A really warm day with plenty of sunshine in between the fluffy clouds. Mike set off to prepare the first lock which was just a couple of hundred metres away from our overnight mooring.
As he opened the gates, a boat came around the corner whilst Christine was still pulling out the mooring pins. This boat, nb Henry Venn, had passed yesterday just before we set off for church and we accompanied each other through all but the last two locks today.
We have often seen a boat moored under the M25 viaduct, often apparently being repaired. Now, it seems, one has taken root, claimed it as a private mooring and started to plant trees! It even has a garden shed.
It was a beautiful day as we approached Home Park Lock. Henry Venn was ahead and preparing the lock. The turbulence just below the lock at the lock landing is unusually strong and, for some still unknown reason the husband of the team slipped into the water, still holding onto the rope. Christine saw it happen and Mike was on that side so went to make the boat safe and then help him out of the water. We later discovered that he has had a replacement hip - which he why he generally steers through the locks whilst she sets them - and if we had known earlier we might have been more concerned about how we (Mike plus another passer-by) hauled him out! In the end he seemed not to have suffered any enduring damage other than a complete soaking and lost pride!
We are pleased to report - counter to claims to the contrary - that dinosaurs are alive and well alongside the next pound. (Not a comment on the election result - honest!)
Just before the railway viaduct before Nash Mills, we spotted Still Rockin, one of the bogs that we follow. We knew from the last posting on Sunday that they were in the area but we had no opportunity other than to wave as we had just avoided another wide beam coming the other way and Henry Venn was just on our tail. still, we did manage to recognise one another, if only from our boats. Must say that Still Rockin looks as impressive in real life as it did during the construction blog! Even failed to take a photo. That would have proved that someone was hard at work on the roof, albeit distracted into talking to walkers along the towpath.
The re-development of the site of the former Nash Paper Mills continues and has now reached the edge of the canal. The first part looks as if it will be quite impressive, approaching from the lock direction.
At Apsley both boats wanted to use the facilities and whilst we completed this, Christine walked to the nearby Sainsbury's for a few provisions. Last time we passed this way she was told that their doughnuts were especially good (they were) and so she bought another pack which she shared around all four of us!
Just before we paused for lunch we passed this work boat. With a funnel like that it definitely has pretensions to be a cruise liner!
Locks continued after lunch unremittingly. The longest pounds take a bare 15 minutes and many are shorter still.
Winkwell Swing Bridge gave Christine her usual fix of delight in holding up the traffic - especially those who think that boats should travel at the speed of cars. She did take pity on the queues by c losing the bridge in between our two boats. However, the first cars in each direction were so impatient to cross that they nearly ended up in a collision. Now that would have made a show!
Just after the bridge, nb Henry Venn pulled in for the night as they wanted to try out the adjacent pub. There they are, at the back of the line of boats - this photo was taken from the next lock.
We continued for a further two locks before mooring ourselves, just after Bridge 146.
6.7 miles - 14 locks
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