School holidays = change in the weather

I should have known, the kids have started their Easter holidays,so this morning I woke up to cold winds and cloudy skies.

There were two boats ahead of us waiting to go across the summit, British Waterways were, as usual,working on canal time so ten o'clock was more like quarter past. No problem for us but the others had a moan. We were up through the lock and on to the lock free stretch across the summit before eleven. Water levels on the summit were low but no worse than I have seen them before. There is loads of cut wood on the banks but we didn't stop and pick any up.

When we reached Marsworth Top Lock there were two boats ahead of us waiting to go down, not the two that had come through Cowroast so they must have been moored overnight on the summit. It probably took us about half an hour for our turn through the lock, just as we were closing up the lock Oasis, who had been moored at Cowroast, caught up with us so we had company down through the seven Marsworth locks. We made good time and actually nearly caught up with the two boats ahead. When we got to the bottom BW were already waiting to to lock up the locks because last entry into the flight is 1.30.

We went on ahead through Marsworth as Oasis was looking for a spot to moor, he must have found a spot but there was virtually no space for a mile from the bottom lock of the flight to bridge 129. We carried on down the last two Marsworth locks where we met someone we used to moor near a couple of years ago. He has sold his narrowboat and now has a new, four day old, widebeam. OK for him as he doesn't intend to go anywhere except the Grand Union but it wouldn't suit us.

The swing bridge just past Pitstone Wharf was awkward as usual but when Ray bounced on the free end I was able to open it to get through. We moored for the night between the bridge and the first of the Seabrook Locks.

I am sulking because QPR beat Arsenal, Ray is very happy of course.

Today's journey 6 miles, 10 locks and 1 swing bridge.


So far this year we have travelled 38.9 miles, 66 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels.

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1240.6 miles, 1152 locks, 58 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 40 tunnels