Climbing up the Chilterns

We had got to Cassiobury and walked off Iron Bridge Locks up into the woods on clear wide paths. It was busy with walkers, runners and cyclists. The route we took went across the golf course several times so we had to look out for flying balls.

A lock cottage
Back on board we were watching TV in the evening as you do, when the boat started to lean over! Looking out we could see the water moving towards the lock. We had to slacken off the ropes and push the boat off the mud but it was still leaning over. Went to check the lock and found the bottom gate open. The top gates were leaking badly so shutting the bottom gate solved the problem once the lock filled itself. All paddles were down as they should be.
We set off for Kings Langley in the morning and arrived in time for lunch. We travelled on our own for a while till Roman Lady joined us. Going up these wide locks is always easier with two boats and also saves water. The shops at Kings Langley provided us with bread, milk and veg. "What is it about those bright orange carrots that shrivel up as soon as you need them?"

Winkwell
A few days later we continued up and up the Chilterns. We were soon joined by a boat called Midnight this time. They wanted to go all the way to Berkhamsted so we agreed to stay with them as it was a sunny day. We managed to do all of 17 locks and 6 miles. The water levels were very low in many pounds between the locks.

The previous pound was lower!
Most boats were going up and down two by two and we were lucky not to run aground in the shallows. One advantage of having a 57 foot boat is it being a popular length. We were lucky to slot into a mooring gap which was just the right length. Now the moorings between locks 52 and 53 are completely full.
British Waterways 'bean counters' are silly. They employ people to do maintenance but do not let them work because it costs too much! But now many have to control the use of locks and restrict navigation to save water. Now it is raining so maybe we will be able to continue up and down the system. Our future plans this year is to head for Staffordshire so hopefully once the August rush is over water levels will rise.

We are now heading North

The other end of the Grand Union canal seems a long way, all of 165 lock miles. We would like to do 10 a day but our average is less than that. It may well be September before we reach Crick. Our friends have left their boat at Harefield Marina so we travel on our own.

We tackle most of the wide locks without the company of another boat. There are plenty about at those permanent moorings but they do not move much.
While travelling we read about boating activity elsewhere during the August holidays. At least one boat has sunk in a lock which British Waterways managed to crane out while boaters waited. At another location a boat hit a lock gate and knocked it off its hinges! Navigation has been restricted at summit levels due to lack of water in the reservoirs. The low water level is not just due to lack of rain. Sadly lack of maintenance and leakage at locks are another cause. At some popular flights, B W asked volunteers to help ensure safe and proper use of locks. The locks are often being locked shut at the end of the day. Some boaters are not helping the situation. We have had to shut a lock after a boat left it open and full. There was a notice on the gate asking for the gates to be shut and the lock left empty with a paddle up!
We leave London behind and the sights we have seen but keep the wonderful memories together with many pictures. We now have a chance to stop again at our favourite moorings. As we move the back log of washing is being dealt with. Some wet days required the fire to be lit to assist the drying process.

Web site is OK

Only found one file damaged so I over wrote it.

These green birdies were seen near Southall.

Got filled up with diesel from Hyperion at 80p a litre.

Time in London, 3

The next three days were spent with our grandchildren and their parents, staying on board at Little Venice while the sun shone. It had been suggested that we visited the Planetarium now at Greenwich, the Tower of London and get a ride on the London Eye. Tickets were pre booked on the internet so we could 'fast track' past the queues. Our Underground tickets were purchased each day in order to get a discount using our Senior Rail cards. We got two Oyster cards for our guests while the children go free.
Our family arrived at Paddington by train and the first thing to do was to find Paddington Bear. We just had time for sandwiches before setting off for Greenwich. Our visit was booked for two thirty so we got down through the tubes and on the Dockland Light Railway. The Bakerloo Line was noisy, hot and full. We actually got a seat on the Jubilee Line which was cleaner. We got off at Canary Wharf and were very impressed how new and modern it all was.

The DLR got us to Greenwich where we climbed the hill to the Royal Observatory. We all learnt about how the planets were formed and how different they were. Also saw a live demonstration creating an asteroid.

Next day we all set off for the Tower after a cooked breakfast. When we arrived we watched a contest between two Knights using swards and axes and then spent the rest of the day exploring the tower and the grounds. It has been a very long time since we have been touring the capital and must say how well all the sights have been cleaned and restored.

Although the London Eye was the most expensive ride it was well worth it for the views. The structure is simply huge and impressive. We had time during the day to get to see Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus on the way back to the boat. Our guests returned on the train from Paddington while we recovered.

Web site is off line

It has been reported that our website has been hacked. We are taking steps to restore it to safe operation. The link has been removed from this Blog and will return when it is safe to do so.

