Paddington

Canal Today : Regents Canal (Grand Union)

We wanted to overnight in Paddington Basin tonight and tomorrow night so, to increase our chances of find a space, we wanted to get away as soon as possible. Mike had suggested leaving at 6am but was vetoed by the others. He was awoken at 7:13 and moved off as soon as he was ready. The first stop was across the basin at the service point where we filled up with water and emptied the elsan.

He then started up the locks single-handed but, by the time he had set the first lock out of the basin he was joined by Christine. Unfortunately, another boat from the basin had set off earlier than us and went up, leaving top gates open at most locks, usually both of them!

All of the locks up to Camden were once double locks but one of each was subsequently filled in and a weir built in the space to take the overflow water. In the first few locks the weir was of an unusual shape.

We made steady progress even though it was a 'bad road' - in many places there are substantial building sites. Not sure I'd be too keen to have to take this job!

As we came through Victoria Park, a hire boat set off just behind us. It was interesting to hear that they had had a good night's mooring, taking an outside space alongside a boat that seemed to have no-one aboard. Despite the reputation, they found it a quiet spot. As a result, we shared the remainder of the locks, from Actons, up to the summit pound.

On the way down, at St Pancras Lock we had not been able to gain access to the towpath as the gate had an extra padlock, not opened by a Watermate key. We waved to the other boat and suggested they stay on board until we were all in the lock. However, they then told us that they had managed to get through when they came down earlier in the week. Lo, the extra padlock had not disappeared!

The photo of the next railway bridge has not come out well - it was taken very quickly when we realised that the original cast iron sides no longer form part of the structure of the bridge, which is made from concrete. Presumably, the old sides have been preserved for heritage reasons!

We were assisted through the three Camden Locks by a myriad of volunteer lock keepers - their co-ordinator was also there to sort out rotas with them. One was on his first day and others seemed to be being trained. Good to report, as other situations have not always been so positive, that we found them all very pleasant and helpful and not at all pushy. They clearly understood that we were still in control of our own boats and locking them through. The lock next to Camden Lock Market was very busy - contrast to the day when we came down.

As we came through Regents Park and London Zoo, Jasons Trip was close behind us (it set off from the other side of Islington Tunnel shortly after we passed by). However, here we encountered a very different 'trip boat': a punt complete with gondolier at one end and a musical entertainer at the other end!

At the junction - with Little Venice ahead - we turned down to Paddington Basin with the usual trepidation. (We had, most unusually, seen several spaces back at Camden Visitor Moorings as a possible fall back). The very first space was vacant so Mike pulled in and let Christine and Alice walk down to the basin to see if there was room there. We did not want to give up the one we had and risk losing it if there was nothing there!

Before long they phoned to say that there were at least two spaces on the pontoons (probably the best spaces) so Mike cast off and followed down. We were delighted to find this spot for the next couple of nights in what is a really quiet location.

By now it was well after two o'clock and we had had lunch 'on the go' - Christine had cooked up one of her special soups in between locks during the morning!

The end of the basin is closed off with a coffer dam as the footbridge is being replaced by a lifting one - we could not see any details about whether this will lead to more mooring spaces.

After a short discussion about options - it was too late now to make the planned visit to the National Gallery - Alice and Mike set off to walk down to Hyde Park. They walked through the busy streets but soon were at the park gates.

First stop was the Italian Garden, built by a love-lorn Prince Albert, complete with several fountains.

After taking a good look here, we walked on, alongside the lake spotting various birds and animals on the way, including squirrels and rabbits. After the past couple of days bird spotting with Christine, Alice was now very proficient at spotting mallards, coots, moorhens, swans and herons but there were one or two variants which we could not identify.

We walked by the Henry Moore sculpture which neatly frames a long view down to Kensington Palace.

We crossed over to Kensington Gardens at the start of the Serpentine. At this stage we were just wandering and not sure where to go next when Alice spotted the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain with lots of other children enjoying splashing through the water. She quickly expressed the view that, as it was so hot a day, a paddle would be really great. So she took off shoes and tights and quickly experimented along with all the others.

It is a wonderful creation - every bit of it is different is size and texture. Some pasts of the channel are smooth, others bobbled. Some parts have fast running water with noisy jets pumped in, others are calm and gentle.

So attractive was this experience that Alice spent the best part of an hour here, thoroughly enjoying the sensation. Thank goodness no-one reads the small print that suggests that the water is not for paddling in! By the time we left, most people had already left for home.

By the time Alice had finished it was five o'clock and still the long walk back to the boat! We came along the opposite bank of the lake this time, seeing yet more wild life. Alice commented that some people could not read the sign that specifically said that people should not feed the pigeons!

By the time we returned to the boat it was six o'clock and so the pizza dinner was a bit later than planned!

9.2 miles - 12 locks