Grove Lock to Stoke Hammond (cruise retrospective)

We slept late. Yesterday had been unusually enervating for some reason. But no matter. We're in no hurry. Except for the slight pressure to leave before Jules leaves.

Late yesterday afternoon, two Jules Fuels boats came down Grove Lock and moored outside the pub (see photo above). They travel together, tied together for the main part, and we didn't want them to get ahead of us and slow our progress. So we were glad to set off towards Linslade and Leighton Buzzard.

The weather was cold, bitterly so at times, with a persistent gusty winds and some nasty, albeit briefish downpours of icy rain. I ended up wearing the same layers of clothing as I'd worn when travelling from Debdale to Yelvertoft in the snow of March 2013. Crazy weather!

Shortly after leaving Grove Lock, we moored at Leighton Buzzard Tesco to do a bit of shopping. Later, as we prepared to cast off, the Jules boats arrived, and moored behind us. What a good job we hadn't dillied at Grove Lock. Or dallied, for that matter!

It was raining, windy and chilly, and we were only one hour away from what we'd normally call lunchtime. There's a two-hour limit to the Tesco moorings, so we moved on just a quarter of a mile or so, past the Wyverne Boats yard, and moored again. We decided that it'd be best for us to eat early and spend the rest of the afternoon in uninterrupted travel. Fingers crossed that Jules would be shopping for long enough for us to have lunch!

We arrived at Leighton Lock less than an hour later, to see NB Suchar Daval pulling away from the bottom gates. She hadn't passed us recently, so she must have only just moved from their overnight mooring, probably having already driven their car on the next leapfrog, and cycled back. We waved as we passed them tying up again, below the lock, perhaps for watering.

photo - chalicecruises.blogspot.co.uk

We passed NB Naughty Lass round about here, too, but Robbie was not to be seen. 

Soulbury Three Locks next, where we found no less than four vollies, who saw us down the flight. I stood at the middle lock, and watched with interest as the bottom paddles were raised, and water flooded into the middle pound.

I came down this flight two years ago, with Jess, and we watched frozen with horror as the water rose in the pound until it overflowed the walls and and ran across towards the doors of The Three Locks pub. It was only the combination of Jess dropping the paddles while I fled down to open the top paddles of the bottom lock that averted disaster.

Today, I watched the start of the same flood. But today, there were vollies waiting at the bottom lock, and when the water started to overflow the gates, they calmly opened the paddles, and there was not even the threat of a flood. I suggested to the nearest vollie that it might be a good idea for CRT to put notices up to warn boaters of the danger, and instruct them in how to avoid it. How on earth would a canal newbie, a hirer from nearby Wyverne, perhaps, know?

photo - geograph.org.uk

We pressed on to Stoke Hammond Lock, where we'd now decided we would moor and escape the cold wind and rain. We met NB Achenar moored just above the lock. They've been out cruising for some weeks now, but like to travel slowly, often staying at one mooring for several days. We hooted as we drifted past them, and Phil came out to chat while we waited for a pair of boats to come up the locks. Determined to do just one more lock, we descended, and moored for the night a few hundred yards further down.

It was cold. Silly-wooly-hat cold.

photo - www.sierratradingpost.com

Grove Park - Watford at its finest! (cruise retrospective)

Today was a day of relaxed cruising in the warmest, sunniest weather we've had this year. It was largely uneventful, too. There's nothing wrong with that. It was a calm, lovely experience of jolly good boating. Springwell Lock, Stocker's. It's odd to think that it's only a couple of days since we were passing through built-up areas, London outskirts. Today, we're right back in the countryside. A stop at Tesco to refill the fridge, Batchworth Lock, then Lot Mead.

This one was a bit of a pain. The problem was that the top lock was leaking so much that it seemed as though it would never empty enough for the bottom gates to be opened to let Kantara in. The meeting of the top gates was very gappy, and one gate paddle seemed to be partly open, even though the winding mechanism was fully down. I tweeted CRT, and wasn't too impressed by their Social Media Twit of the day who was unable to find "Lot Mead Lock 79 on the GU main line", and had to ask a series of questions, finishing with "Can you tell me what town it's near?" I couldn't be bothered to continue the conversation. The bottom gate finally opened. I assume CRT have a map somewhere. They'll find the leaky lock one day, and fix it.

I arrived at Common Moor Lock to find a lady at the top gate, waiting for the lock to fill. She was looking up the canal, watching a splendid widebeam approaching slowly. WB Still Rockin'. I took my place at the gate opposite her, and we chatted. The skipper's timing was impeccable, and he arrived at the gates just as we were opening them for him. As they drove out of the bottom gates, under the bridge and out of sight, they saw Grace in Kantara, waiting to enter. They recognized the boat name, and called out to Grace that they are readers of this blog. (Waves to the crew of WB Still Rockin'!)

At Cassio Bridge, we met up with NB Naughty Lass, and passed with her through the next three locks. Rob is a liveaboarder, working from home, has been in London, but now on his way to find a new place to stay in the north of England. Naughty Lass left us after Cassiobury Park Locks, while we went on just a little further to moor at the Crow Bridge in the lovely Grove Park.

It's been another good day of weather, people, birds and blossom, ending now in a superb spot not far from the not-so-lovely Watford.