Steadily south.

It was due to be another long today so we were off at 0930 and off into the bright but chilly morning. The locks come at you about half to three quarters of a mile apart so not much walking between them today. Helen did the windlass wrangling today.

Macy taking the air before we set off.

It wasn't too long before we got to Batchworth lock where it seemed to be mayhem. The water point and service station are right at the foot of the look. There was a wide beam on the mooring point so we had to moor under the bridge just after. Right next to the lock is a lock up a side arm that served a brewery and gas works, and here was a trip boat moored. We did the necessary with the sanitary system and when we had finished that the wide beam was off so we were just going to move on to the water point when a boat coming down the lock wanted to be in the same place. More shuffling as the trip boat was also leaving. All was sorted in the end and we were soon off and tying up on the Tesco moorings that was once the site of a boat building yard that built many many boats between 1907 and 1952, some times at the rate of two wooden boats a week. Walkers yard must have been a big concern.

Progress to the south wasn't as rapid as it may have been due to moored boats but actually it wasn't as bad as I thought it may be, yet!

At the lovely Stoker's Lock I caught a glimpse of the boundary marker that showed where the duty became payable on importing coal into London via the canal. I seem to remember that it was in order to protect the coal coming from the North East via the sea, but I may be wrong.

I think that this sign was at Springwell Lock. We may be in trouble as we are having curry tonight. Marine diesel is a problem at the moment as in certain areas, like this, they have to use ultra low sulphur content fuel. I sure that red diesel will be fine.

All the way from before Rickmansworth and before the canal is accompanied by lakes that can occasionally be glimpsed through the trees of the bank. They are worked out gravel pits. The canal also gtakes on the feel of a river as it incorporates the Rivers Chess and Colne. It become clear and with waving weed. The trees give it a slightly gloomy feel until the sun comes out and brightens the scene.

We had a good shower at Copper Mill Lock where there was a voluntary Lock Keeper, and he actually refused our offer of chocolates. He said that last year there were 30 boats a day coming through, but this year less than half and transited. He also said the many were not bothering to go all the way into London but stopping at Uxbridge and taking the Tube due to worries about moorings. We finally got to Uxbridge just after 1700 and as we came out the lock were presented with two boats tied together reversing down the cut. We took the first mooring we came to, which doesn't seem too bad at all. 

Interesting building, almost like an Art Deco building, as you come out the lock.

We were acting as 'Boating Buddies' for a couple of girls from the C&RT office tomorrow to take into Paddington with us but they have asked to postpone until later in our schedule so we have to decide what to do tomorrow now.