Back to Waltham Abbey

It was a very clear, blue sky as we pushed off from our overnight mooring, just a little earlier than other days as we hoped to make it to Waltham Abbey for tonight.

Setting off

At Latton Lock we snapped another of the lock-side sculptures.

Sculpture at Latton Lock

Today would be a day for avoiding small craft. Our first encounter was with a flotilla of canoes just above Burnt Mill Lock. Alas, we missed them all!

Canoes to be missed

We stopped at the marina for the usual services - whilst Mike carried these out, Christine walked (by a somewhat circuitous route) to Harlow station to collect a newspaper. By the time Mike had finished filling with water and brought the boat down to the lock, she had returned, paper in hand and an extra shine to her halo.

Burnt Mill Lock Bottom Gate Mechanisms

Burnt Mill Lock is partially mechanised - the photo shows the hydraulic rams for the gates and the conventional paddle mechanisms for letting the water out. The water in the river has been generally very clean so this photo does not really do it justice!

Parndon Mill

Just About

At Parndon Mill Lock, we were able to take a better shot of the old mill building as this time there were no trip boats to contend with. According to its website, the building, which was constructed in 1900 when its predecessor was destroyed by fire - flour can be very dangerous especially mixed with air - but has been converted as a set of designer studios over many years. It advertised an exhibition but when Christine went to investigate she found that it was closed today. In the grounds she photographed another statue.

Instead she took a close look at the towpath footbridge which we just captured for the blog on the way up (but the boats coming down meant that we could not really see the detail) She found that it contains a number of glass inserts, each engraved in a different pattern.

Bridge Detail - Engraved Glass Inset

Below Hunsdon Mill

Brick Lock has one of the few original lock cottages (the only other we we spotted on the Stort Navigation was at Sheering Mill) - most have been replaced by modern brick houses.

Brick Lock Cottage

We paused for lunch just above Lower Lock and, after we set off again, we soon re-joined the River Lee Navigation, quickly reminding us of how different the two river navigations are. At least now the locks are a full double width which makes the operation much easier.

Carhagena Lock

At Carthagena Lock we started to encounter onlookers - a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon and lots of folk we out enjoying the canal towpath walks which have been so improved around here. (The section around Royden on the Stort has only just re-opened after extensive work on the towpath) However, it is always good to get youngsters (and sometimes not-so-youngsters!) involved and they generally take quite an interest in how locks work.

Broxbourne Boat Centre is a popular spot on days like today and it has quite a large fleet of small power boats for families and groups of teenage girls to hire. We had to keep a close eye on the next stretch to Aqueduct Lock as not all were entirely confident of which way to steer!

Hire Boat from Broxbourne

We also had to avoid the trip boat which had just turned around in the wider section above the weir.

Lady of Lee Valley Trip Boat

At aqueduct Lock Christine snapped some of the flowering shrubs that are clearly enjoying the unseasonable warmth.

Blossom at Aqueduct Lock

From here, the canal runs in a generally straight line with just a few minor curves. Sometimes it is possible to see one lock three quarters of a mile away from the next one.

Below Waltham Common Lock

Soon we were nearing Waltham Abbey, having made good time down the these wider locks. We stopped at the same location as on the way up having sorted out church times for the morning and a visit from our old friends at Clapton Park tomorrow evening.

12.5 miles - 14 locks