We're Back!!

After one year, seven months and thirteen days we are back where we started!

Well, not quite actually because we started from Cassiobridge Lock near Croxley and we have stopped at Grove Mill which is four locks and about two miles from there but this is one of our favourite spots so we are stopping here for now.

We had a leisurely cruise down from Kings Langley to here. I nearly stole a lock from a wide-beam, when the lock is against us I always check for incoming boats and if there is a bend I can't see round I watch the water for any sign of movement. The problem was that is was so sunny I couldn't see anything except the glare off of the water. I was just starting to fill the lock when they appear round the bend so I quickly dropped the paddles and let the small amount of water out of the lock. At least it meant I had help opening the top gate which was much appreciated as that particular one is very heavy.

When we had almost reached The Grove we started to wonder if we would get moored as there seem to be more moored boats than we remembered but we got 'our' spot opposite the weir at the mill.

We have already seen some of our old acquaintances, Dave with his terracotta (red oxide primer) coloured boat and Dawn and her sister on Green Howard, also the chap who owns the plot of land next to the mill, it is still for sale so I can still hope for a lottery win!

Today's journey 3.5 miles and 6 locks


So far this year we have travelled 454.2 miles, 433 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels


Since Ray retired we have travelled 1184.9 miles, 1082 locks, 58 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

Catch up

I managed to forget to blog our journey from Winkwell down to Boxmoor, It was uneventful apart from the low water level in the pound between Boxmoor Top Lock and Fishery Lock. Some British Waterways work boats that were heading up ran a lot of water through to stop themselves from going aground but the level was still about a foot down. Ray kept Morgana to the middle of the cut so no problem just "interesting".

We have spent the last couple of weeks moored at Boxmoor, Ray managed to get an alternator from the breakers for £15 then paid a local garage a couple of quid to swap the pulley from the old one to the 'new' one as the new pulley was too big. Anyway we are now back to normal as far as power is concerned so no more expensive petrol!

 Less than a week now until we collect the car so yesterday it was time to start heading for Watford, as we have tickets booked on the train for next week. We only did the short hop down to the facilities and Sainsbury's at Apsley then today we carried on toward King's Langley. We stopped about a mile before reaching there as the weather was miserable. The forecast for tomorrow is better so we might make it to Grove Mill. We may stop there as we can hop on the bus to Watford Junction from there and it is a nice spot.

Since my last blog we have travelled 3.4 miles, 9 locks and 1 swing bridge


So far this year we have travelled 450.7 miles, 427 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels


Since Ray retired we have travelled 1181.4 miles, 1076 locks, 58 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels.

Crazy seasons!

A long time ago when discussing the weather with an American friend whilst living in Maryland I explained that they had seasons, so they knew what weather to expect and in the UK we had weather. I cannot recall any time when this has been more apparent.

Yesterday, whilst enjoying the 'autumnal' sunshine I picked blackberries, saw sloes, hawthorn berries, conkers and the turning leaves. All very appropriate. However, I also saw lots of butterflies, ladybirds, honeysuckle, forget-me-nots and cowslips, I also picked strawberries from my still flowering strawberry plants, hardly right for the season. What makes it more confusing is the weather forecasters dire warnings of snow by the beginning of next month and a winter colder than the last. If that is to be the case we will experience a drastic change in the next eighteen days, and the forecast I look at on line says the temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high teens until at least Saturday!

We continued our progress southwards, uneventfully, to Winkwell where we moored for the night. Tomorrow's journey will probably be our last for a couple of weeks unless we can pick up a cheap alternator at a breakers yard. Paying for diesel to cruise and petrol to provide us with power just gets too expensive. We intend to moor at Boxmoor which gives us reasonable access to shops and the necessary boaters facilities like rubbish disposal without being too much in a built up area. We will probably move down to Watford before the end of the month and then go and collect my car.

Today's journey 2.5 miles and 8 locks

So far this year we have travelled 447.3 miles, 418 locks, 2 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1178 miles, 1067 locks, 57 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

A day of mishaps

We travelled down into Berkhamstead today.

Our first "mishap" is fairly serious, it looks as if our alternator has given up, that means we aren't charging our batteries so no power! We can charge our batteries from our generator but as that is petrol not diesel it gets very expensive. We now not only have the problem of finding a replacement alternator we also have to find the money to pay for it!

