel, City Road lock and Sturt’s Lock – the gates on this stretch are really heavy and Steph (the other lady) was struggling with them so they swapped places in the end and he did the locks and she stayed on the boat – through Actons Lock and Old Ford Lock then a sharp left onto the Hertford Union Canal.  We got to the top lock at Victoria Park but they had decided to moor so we carried on alone.  There was a young guy with his two boats tied together in the lock, he had emptied the lock but had grounded – another water shortage – this is the first time that we have ever had this and twice in one day!  So we opened the top paddles again with the bottom gates open until there was enough water for him to carry on.  We were ok once we had refilled and emptied the lock, although these water shortages are causing us a bit of a delay.  Nothing we could do – you can’t hurry life on the canal!

Through the three locks and left at the Olympic Park (where we stopped last time) and onto the Lee Navigation.  A fairly long chug before we arrived at Tottenham Hale and Stonebridge Locks which are electric so a bit easier on the knees! We stopped to close the locks then remembered that we are now on a river so you don’t have to close your exit gates (we’ve been on the canals for such a long time!)  Under the North Circular and through Pickett’s Lock and Ponders End Lock.  We finally stopped just before 6.00pm just short of Enfield Lock.

Oh what a beautiful morning - goodbye Paddington Basin.

Little Venice - Rembrandt Gardens on the right - you can pre-book these moorings, must remember that in future.

Give us a wave Mr Cormorant!

Little Venice leading to Maida Vale tunnel - can you see how tight the moorings are...

There it is - the couple that we saw at Cowley Lock - I would have loved to have seen them getting their boat in there!

Coledale Bridge - an impressive structure

The Avery at London Zoo - not sure what they are. 

Cumberland Basin.

Moo!  why would you have a cow on your balcony?

Camden Top Lock.

Can you see how low the water level is in the pound?

I went ahead to fill the last lock - opened the paddles - I've never been able to see them before!

Grounded in the second lock, but the sluices are open now you can see the water pouring into the pound - it took about half an hour to get the water level high enough!

More new development opposite St Pancras Lock - They will probably be paying just short of £2 million for an apartment overlooking the gasometer!

Islington Tunnel.

Floating Library.

Hi Jay - hope you are happy in your nest!

This isn't a great photo because I only realised what it was after we had passed it.  Hilly - do you remember you sent me that article back in August - Bert's Barge - The Cool Hotel Guide - this is it - £300 a night!!  

Sharp left into Hertford Union Canal.

Autumn in Victoria Park.

Plastic Bag collection on a balcony opposite Victoria Park!

Would you like a gherkin with that!

Olympic Park.

I thought this was the first weathervane I had seen in while - but it seems to be missing its N, S, E & W!

Some fun-gi's hanging out on a bench!

We are not sure whether somebody chained their baby seat to the railings or whether the bike it was attached to has been pinched!  It is Lea Bridge after all...

StoneBridge Lock is a double lock - glad we're in this one!

Chinook.

Back on the Lee - we haven't seen any of these for a while...and a white one - that's a first!