Packet Boat

Today's Canal - Grand Union

For our last day of cruising this season it was a grey day, dry and reasonably warm but no exciting sunshine at all, all day.

We set off in good time, about ten minutes after nb Trinity passed us on the way down. We caaughtb up with them at the first lock as they were taking on water. However, they quickly rolled up their hosepipe and joined us in the next four locks.

Sharing turned out to be quite handy for them as a change in their plans meant that the wife had to walk back to the prvious lock to collect their car and take it on down to Batchworth, leaving husband single handing.

The offside moorings below Common Moor Lock have been greatly improved and given better access. Not that long ago it seemed to be the haunt of various irregular moorers trying to hide under the radar! No doubt as a result CRT gain a worthwhile income from them.

Just before Lot Mead Lock we came across another drifting boat, the second day in a row. The steerer from Trinity foud thta he could not pull it in as there was insufficient centre line rope. So we repeated yesterday's exercise and brought the stray boat back to the bank. Its bow had been fastened with a rather deformed piling hook so we added a mooring pin to make it more secure as well as tying the centre to the bank. Hooe that the owner realises that something is different when he returns!

Splendid creeper on the front of the lock cottage.

Spotted this unusual and ornate rope fender - a bit showy for our tastes but definitely catches the eye!

At Batchworth Lock in Rickmansworth we left nb Trinity behind as they wanted to stop and use the facilities before going just a little further to catch up with their son who was on his boat just ahead. We worked out who he was when we arrived at the next lock!

A parcel of land below Coppermill Lock is being developed. So far they have constructed a huge retaining wall and are now beginning the footings for whatever is go up up there. No doubt we will see when we come this way again.

Just around the corner we came across this new design of marker buoy - not sure what it was guarding!

As we neared Whitewater Lock we could see that something was different and then thought that we had caught up the boat that had been leaving all gates (and some paddles) open when leaving each lock. When we arrived the owner was skulking inside but made no effort to come out and speak - seems he was having his lunch right against the top gates. Fortunately we could pass him on the off side.

At Denham Deep we wondered what had happened to the well-know floating dry dock which we have always seen just below the lock. As we continued beyond the lock we found the answer - it has been repainted in a bright blue colour!

At Uxbridge Lock we chatted to a chap with a lock key who arrived as we were emptying the water. Mike recognised him from a boatyard a little further back where he was working on a boat engine. It seems that his company specialise in canal maintenance and in providing work boats, including full size barges, for use by contractors building alongside the canal. He was awaiting one of their boats coming back up from work in London. A short while later we encountered it! It felt as large as it looked. A photo from the rear is included as Christine had not hitherto known how these huge things are moved.

Just a little further and yet another drifter - it looked as if its badly placed bow mooring pin had been pulled out of soft ground when the barge passed by. We repeated our well-rehearsed manoeuvre once again!

Only Cowley Lock to go. A boat had just come up but another couple were below, presumably having just missed out on sharing. She was carrying a very small baby in a front sling and operating paddles and gates at the same time! They have just taken a mooring at Packet Boat whilst they work out what might be possible with a young baby in tow!

Before finally turning into the marina we stopped first to fill up with diesel and also to buy an electric card for the hook up. Eventually we were successfully installed in our latest winter mooring.

12.3 Miles - 12 Locks