Bull's Bridge and back

Yesterday we left the Slough Arm and travelled south as far as the junction with the Paddington Arm at Bull's Bridge. After taking advantage of the moorings beside Tesco so we could pick up some heavier bits of shopping we turned around and headed back northwards. It's only just over a couple of weeks until the locks are scheduled to reopen and we can be on our travels again.

The weather has turned very cold again but thankfully we haven't encountered any more ice. We met Phil, on Hyperion (our coal boat) just below Cowley Lock. He was heading south to stock up so he's going to stop and fuel us up on his way back. We moored last night below Cowley Lock then headed northwards up through Cowley and Uxbridge Locks and moored for the night between there and Denham Deep Lock. We had hoped to go a bit further but the wind was so cold that sitting by the fire seemed a much better option.

While we have been cruising I have seen all sorts of wild life but here is something I didn't expect to see on the Grand Union.

Parrots

Yes, parrots, when we first saw them there were seven or eight in the tree, not what you expect to see flying free in Uxbridge.

Two day's journey 10.1 miles and 2 locks

This year we have travelled 57.6 miles, 65 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

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 2136.1 miles, 1825 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Slough and back

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the Slough Arm, it does tend to get a bad press.

Last night was well below freezing and we woke up to a heavy frost. When we started cruising we found some patches of ice but apart from one spot nothing that gave us any problems. The rural setting near the lakes and the aqueducts is quite pleasant and even when you start encountering some industry it is not initially intrusive. I had the feeling that in summer with the leaves on the trees you would barely notice much of it.

It certainly isn't the easiest canal to find spots to moor, I'm glad we stopped when we did last night. The last couple of miles are largely urban, housing, industrial units and a large chemical plant but the water is clean and for an urban waterway relatively clear of rubbish. The canal ends at a very uninspiring builders merchants, I feel that so much could be done to make this stretch more appealing and welcoming.

The end of the arm

Signs of Spring

We saw our first snowdrops of the year today and were also surprised to see a small deer in the narrow fringe of trees between the canal and some industrial units. We returned to last night's mooring for the night. I ca imagine coming back to this spot to get away from the Grand Union for an overnight mooring but nothing I've seen makes me think I would do the trip along the full length again. Having said that I have seen  worse stretches of canal.

Today's journey 9.1 miles

This year we have travelled 47.5 miles, 63 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

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 2126 miles, 1823 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Uxbridge and beyond

After enjoying our day with the Hobbins clan on Saturday we spent Sunday moving down to Uxbridge. It was a pleasant day, a bit chilly but sunny. Although we know this area well it is the first time we have brought either of our boats this far south so as far as the canal is concerned it is new territory.

We moored overnight just north of Uxbridge lock then moved down to the 24hr moorings close to the town centre this morning which gave us a shorter walk to the shops. Uxbridge has changed a great deal since I worked there just over forty years ago! The only places I can say I recognised were the two pubs we used to go to after work and the underground station! That probably has as much to do with my fading memory as with the architectural changes.

After doing a bit of shopping we continued our journey southwards then at Cowley Peachey we turned west on the Slough Arm where we are now moored for the night. The Slough Arm has a reputation for the bottom being too close to the top and is said to be underused. We haven't travelled far long yet but so far so good.


Latest journeys 8.3 miles and 6 locks

This year we have travelled 38.4 miles, 63 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
I remIn 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 2116.9 miles, 1823 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

A little bit further

We have done very little since my last post, we've had some snow and some rain like everyone else in the country and it's been pretty cold.

We've celebrated Ray's birthday and our wedding anniversary with nice meals. We found a new home for Trick aboard a liveaboard boat and he seems to have settled in well.

We moved down to below Springwell lock yesterday in fairly nice weather. Today Mandy, Tony, Mikey and Dani came to visit which was very nice as it is Dani's birthday.

We are planning to carry on southwards tomorrow as we are still wasting time until the lock maintenance is completed.

