Watford and Welford

A wonderfully bright sunny day, right the way through to nightfall. It had been frosty overnight - even the centre line rope and the brush were frozen together!

We made a good start, just after half past eight and forty minutes later we arrived at the bottom of the Watford flight of locks. As these have a lock keeper on duty, Mike walked up to the top to ensure a place in the queue. He jokingly said that we would have no competition. Little did he know!

As we were coming up the second lock, the keeper came down to do some maintenance - they have a problem with moles which keep leaving holes alongside the edge of the lock and he is concerned that someone might trip over on them.

After we were well into the middle staircase of four locks, we realised that there was a boat in the top lock of the staircase! There is no passing room in a staircase! He claimed that there was no lock keeper on duty and that he was staying put! Luckily (for us) the keeper appeared at this point and sorted out the problem (there were by now two other boats officially coming up behind us. It also turned out that a second boat had started down without first checking and so had to back up. Since one of them declared themselves to be in a hurry, this did them no good at all! In the past we have had lengthy waits at these and Foxton locks at busier times and know all about having to wait until the keeper gives permission to proceed!

A quick visit to the sani station and the rubbish disposal at the top lock and we were away on the 20 mile summit pound. Shortly afterwards we arrived at the southern portal of Crick Tunnel, an especially straight 1500 yards. We passed a boat coming the other way at about the three quarters point and they commented on how wet it was. At that point we had not had the slightest drip - but the rest of the tunnel was definitely not dry!

Cracks Hill is a popular place for walkers - it has a brazier/beacon on the top - perhaps we shall discover when it is used. Mike made use of the uninterrupted time from here onwards to fit the deck matting to the front well deck. It proved not too difficult although his agility and elasticity seem to have disappeared!

Whilst Mike filled the water tank at Skew bridge, Christine walked into Yelvertoft - a convenient sign informed us of a village shop and Post Office. She duly returned with most of the few items we needed - alas they had sold out of Guardian newspapers.

This spectacular leafless tree stood out against the bright blue sky.

Mike also spent some time making a loaf and bread rolls for lunch - next time we will know a little better how to tame the oven to the task, but the result was certainly edible as we found out a little later when we stopped for lunch.

Christine steered for the next part of the afternoon so that Mike could complete the decking - as he was now left with the job of cutting the irregular shapes for the edges, it took a little time but the result seems to be worth it.

During the afternoon, we saw a number of gliders being towed up by a light aircraft - at least today they should have had a great view!

We eventually moored at the junction with the Welford Arm with television and broadband connections established.