Cassiobury

Today's Canal - Grand Union

It was very foggy when we set off and it did not lift until after lunch. Quite eerie at first.

The dampness meant that cobwebs caught lots of condensation, making them even more attractive.

At the first lock, the nearby cottage has a strange shape chimney which we have not spotted before.

Passed a boat with this warning sign at both ends. Have spent all day trying to think of a funny remark to make about it. Any suggestions?

Just below Fishery Lock we could see a boat right across the cut. As we came near it was obvious that it had lost its stern mooring. Christine brought our boat slowly up to it, hitched a rope around its rear stanchion and pulled it backwards close to the bank. Mike was then able to get aboard and pull it to the bank. He pulled up the stern rope which ha been hanging in the water and found that a mooring pin was still attached, presumably pulled out by a passing boat. Mike hammered it back in but the ground is quite soft so how long it will hold . . .

We could tell it is not real as it had strange feet and cobwebs!

Just below Lock 64 near the centre of Hemel Hempstead, we have on several times taken quite pretty pictures of the trees alongside. Today was not a good day for adding to the portfolio!

The phantom tearer-offerer had been at work again.

The former cottage alongside Lock 65 now seems to be in use as offices - there is quite an extension at the rear. For a long time it looked as if it had been abandoned but the closed shutters do not make an especially attractive facade.

At Apsley Lock we stopped to use the services. Whilst Mike was waiting for the water tank to fill, Christine visited the nearby Sainsbury, famous in the past for its doughnuts. Perhaps because it was a Monday, although they weer OK they were not as fresh and special as we recall from previous visits!

At Kings Langley lock we discovered that the Coelacanth is alive and well - incidentally the dinosaur was also still around.

We stopped for lunch just before North Grove Lock and by the time we set off once more the fog had lifted and the rest of the afternoon was delightfully warm and sunny.

We were a bit concerned about the angle at which this boat was listing. It did not seem occupied right now.

By the time we were at Hunton Bridge Locks there was a clear blue sky.

But by Lady Capel's Lock things were a but hazy again. Still warm though.

Grove Mill was looking pretty today in the late afternoon sunshine.

Along this stretch someone has been along painting the end bricks/stones that provide footholds when opening or closing gates. presumably it was thought that they are a trip hazard and so should be highlighted. What is not then clear is why all the others are not trip hazards!

After dropping down through Iron Bridge Lock we decided that is was best to find a mooring in the next pound as there is not much until Croxley Green and our estimate was that we would not get there until after dark.

7.9 Miles - 17 Locks