Since my last post we have travelled 0.8 miles and 1 lock

This year we have travelled 30.1 miles, 57 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

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 2108.6 miles, 1817 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

A lazy time

I really should keep a diary during the winter, because it tends to be a long time between posts because not a lot is happening I tend to forget the little that has happened.

We spent our legitimate 14 days on the moorings at Batchworth. Part of the time we were there we were frozen in but only briefly, we also had some snow but not a lot. We found a couple of old friends moored there, Dave, who we used to work with at Ultralon, has joined the boating community and Albert,who we sold Destiny to is still around, although Destiny has been sold on.I think I mentioned last winter that Destiny is now sporting a new livery but still around.

As I had to shop for Ray's birthday I decided to try using Amazon's Collect+ service. Various shops act as collection points and you can collect your order from your chosen location. Very efficient, ordered Thursday morning, delivered Friday afternoon. We also took a trip into Watford by bus for a few more birthday bits.

As usual I cooked a special meal, blew most of a week's food budget on it but there are only three times a year I do it, the other two are my birthday and our wedding anniversary.

Apart from that I've been doing a few crafty bits, Ray's been doing a few boatie bits and we've been staying cosy with the log burner churning out lots of heat.

I still haven't got round to visiting my brother, every time I think of setting a date I look at the weather forecast and put it off for a bit longer, sorry bruv!

We are now moored between Stocker's Lock and Springwell Lock, hopefully we will be getting a visit next week from the Hobbin's clan as it is half term but the weather forecast isn't encouraging.

Since my last post we have travelled 0.6 miles and 1 lock

This year we have travelled 29.3 miles, 56 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

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 2107.8 miles, 1816 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Time for a break

We wandered into Watford on Thursday and did a bit of shopping, nothing exciting, my usual round of the charity shops found me a skirt and a pair of brand new jeans. Our visit to Maplin resulted in the purchase of a solar powered torch, down to half price so not a bad buy. Apart from that we didn't do a lot, Friday was washing day which always takes an age with my little twin tub. If I win the lottery I'm having a boat with enough space and power to have an automatic!

We went for lunch at Bob and Babs on Saturday, I think Ray chose Saturday so he could watch the QPR match on the tele. We had a good catch up on the chat and a nice lunch, Bob kindly gave us a lift back to Rousebarn bridge so we didn't have as far to walk back.  I tried out my solar torch on the way back along the towpath, definitely easier than our wind-up one.

Today we did the trip down to Batchworth moorings, we have had one eye on the weather for a few days. so far there hasn't been any sign of ice but the forecast isn't very good. At least we are now within walking distance of everything we need if the freeze does come. It isn't forecast to be a long spell of cold weather anyway. Compared to the past few days there seemed to be quite a few boats on the move, most were just heading for the waterpoints to fill up in case they got frozen in but there were a couple who were actually travelling.

We will be on the stretch between here and Bull's Bridge until mid March as the various lock closures mean that Batchworth is the furthest north services that we can reach until then.

Today's journey 3.8 miles and 4 locks

This year we have travelled 28.7 miles, 55 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

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 2107.2 miles, 1815 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Cassiobury Park

Today we headed down to Cassiobury Park as planned. We had our boats logged by the patrol officer while we were in Iron Bridge Lock. He commented that we 'get around a bit' so I don't know where we were last spotted. I'm sure we will get logged a few times over the next couple of months as we don't intend moving very far.

At times today the rather bright wintery sunshine made steering difficult, it's much easier if you can see where you are going! At least it wasn't a long journey. There seems to be a reasonable amount of windfall wood about so we can stock up a bit. The weather forecast is for some cold weather, maybe snow, so we want to make sure we have a good supply.

We are visiting Bob and Babs on Saturday and will head down to Batchworth on Sunday. We'll probably do a quick trip into Watford either tomorrow or Friday as well. I'll probably pay my brother a visit sometime while we are down near Batchworth, it's easy enough on the train from Rickmansworth.

Today's journey 0.8 miles and 3 locks

This year we have travelled 24.9 miles, 51 locks and 2 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

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 2103.4 miles, 1811 locks, 111 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels