Tuesday, July 06, 2004
We arrived back at our mooring on the Slough Arm yesterday. As always it’s nice to be back; to be welcomed by friends and to have easy access to a water tap (to say nothing of shore power and a BT telephone line – how quick that seems after 9600 bps on the mobile). But, of course, it is impossible to replace the excitement of never quite knowing where you will end up next day.
This has been one of the few trips on which we have had absolutely no technical problems of any kind (I did have to work on the generator before we left but, having fixed it the genny has behaved faultlessly).
And so, goodbye, Canals. We have spent ten immensely happy years exploring the English waterways and shall always look back upon our time afloat with great pleasure. We also have the sneaking feeling that we have enjoyed the very best of the canals – when a large number of them have been made available for cruising but before, as seems likely, regulation, bureaucracy and the sheer volume of boats destroy the very freedom which so many of us are seeking.
If you have been, thanks for reading my reports.
Yesterday’s run: 8.1 miles and 3 locks in 3.6 hours
Total for this trip: 436.3 miles and 399 locks in 222.3 hours
Total in our ownership: 5354.6 miles and 4123 locks in 2800.7 hours
This has been one of the few trips on which we have had absolutely no technical problems of any kind (I did have to work on the generator before we left but, having fixed it the genny has behaved faultlessly).
And so, goodbye, Canals. We have spent ten immensely happy years exploring the English waterways and shall always look back upon our time afloat with great pleasure. We also have the sneaking feeling that we have enjoyed the very best of the canals – when a large number of them have been made available for cruising but before, as seems likely, regulation, bureaucracy and the sheer volume of boats destroy the very freedom which so many of us are seeking.
If you have been, thanks for reading my reports.
Yesterday’s run: 8.1 miles and 3 locks in 3.6 hours
Total for this trip: 436.3 miles and 399 locks in 222.3 hours
Total in our ownership: 5354.6 miles and 4123 locks in 2800.7 hours
Sunday, July 04, 2004
At Denham Country Park (above Denham Lock)
We are enjoying a couple of days at this our final mooring before returning to our base at Iver on the Slough Arm.
A combination of family reasons and our own feeling that, at the age of 65, we should settle down in a community whilst we are still young enough to participate in local affairs has persuaded us to bring to a close our ten-year idyll on the canals. During this time we have covered over 5,000 miles and worked more than 4,000 locks.
Canal friendships are rather like army friendships: an intense bond is created through mutual endeavour. We still communicate with a number of people whom we originally met quite casually whilst sharing a lock. We shall greatly miss this camaraderie of the canals.
I try not to be anthropomorphic but it is impossible, after so many years spent fitting her out and then living on her, not to feel that Lady Elgar has a personality of her own. Like a well-bred horse she has her idiosyncrasies but, having mastered them, we feel absolutely confident of our ability to handle her in all situations (although certain bits of reversing still occasionally go wrong!). She has carried us safely along almost every navigable waterway in England; from Shepperton in the South to Skipton in the North, Bristol in the West and Lincoln in the East. It will be sad to part with her but, like the famous canal writer Tom Rolt, I shall try to walk away and not look back.
We are enjoying a couple of days at this our final mooring before returning to our base at Iver on the Slough Arm.
A combination of family reasons and our own feeling that, at the age of 65, we should settle down in a community whilst we are still young enough to participate in local affairs has persuaded us to bring to a close our ten-year idyll on the canals. During this time we have covered over 5,000 miles and worked more than 4,000 locks.
Canal friendships are rather like army friendships: an intense bond is created through mutual endeavour. We still communicate with a number of people whom we originally met quite casually whilst sharing a lock. We shall greatly miss this camaraderie of the canals.
I try not to be anthropomorphic but it is impossible, after so many years spent fitting her out and then living on her, not to feel that Lady Elgar has a personality of her own. Like a well-bred horse she has her idiosyncrasies but, having mastered them, we feel absolutely confident of our ability to handle her in all situations (although certain bits of reversing still occasionally go wrong!). She has carried us safely along almost every navigable waterway in England; from Shepperton in the South to Skipton in the North, Bristol in the West and Lincoln in the East. It will be sad to part with her but, like the famous canal writer Tom Rolt, I shall try to walk away and not look back.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Cassiobury to Denham
We are now into the final stages of our cruise.
