We had decided to head off down the Aylesbury Arm and turned immediately into the first lock. It was nice to be back on narrow locks. The Arm is almost straight but feels very cut off with no villages on the canal until the end where the nice town of Aylesbury lies.
There was little traffic on the canal and not that many places to moor before the end. Whilst the reeds in the photo above prevents you tying up it does give a very secluded feel to the trip. The Aylesbury Canal Society had moved from their base at the end of the Arm to a purpose built marina a mile or two outside of town. They offered free moorings and cheap electricity and made us very welcome. We had a good look round the town and as it was Helen's birthday whilst we were there even went to the theatre to see 'April in Paris' that was very good. One of my brothers even called in to see us on his back north.
After several days we headed back to Marsworth. When we were entering lock 9 the engine came to a stop and we found a submerged lock stuck on one of the blades of the propeller. It too me a while to get it free and then there was the question of getting the prop blade straightened as it would be no good going on the Thames with it like that. Luckily Bates's at the top of Marsworth Locks Bulbourne Dry dock could sort of fit us in. It was 15 locks away. It only took us a day to get there but had to wait a day before getting in the dry dock. Above is Lock 8 on the Aylesbury Arm.
We were in the dock for only about two hours, just enough time to empty it enough to get the prop off and then flood it up again. We then spent the best part of a week waiting for the propeller to be reconditioned and a slot to go back in the dock to have it put back on. We didn't waste our time as there was plenty of foraging to do. Hazelnuts, plums and damson and elderberries were found and bottled, jammed and juiced. We had some lovely walks into Tring and the areas and as the weather was good it was no real hardship.
When we did finally get away we met up with another blogging boat 'Inca' with Gary and Carolyn at Cowroast Lock. We shared the load down to Berkhamstead. The town is very handy for the canal and we managed to get Macy the cat in for her annual jabs. We had a nice walk around the town and availed ourselves of the Wetherspoons.
'Holderness' under the willows by the tap at Berkhampstead before penning down on our way to Hemel Hempstead where we moored up near Apsley and had a very interesting tour of the paper mill there. We also met a very cheerful Canal Chaplin and his gang on our way through Cassiobury Park. We stopped a couple of nights near Uxbridge before heading into London. We did the run in one go and we were surprised at how quite it was for long periods, and how filthy the tow path was around Southall. The lines of boats were it was possible to moor didn't start until after Alperton and you didn't really feel you were on the edge of a major city. It was interesting but all the time there was the worry that you wouldn't get a berth when you arrived.
There were a few spaces at Kensal Green so that would be our fall back position but we were lucky to be able to find a spot in Paddington basin on the end of the off side pontoon. It is a great place to be moored in the heart of the metropolis and handy for transport etc. However we had booked in at St Pancras Boat Club so we only stayed the one night before swapping Paddington of kings Cross.
Little Venice was jammed with boats and we vied with the trip boats as we headed out to the Maida Vale Tunnel and the Regent's Canal. We felt like tourists as we passed London Zoo and turned sharp left at Cumberland Basin passing the floating Chinese restaurant.
Despite it not being a weekend Camden Locks were thronged with people all staring as we locked down with the help of a volunteer. It must be downright dangerous at busy weekends as you can hardly move on the lock sides. Our mooring at St Pancras was excellent and we soon got used to the trains passing. The club were extremely friendly and we managed to book on one of their Thames Cruise trips to see the Tall Ships later in the year. They even took us to the top of their water tower for some excellent views. We had four days walking miles around the city and having visitors.
Helen became fascinated by the Shard on or travels around the City. We walked along the Thames path and managed to get to see the poppies being built up into the installation 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'. It was impressive in July and there were plenty of people then so it is no wonder it was swamped in November for Remembrance Day. We had a walk round the British Museum to see the Sutton Hoo hoard and many other beautiful things. But mainly walking miles as there is always something to see on every street and as we don't come this way very often we like to cram as much in as possible.
After a few days we moved on down through Islington and Hackney to spend a night at Limehouse Basin. The basin we so big when we left the lock we had to ask where the locks was as it was hidden behind all the big posh cruisers. We had arranged with some girls from the C&RT Office at Little Venice to accompany us on our next leg as part of the boating buddies scheme. Hopefully the enjoyed themselves and learned something from us as we learned much from them about running the canals in London. We moored up at Totenham Lock so that they could get the Tube back home. They did a few locks as we went back up the Regent's Canal and the Hertford Union Canal to get to the Lee Navigation. The above photo is looking back just after getting on the Lee with the Olympic site in the distance.
The Lee Navigation is wide and deep with plenty of moored boats but after Enfield seems to leave the city behind. There are old sand and gravel pits on either side of the cut and civilisation seems along way away. It is a great green space on the doorstep of London and many people seemed to take advantage as the towpath was always busy with bikes and walkers. We stopped up at Stanstead Abbot and met up with Helen's Uncle and wife who we hadn't seen for many years. We then passed through Ware and the lovely gazebos that fronted the river. We did not stop as we had a bit of a deadline to make the trip on the Thames.
We headed on up to Hertford and the Hertford Lock was very nearly the undoing of me. I have never found a more difficult lock. (Hopefully it has been fixed during these winter stoppages). Hertford again seemed a lovely spot when we moored up for a look around before heading back down to spend the night at Ware. The end of navigation, above is a quiet little area near the centre with old clapboard warehouses. We had no better luck with the lock on the way down so were clad to get moored up at Ware. The next day we entered yet another new waterway when we set off up the River Stort. The river is narrow and windy and totally different to the Lee and we spent the last night of the month at Sawbridgeworth. due to us having to be back at Limehouse on a set date we are rushing a bit and really we should take more time. Another month gone and just about all new ground for us. Exciting times!
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