When we arose there was light, but persistent, rain falling. However, the forecast was for sunshine after 11 so we thought about rainwear for the first hour. However, by the time we were ready to leave there was a sudden change, the rain quickly stopped almost immediately and bright sunshine followed soon after. Apart from a short overcast spell, it remained warm and sunny until the evening.
The first photo was taken as we left our overnight mooring and the second is barely five minutes later!
As we set off, we could see a boat coming up the previous lock and by the time we had our first lock ready they caught us up and it turned out to be our companion from yesterday, nb Henry Venn! They had set off whilst it was still raining and were quickly converting to thinner layers in the sunshine!
They stayed with us through to Berkhampstead, where we wanted quick shopping stop and they were making a longer stop for a launderette.
At the Rising Sun lock the boat coming sown warmed us that the next couple of pounds were very low. Although this photo was not taken to show this, it is possible to see the amount of water coming through at the bottom of the lower offside gate. This suggests that either some rubbish has collected there or the cill is failing.
By the time we reached Berkhampstead the local CRT man was checking the water level and flushing some through - both our boats caught on shallow mud at the lock approach. We reported what we had seen at the Rising Sun and he will arrange for someone to check it.
At the previous lock - with its self proclaimed Port of Berkhamstead sign - Mike spotted a traditional butcher's shop where he bought a couple of pork pies to go with our lunch over the next few days. The name on the bridge has some basis in history as this was originally the furthest that wide boats could travel and even today boats over 7 ft are supposef to book with CRT before proceeding fuerther north. Certainly this will be necessary before they reach the tunnels at Blisworth and Braunston.
We have not had an entry in our unusual boats gallery for a little so this is the best we can do. It looks quite dramatic and seems to be made almost entire;y from aluminium.
The famous - and much snapped - Canadian totem pole is an excuse to show bright the sky was!
We moored next to Waitrose in Berkhamstead - just enough room although we needed a pin at one end which passing boats kept pulling out from the soft ground. We did not need very much but by the time we returned to the boat it was just about lunch time so rather than stop again we decided to eat now.
Afterwards we set off now on our own for most of the locks to the summit. Although it is helpful to have other crews to share the working of a lock, it actually takes quite a bit longer with two boats than just on our own.
Above Gas Locks a work boat was finishing unloading - below the next lock we saw what they were doing: re-making the towpath. Contributions from local authorities and others on the basis of providing a walking and cycling facility for local people have been most welcome and the impassable towpaths of the 60's are few and far between. However, it is not without controversy as the new surfaces are wide and have encouraged speed cycling and most seem not to respect signs asking them to dismount and they have probably not heard of any speed limit or the general rule to take extreme care at locks. But let's go back to the universal mudbath that faced us walking between locks in our early boating days.
We followed a boat, toeing another narrow boat, in turn towing a small rowing boat for two or three locks but at the lower Dudswell lock we had to wait for another boat coming down. As a result, a hire boat caught us up and so we agreed to wait at the next lock. Time for a short relaxation!
At Cowroast we had a full service and also visited the chandlery shop for a new seal for one of the Thetford toilet cassettes which had been leaking rather when being carried to be emptied. Yes, they did have one and it was rather to Mike's surprise that the printed instructions worked well (once he had worked out which model to follow) although fitting this particular seal does involve taking part of the fixing to pieces!
By now it was time to think about mooring and rather than go the full length of the Tring Summit Pound (which is mostly in a cutting and rather shaded by trees) we pulled in to the visitor mooring just above the lock. as usual there were plenty of other boats moored along here.
5.6 miles - 13 locks
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