Once again we rose late and did not leave our mooring until 0930. Cruised down to the water point above Cassio Bridge Lock and then stopped at Bridgewater Basin to take on diesel (125 litres @ 37p).
Our day was punctuated by some quite heavy, squally showers but nothing to trouble us seriously. Very light traffic all day with only a handful of boats passed.
Having moored outside Tesco at Batchworth to take on supplies we chugged on uneventfully, passing a small arm which is now used for mooring and is known to the locals as “The Stink Hole” because of the malodorous atmosphere created there by the nearby sewage farm.
Pressed on to the moorings above Denham Deep Lock, beside the Country Park, where we have so often moored before.
My sadness on this our final cruise was much alleviated by César Franck and Stella Artois!
Day’s run: 8.5 miles and 9 locks in 4.7 hours.
We are now into the final stages of our cruise.
Once again we rose late and did not leave our mooring until 0930. Cruised down to the water point above Cassio Bridge Lock and then stopped at Bridgewater Basin to take on diesel (125 litres @ 37p).
Our day was punctuated by some quite heavy, squally showers but nothing to trouble us seriously. Very light traffic all day with only a handful of boats passed.
Having moored outside Tesco at Batchworth to take on supplies we chugged on uneventfully, passing a small arm which is now used for mooring and is known to the locals as “The Stink Hole” because of the malodorous atmosphere created there by the nearby sewage farm.
Pressed on to the moorings above Denham Deep Lock, beside the Country Park, where we have so often moored before.
My sadness on this our final cruise was much alleviated by César Franck and Stella Artois!
Day’s run: 8.5 miles and 9 locks in 4.7 hours.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
King’s Langley to Cassiobury Park
After the exertions of yesterday we took our time before leaving this morning.
I have already described this section of the Grand Union in my earlier reports covering our outward journey; nothing much to add apart from the fact that the Ovaltine factory has still not been demolished and the donkey at Hunton Bridge is BACK. Having assumed that he was gone for ever we were pleased to see him on his patch again and he greeted us with his usual enthusiastic honking.
Had a somewhat trying morning as we were sharing with a couple of academics who were bringing their boat from Cambridge to London. Charming people, but oh so slow in their reactions. Amazing how many people fail to realize that a narrow boat pivots near the centre and it is often more important to think about what the stern is doing than to worry about the bow.
At Iron Bridge Lock in Cassiobury Park we met an old friend from Iver who is making his way (very slowly, as he told us) to Autherley Junction. He was interested to hear about our travels since we last met. We then said goodbye (rather gratefully I’m ashamed to say) to our companions and moored up for the day below the lock, where we were able to watch the divine Sharapova win her Ladies Singles semi-final at Wimbledon.
Day’s run: 4.8 miles and 9 locks in 3.3 hours
After the exertions of yesterday we took our time before leaving this morning.
I have already described this section of the Grand Union in my earlier reports covering our outward journey; nothing much to add apart from the fact that the Ovaltine factory has still not been demolished and the donkey at Hunton Bridge is BACK. Having assumed that he was gone for ever we were pleased to see him on his patch again and he greeted us with his usual enthusiastic honking.
Had a somewhat trying morning as we were sharing with a couple of academics who were bringing their boat from Cambridge to London. Charming people, but oh so slow in their reactions. Amazing how many people fail to realize that a narrow boat pivots near the centre and it is often more important to think about what the stern is doing than to worry about the bow.
At Iron Bridge Lock in Cassiobury Park we met an old friend from Iver who is making his way (very slowly, as he told us) to Autherley Junction. He was interested to hear about our travels since we last met. We then said goodbye (rather gratefully I’m ashamed to say) to our companions and moored up for the day below the lock, where we were able to watch the divine Sharapova win her Ladies Singles semi-final at Wimbledon.
Day’s run: 4.8 miles and 9 locks in 3.3 hours
