Upwards into the country.

Before setting off we went for a walk to the shopping centre very close to the lock and filled up with a few essentials from Lidl. We were therefore later moving off and the sun had by then made it our from behind the clouds. We were straight away into our first mistake of the day! We went for the open gates of one of the paired locks, saving water, but when we got there we realised that it was the hand operated one. the other was electric! There were many turns required of the paddle gear to open them and the gates too. A good start to the day.

Helen getting some early exercise.

At Stonebridge we had learned our lesson and went for the electric lock although they are not marked from the canal. Just above the lock we stopped for water. It was very slow to fill and whilst we were sitting in the sun a car drew up and asked us if the carpets were for sale? There was a little plastic cruiser ahead of us with several rugs on the towpath and a couple of upholstered chairs on top. We explained they weren't ours but from the conversation we learned of a great sounding material shop very close to Tottenham Hale Tube station so we will check it out when we go back.

It had warmed up by now and the cormorant was taking advantage.

I was expecting many more wrecks of boats to be used for 'accommodation along the canals in London, but on the whole I have been pleasantly surprised. These two let the side down somewhat.

The later locks had the bottom gates electrified but the paddles and top gates were as normal. It all helps. The paired locks caught us out again as we were entering a lock with the gates open when we saw a sign pointing to the other as being the electrified one. We have noticed that it seems customary for local 'boaters' to leave the bottom gates open when they leave the locks.

The Lee Navigation follows the River Lea and the shallow valley is an easy route for the electricity pylons to follow and accompanied us for must of the day.

The other thing that is was an ever present today was the banks that hid the many reservoirs. They appear to have taken advantage for old sand and gravel diggings and provide water storage, fishing and sailing and boating facilities.

We passed the London Waste Incinerator and this was obviously another factory, near Ponders End, that used the canal for transportation. It is obvious that in the past quite heavy barges were used up here as in the locks are heavy duty bollards and stops for holding barges. They are very similar to those on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canals.

We carried on through Waltham Town Lock and as the skies filled with black heavy clouds and we picked a spot to moor up for the night. The shower was light as it turned out, and I was soon out picking blackberries for a crumble for tea. Macy is enjoying a little more freedom now, but the tow path is quite busy with cyclists and runners.