Today was especially warm with almost cloudless blue skies for much of the day. Although it was fresh at first, it quickly warmed up and we will have to take precautions against the sun before long!
Almost as soon as we had left our overnight mooring we entered the three mile long cutting of the Tring Summit Pound. although this is mostly in a cutting and therefore often shady, we could look up through the trees to see the blue sky.
After an hour we approached the final bridge before Bulbourne Junction and the start of the downhill flight of seven locks.
After coming down the first lock we were greeted by one of the two volunteer lock keepers on duty today who kindly helped us with the remaining six locks. With that help and also a boat coming up, also assisted by a volunteer, we completed the flight in 70 minutes.
There are several reservoirs close by Marsworth Junction which are vital in keeping the water supply into the various canals that meet here and the levels navigable. The upper reservoir seemed to be pretty much full although the lower level was not easily determined. At first sight it seems well down but there are few indications that it is normally not much higher.
At the bottom lock we met Alan Fincher on nb Sickle coming up. They are heading for the Rickmansworth Festival but the engine is playing up so they are not sure how far they will be able to go.
And so to Marsworth Junction where we were able to turn down the Aylesbury Arm. It is a very long time since we have been this way - since we bought Take Five we have failed. Each trip this way when we have had time to divert the arm has been closed for one reason or another.
The former canal workshop site on the corner is now well on its way to re-development with 13 expensive houses. The largest, four bed home beside the lock, is going for £800K! Definitely not traditional bricks and mortar. (Might try to take a more informative photo of them on the way back!)
The first two locks form a staircase - not usual in the southern part of the system. As can be seen, the locks on this arm are, in contrast with the main line, all narrow. As we have read, this was the result of concerns about being able to provide sufficient water for larger locks.
As far as we could see, none of the locks has a bywash and excess water goes over the top of both gates. At times this makes it harder to open the top gates as the upper water level was higher than the bottom gates - in one case by at least 250mm.
Lock 4 is called Black Jack's. We have not so far seen the reason for the name - presumably not the same as for the same name lock on the main line which we came through a couple of days ago. In that case it was named after an unsavoury former occupier of the lock cottage!
After four locks we took a pause for lunch. Mike set off expecting to have to wait for a boat that had just come past, waiting to go down the next lock. (Many of the locks on this flight are 'leave empty' so descending boats generally have to set the locks before passing through) As it happened, the single hander was wanting to take a rest - with an excuse to stay on a lock landing! - so invited us to over take. In the meantime, Christine had received some urgent emails and was trying hard to create suitable replies and was not pleased at missing the scenery! We managed to get back into sync after a couple of locks.
Almost all of the locks on this arm have the balance beam on the top gate on the non-towpath side. This makes operating them, especially single handed, rather take rather longer as it involves a longer walk down to the bottom gates to cross back after opening the top gate. (Those who have been here will probably understand this description which otherwise may well seem impenetrable!)
This picture of a glider being towed up was a lucky shot as it was impossible to see what was in the frame when pointing upwards at the sky! Point and hope was the only method available.
A collapse of the near side wall of Lock 12 was one of the reasons why we failed to come this way that year. The newness of the reconstruction can be seen and a couple of bricks in the new wall confirm the date.
Alongside Lock 12 is a huge Arla Dairy costing £150 million, recently completed, and it seems that one access to it over the bridge at the next lock is less than simple! After all, that is just an ordinary simple hump backed bridge. This plant will take milk from 900 suppliers from the Midlands to the South West. There is a better way in from the A41.
We had hoped to moor overnight in Aylesbury but as we reached the next lock after the longest pound on the arm, it was clear that we would be quite late arriving with no guarantee of finding a place to moor. (It has changed since we were last here) So, rather than carry on for another hour we opted to pull into a convenient piled bank, even if the trees leave little chance of a tv signal.
We are not really near any named place but we have called today's blog after the nearest village we can see on the map!
9.5 miles - 20 locks
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