Hemel Hempstead

Mike walked up to Croxley Green local shops to pick up a paper. A heron stayed still on the bank long enough for Mike to take a picture before it eventually flew off. On the way back he spotted a CRT van at the end of the lane leading down to the canal. He stopped the driver to ask whether the swing bridge at Winkwell had been repaired - last week we were notified that it would only be operated at three times during the day whilst the automatic mechanism awaited a repair.

The young chap was very chatty - he has wanted to work on the waterways for a while - for ten years he made hand-made bricks, the sort for which brother-in-law makes special moulds! He is now very keen on his work which was great to hear - he is working alongside John who has looked after this length since time was invented,learning from his father who went back even longer!

 

When we set off it was still cold but bright sunshine made everything look a whole lot better and gradually during the morning warmed up so that by lunch time it was almost pleasant!

A new connection from Croxley green station to Watford Junction is due to begin construction in the near future. As far as we can find out, it will cross over at this abandoned rail bridge crossing before using the bed of that railway for most of the new link. Afterwards, Watford station will be closed and we will then not see London Underground trains over the higher bridge just a short distance further up the canal.

We worked through most locks this morning with another boat - following them and seeing a breasted-up pair coming the other way made quite a sight.

We failed to work out why this boat had the shell of a car strapped to the stern - but it did not look as if it moved very far.

We included pictures of Iron Bridge Lock last November but we could not resist another of the woodland alongside the lock with the river flowing freely over a weir.

There is a sharp bend before the well-known Grove Bridge so it can be seen through the hedge some while ahead - not where it might be expected!

Grove Bridge

Ok so this just another picture of that bridge but at least it also shows how bright and sunny it now was.

Hands waving in the sunshine - in private grounds alongside Lady Capel's Lock.

Sherazade moored up at Hunton Bridge and soon after we moored not far from the motorway bridge to have lunch.

The footbridge below Nash Mills lock is now complete - it connects to the new housing estate being created on the site of the former Paper Mills. Buy why, oh why did they have to build the footings so that they protrude into the path of a boat lined up for entrance into the lock? It looks so ungainly as well. Good engineering design should look good as well as being functional.

The last few locks today were rather slow to negotiate as a single-handed pair was in front, also leaving top gates open! We continued to just below Boxmoor Lock and moored close to a B&Q store. Mike then went and collected some items to help make a better restrain for the satellite dish which has a tendency to blow over in strong winds - hence it has a dent in its rim!

8.0 miles - 16 locks