Our second "mishap" is a lot less urgent and cheaper to remedy, I managed to lose our "handcuff key" while walking between the locks, less than a fiver and probably not needed until next year as I think it is only the Birmingham and Manchester areas that use them to secure the lock mechanisms against vandals.

Our third "mishap" was merely painful as I managed to bang my knee when I was tying up when we moored leaving me with a nice bruise!

Today's journey 1.6 miles and 4 locks

So far this year we have travelled 444.8 miles, 410 locks, 2 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1175.5 miles, 1059 locks, 57 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels.

Over the summit

Today we travelled through Marsworth over Tring Summit and started on the long run down to Brentford, although we probably won't go that far just yet. We will definitely stop off in the Watford area for a few weeks and if the weather forecast is right will probably get stuck there until after Christmas. If we are going to have weeks of very sub zero weather it will make any plans to go visiting difficult as we won't be able to leave the kittens in an unheated boat.

Not many people were travelling today and we had the locks to ourselves. We did pass the coal boat in Marsworth, we waited a while for her at the bottom lock but she didn't catch up with us so I guess she had lots of customers. All the live aboard boats now have their roofs full of coal and logs ready for the winter.

We moored for the night near Northchurch ready for the run into Berkhamstead tomorrow. I'm still fighting my cold but beginning to feel a bit better..

Today's journey 6.7 miles and 12 locks

So far this year we have travelled 443.2 miles, 406 locks, 2 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1173.9 miles, 1053 locks, 57 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

Good progress

Even though I wasn't feeling brilliant we made good progress today.

We were joined by Liz and Steve aboard RiverNile which made the locks easier. Liz and I walked between locks while Ray and Steve cruised. The weather was kind and the rain held off. They were heading for Tring as Liz has to travel into London tomorrow so we parted company before Marsworth Locks.

I had forgotten how many moored boats there are when you get this far south, I suppose a lot of people are mooring up for the winter or only travelling the minimum now. We managed to find a mooring spot just before the first Marsworth Lock.

Today's journey 3.3 miles, 7 locks and 1 swing bridge

So far this year we have travelled 436.5 miles, 394 locks, 2 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1167.2 miles, 1041 locks, 57 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

Plans scuppered!

After a broken night's sleep we decided to brave the wind and move on. I wasn't feeling brilliant, I think Mandy has passed her cold on to me. After a mere two locks I decided I had had enough so we gave up and moored between Grove and Slapton.

We discovered today that our plans had been scuppered. We had planned to go down the Aylesbury Arm as a side trip on our way southwards but found out today that it is closed due to low water.

Today's journey 2.1 miles and 2 locks

So far this year we have travelled 433.2 miles, 387 locks, 1 swing bridge, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1163.9 miles, 1034 locks, 56 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

Through Leighton Buzzard

I guess that summer is over now, the temperature has dropped and the wind is blowing a gale. Looking at the weather forecast we have the wind for the next few days so we probably will only travel short distances.

We managed the three locks without too many problems in spite of the wind, then carried on to Leighton Buzzard where we stopped briefly to pick up the things I managed to miss off of Monday's shopping list the carried on to below Grove Lock for the night. High winds and rain forecast for tonight, oh fun!

Today's journey 5.6 miles and 4 locks

So far this year we have travelled 431.1 miles, 385 locks, 1 swing bridge, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1161.8 miles, 1032 locks, 56 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels

Still enjoying the sunshine

On Friday I took a trip into Central Milton Keynes, spent very little money but walked miles.

We carried on enjoying the sunshine over the weekend, visiting Willen Lake on Saturday with the kids. It was very busy there, hardly surprising with the weather. The pub there was unbelievably busy, no doubt they had laid off all their summer staff! We had a lovely day, enjoying a picnic and a stroll around the lakes.

Today moved on so we could go shopping in Fenny Stratford then moved on to  below Soulbury Locks for the night. My knees are complaining about the amount of walking I have done over the past few days so I think I will need a lazy day tomorrow.

Today's journey 7.3 miles, 2 locks and 1 swing bridge

So far this year we have travelled 425.5 miles, 381 locks, 1 swing bridge, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1156.2 miles, 1028 locks, 56 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels