A Wait at Watford.

 Once again a lovely evening and we were off again at our normal time, heading for Norton Junction.

The weather was once again smashing and the countryside was at its best with everything spick and span in the sun.

The turn at the junction on to the Leicester Line was accomplished whilst admiring the lovely house on the corner that was once the home of Commander Fielding of the Salvation Army and was more recently a holiday home, but now seems to be lived in full time. As we approached the West Coast Mainline tracks before the Watford locks you can see the bridge is quite ornate, on both sides. The strange thing is that the tracks cross at quite and angle so there was no need for this facade at all. They wouldn't waste the money today.

this field of buttercups looked very summery and bright.

We arrived at the foot of Watford Locks with two ahead of us. Helen checked us in at 1045. We must have just missed the up-bound pod of boats as we were instructed to just go up the first lock and moor up. We had long enough waiting for the two boats ahead of us to be able to fill up with pot. water before doing as instructed. The sign on the bridge says it was built in 1902, and the little one below points out that it was rebuilt in 1976!

It was too hot for Macy cat out at the back but I thought she would like some fresh air as we waited. Poor thing, she is deaf and blind so it all must be confusing. Mind you she has been a boat cat for 11 of her 17 years, and seems to like being on the boat.

After six boats passed down we were then on the way.

We were soon at the top with Helen getting things in the right order. We used to come up and down these on our own, but now they seems to lock them at night. We cleared the top lock about 1235, so not too bad I suppose. We had a brew and biscuit too.

It was getting pretty warm and although some of those heading down Watford Locks had jerkins and jumpers on I went to my shorts for the first time this year. There are bound to be repercussions as it isn't even June yet! These sheep couldn't take their jumpers off so headed for the shade. 

There was a bit of mist at the southern end of Crick Tunnel but it soon cleared and we had a clear run through so was able to avoid the worst of the water. We didn't encounter the Tunnel Boggart either, kit Crewbucket. She is supposed to have a shriek that can drive you mad, but if she likes you she will cook you breakfast! Was that bacon I could smell? No it was Helen with a mug of tea and a biscuit.

Crick Wharf Marina was where we bought 'Holderness' from, from new. Our first trip was to take it back to the builders at Debdale to have some alterations as part of the deal. Surely Crick Wharf must be a viable concern for somebody as it is virtually a courtyard area, with canal frontage and some car parking. It is all languishing at the moment sand old buildings soon deteriorate when left.

As we passed the Crick Marina who should pop out ahead of us but 'Cleddau' and headed off ahead of us.

This is the scene when I rescued a sheep that was stuck in the ice on the off side. It was when we had come looking at boats, and what became our 'Holderness' was the first we looked at. We had gone for a walk down the towpath and came across the dumb animal stuck in the ice. Mind you it was a year later that we bought the boat, at a reduced price, and with some adaptations made for us. A great deal.

The May is looking great in the sun and is very fulsome. The vast majority is white with the rare pinkish hue. The 'experts' don't seem to be able to settle on one reason for this but put it out down to lack of water stress, or disease, or whether it has been fertilised etc. Do you think it is just that the 'odd'

ones just want to strand out?

 

Helen and I were just talking about getting bridge reflection pictures from the stern of the boat as they had to be on a bend so that you could avoid getting the boat in the picture and then this crops up round the corner.

The 'Cleddau' crew were mooring up as we passed and said that they read this blog. I forgot to say that I also read theirs, but we were then in a top trumps of having only passed 5 boat in Braunston Tunnel when they had passed NINE.

This is the first field of rape I have seen that is in flower and is not just a patchwork due to the flooding of fields. I suppose where we live it is flat and we have fields that have been inundated for week upon week.

We got to Bridge 41, nearly 18:00 so found a nice bit of a mooring an pulled up before the dog pound that I assume will be at the moorings at Welford Junction. The lace mantle ahead is cow parsley, not pig nut, chervil and any of the several look a likes. I went and checked!