Although the sun shone brightly to waken us this morning, it was quite chilly and we all needed an extra layer on when outside for most of the day. Nevertheless, when we were in the sun and not in a breeze, it could at times feel really warm. The wind was sometimes rather strong which made bringing the boat alongside for locks and mooring a bit tricky.
We set off in good time and were straight into our first lock: Fielde's Weir, as we were moored on the Visitor Mooring just above it at the the junction.
Close to the junction is a modern gas power station - it looks as if it replaced an older coal fired plant. Just down from the new station, where the grid lines terminate is the entrance a former basin. We assume that this was for unloading coal brought up by river.
Below Carthagena Lock we encountered quite a few rowers on the water. At least these were being supervised by a coach and knew how to avoid powered craft! They overtook us after the bend and narrow-ish bridge. Then we saw them again at the end of the pound as they turned to return to the club house.
We continued through lock after lock, with Alice deciding that she really wanted to help - it was by now a pleasant day but a coat was still needed.
Catching birds with the camera is never easy, but decidedly difficult when also steering! Equally, we are not too hot on recognising which is which - perhaps, dear reader, you might like to confirm (or otherwise) whether this really is a magpie!
Alice soon had learnt the technique for raising as well as lowering paddles.
A long straight brought us to Waltham Abbey Lock where we moored up for lunch - a strong wind coming through a gap in the trees made it less than easy.
After lunch, Christine and Alice walked to the shops for a few items - including some more bananas - leaving Mike to work through the lock and moor just below at the services. He did have plenty of onlookers and some keen young helpers at the lock! By the time he had completed the usual operations at the service block and had just a short sit in the sunshine, they returned, full of the story of their visit to the Abbey Church. We will just have to hope that they can add a good description as they did not take a camera with them!
The Other Editor writes:
The town centre was busy; fortunately the main road has been diverted from the vicinity of the Abbey and Market Square - and there was a small market today.
After a visit to the Co-op, Alice and Gran called in at the Abbey.They were greeted by two Welcomers, who competed to give them information! The first stone church was started by King Harold but death came soon. It was completed under the Normans and shows superb examples of round thick stone pillars, carved in zigzag and spiral patterns, and rounded arches with dog-tooth patterns. From later centuries they were also interested in an Elizabethan memorial showing the parents reclining and their ten children. Alice enjoyed the stain glass of the Abbey, most of the Victorian period by Burne-Jones. She particularly liked the large window showing the Nativity. Gran liked the superb brillant colours of the rose window. Both were very impressed by the painted ceiling, put up mid 19th century. It was'put up' - they were told it was painted on canvas and then stuck up onto an artificial ceiling. There really was so much to see - but Grandad would be waiting.... (For pictures of the abbey, go to Google images!)
The Main Editor continues:
We were keen to get just a little nearer to London so that we can hope to find a good overnight mooring, perhaps in Limehouse, for tomorrow night. The stretch above and below Ponders End Lock is mostly straight as it borders the huge reservoirs providing much of the water for Londoners. The banks are so high that it is not possible to see the water. Even a road that crosses the navigation and then the reservoirs is too low to see over. The navigation is also accompanied by huge pylons delivering electricity to the homes and offices of east London.
The last few locks had some mechanisation of the bottom gates and sluices but Ponders End is the northernmost which has complete operation. There are also two locks, one of which remains manual. Alice alighted with Christine armed with the key to enable the control panel. Alas, nothing seemed to be working and a local person said that he thought that the bottom gates could not be closed and so were switched off (indeed there was a small gap)
A phone call to CaRT sort of conformed that there was a problem and that they might have difficulty locating a team to come out. The person on the phone was not really sure but agreed that we should try the other lock (not all of second locks remain operational - the one at Tottenham a little further down looked rather dubious when we passed on the way up)
However, we were in luck as this one did indeed let us through, even if Alice will have to wait to tomorrow to try again with the automated operations! We moored just before Picketts Lock.
Mike had collected a tree branch from a pile alongside one of the earlier locks and now set about sawing it up. We can only manage small pieces but this usefully replenished our stores. In looking for the saw Christine discovered the missing piece of rope for the stove door so that we fixed. And finally, one of the lights in the main bedroom was not working and so that had to be fixed. Fortunately, we had both the spares needed for this.
10.8 miles - 10 locks
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