The June Rose

Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October 2015

Up early and left Packet Boat Marina at 7.45am heading for Paddington Basin – we had been told that it was quite good for mooring there, after Paddington it is a long way until there is anywhere nice to moor – back in April we left Willowtree Marina, which is a bit further along the Paddington Arm, at 6.00am and kept going to the Olympic Park.

There are no locks on this stretch of the canal but at 3mph, and even slower when going past moored boats, 16 miles took us 5 and a half hours! Through the basin at Little Venice and into Paddington Basin – there was no mooring except one space right outside the entrance to the Station with a pump under the water so we didn’t fancy that – it has all been developed here and they have cut off the end of the basin with a foot bridge and there are signs asking boats not to moor on a stretch before you get to the bridge.

We saw a space so turned round and went back to reverse into it. Having got in we realised that the boat next to us would struggle to get out with us in the way. We left a note on their door and went for a walk down the Edgware Road. We saw them when we got back and they are staying for the whole week so it doesn’t matter. We are just behind St Mary's Hospital.

Found a little shop that does laptop repairs so asked them to have a look. He said it would be 24 hours so we have decided here for another night.

Tuesday we walked down to Oxford Street and had a mooch around the shops. Hassan didn’t manage to do anything with the laptop but did show me that blogger still works if I use Google Crome instead of explorer. It is working now but much slower and doing all sorts of funny things so not sure what to do going forward but at least I can blog again at the moment. He also discovered that I have a dodgy connection with the camera lead, hence the reason I haven’t been able to download my photos either – I miss not having an IT department to sort these things out for me!! He spend a good half an hour with me showing me everything and when I asked how much I owed him he said nothing! So I gave him a drink. I've been so miserable not being able to do the blog!

It is forecast to rain all day tomorrow so we will stay for another day and I will get the blog up to date!

Leaving Yiewsley - the flats are attached to Tescos - I wonder if they had to build affordable housing to be able to build their store?

You can tell we are in London - Dawley Bridge in Hayes Town - That's two people sleeping over there..sad.

Bulls Bridge Junction, turning into the Paddington Arm.

Under Ballot Box Bridge.

The aqueduct over the North Circular -we are going to over the wrong side this time to get a better photo!

Chugging over the North Circ!

This is the couple that we spoke to when we left Long Itchington about three weeks ago - they were heading for Wembley. They probably moored at Kensal Rise for the first two weeks but would have had to move after 14 days, they are now in Acton - hope they are enjoying living aboard!

It takes all sorts - we think this is made of fibre glass but it has no windows!!

Another prop clear out!

Kensal Rise Cemetery.

Spider Man!

Little Venice.

Paddington Station

Paddington Basin.

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!!

Friday 16 October 2015

We had a really long day today, although that wasn’t the plan when we left Apsley. Through 14 locks and seven miles and we stopped near Croxley Green, put all the fenders on, put the aerial up and went for a walk...I then decided that I didn’t like it there so we set off again and eventually arrived in Rickmansworth another three hours later!

We wanted to moor before we got to Batchworth Lock but there was no room so we went through the lock and there were boats as far as the eye could see but there was a space just after the first moored boat so we decided we were going to go for it – Steve is quite an expert at reversing now he has had all this practice!! The gap was 57’2” long (we are 57’)!!!! We just kissed the boat in front and the man came running out to see who had bumped into him – he then said I could move up but there are no rings there – we said we’re in now so it doesn’t matter – his boat was a right mess, not that we did any damage!

Shattered we walked into town and got a takeaway then had an early night!

Leaving Apsley.

More new development.

Apsley Marina.

Is that a monster over there!

Our sport under the M25 where we stopped last time!

There may be trouble ahead...looks like this one is taking on water.

Shed with a view.

There are notes from the CRT on the locks asking that the locks should be left empty and the paddles raised - they have lots of leaking walls in these locks.

Leaving Croxley Green - it doesn't look too bad in this picture - not sure what I made all the fuss about!

Do you remember this - he was welding it on when we went past in April.

He has finished it - not sure what he is still doing moored here - thought you were only allowed to stay in one place for 14 days!

Expecting rain or sunshine - I bet that is fun when it's windy!!

Thursday 15 October 2015

We pulled pins at 8.45am. We are heading for Apsley today 14 locks further down the Grand Union. We don't want to go too quickly - we have confirmed our arrival at Carthagena, where we are staying for the winter, for Sunday 25 October. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone since we left Ely on 2 April. We are already planning our route for next year.

The water level was quite high today and at many locks the water was flowing over the tops of the lock gates which makes pushing them open pretty hard. I did the first seven on my own but could not get the gate open at Sewer Lock so we swapped places but even Steve couldn't get it open so we had to tie the boat up and both push the gate open. I decided that I would stay on the boat and Steve could do the next few - we arrived at the next lock and there was a boat coming the other way so the guy says to Steve you go ahead and open the swing bridge I will do the lock for you, so he got away with the first one. Though the swing bridge and I arrive at the next lock where a guy is already there and opens the gate for me then closes it behind and opens the paddles the other end - so Steve has now done two locks but actually hasn't done any!!!

He did have to do the next few. We arrived at Apsley and decided that we would stop for the night - back in April we wouldn't have stayed here but you become acclimatised to canal life and realise that where there are other boats it generally is safe to moor.

I tried to buy a new laptop today as there is a PC World here but they can't set it up for two days so we will just have to wait.