Time in London, 2

There are cycle lanes, walking lanes and fitness apparatus. People are power walking and riding bikes. Many seem to speak a different language while on their mobile phones. Take care where you walk and listen out for those cyclists. Even the canal path is not safe for although the rule is no cyclists, they do!
We went on the Big Bus Blue Tour of London. Molly stayed on the boat while we picked up the ride near Paddington Station.

Piccadilly Circus
We saw most of the sights while sitting on the top deck of the open top bus listening to a commentary on earphones. It was sunny and warm then.

Horse Guards

London Eye


Tower Bridge
A cruise on the Thames was included so we took to the water at Tower Pier after crossing Tower Bridge. We found a seat inside the boat and then it rained! We ate our sandwiches while watching the tidal waters rush by the bridge piers. "I must say that sightseeing was better on the bus."

Big Ben is inside the tower
We got off at Westminster and hopped on another bus to continue our tour. The weather was not kind to us. Out came our so called waterproofs. There was no room inside the bus. Police cars, vans and ambulances were rushing about in the traffic and making a lot of noise. Those riots were apparently kicking off in Tottenham. We think that our bus was diverted. We were told to get onto another bus to continue back to Paddington. By then the sun had come out and we got back to the boat in the dry.
We are so lucky to be able to walk safely from the canal to Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Regents Park. So we decided to visit Regents Park this time by walking along the Regents canal. There is no path through Maida Hill tunnel so we followed the road over the top and nearly got lost trying to find the other end. We eventually crossed a bridge over the canal into the park.
Molly was able to run about again on the grass among the trees. Then it was back on the lead to walk by the lake which was full of natural wild life.

A duck with bill stick!

There we saw Whooper Swans, lots of pigeons and a great variety of ducks and geese.

A courting couple


It was a sunny day and we enjoyed seeing the flower gardens before walking back to the boat.
We have to reassure our readers that we feel quite safe at Little Venice while the riots are continuing to spread across London.

Time in London, 1

Ann and friends took the boat ferry to Camden Market while I booked time on various attractions in London for when our family visit later. Next day we walked down to Kensington Gardens with Molly.

Once there she was almost free to run about on the grass amongst the trees but had to be on a lead to walk round the pond.
There was Kensington Palace looking sad behind a temporary fence while the gardens get a makeover.

Queen Victoria lived here, as did Charles and Diana. It was while looking for her memorial that we found ourselves heading for The Serpentine. The memorial was a circular track of flowing water with children paddling in it to keep cool.

By now we were in Hyde Park and hungry so we found a seat in the shade and ate our sandwiches. People were rowing boats on the Serpentine Lake. On our way back to Paddington we found some handy shops in London Street.

Our friends came on board that evening and we played Mah-jong. Next day they left Little Venice just after breakfast.

Moving into London

We turned on to the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union canal at Bulls Bridge 13 miles from the centre of London and stopped at Southall where the canal is still green and quiet. The shade under the trees welcome on one of the hottest days of the year reaching 30 c. Next day Terry n Myra moved off early heading into London. After breakfast we followed.

The first 6 miles were quite enjoyable, remaining tree lined and rural.

But then it became depressing with all the weed and rubbish. The trees replaced by tower blocks and factories. Then we slowed to a crawl as the prop picked up submerged plastic bags and rope. "I just had to beach the bow on the shallow edge and deal with the problem in the weed hatch." We were lucky to get on without picking up more rubbish in the disgusting state of the canal. It is looking like green grass with floating plastic bottles on top. We got our water tank topped up on the way.
Terry reported that Paddington Basin was full and on the way out they were lucky to find a space in Little Venice.

When we arrived we just moored along side. Surprisingly a 14 day mooring here in the City of Westminster, W2. Another day of heat while we got used to the environment and explored as other boats arrived.

Summer fruits

The blackberries are just pickable, but some are a bit bitter. There are plenty about along the towpath hedges. We picked over two pounds of blackberries and made four jars of jam.

If we have not eaten all of it, this one is for you Sue.
Sadly the thorny issue of waterway finance has not yet produced any fruit. When it does I suspect the best pickings will still be at the top with little benefit to the plant. Let us all hope that next year the sun will come out again to encourage new growth with fruit that is sweet.

If we do not look after the plants the weeds will grow. Any gardeners out there are welcome to volunteer.

TESCO Comment

I arrived by narrowboat and moored at your 'Frogmoor Wharf' about midday on Thursday 28 th July. I was pleased to note that boaters were not overstaying and that there was a space at the mooring. After shopping in the store which was cooler inside than out we moved our boat over to the British Waterways moorings on the otherside of the canal.
A while later one of your shopping trollies appeared near my boat opposite your store. It seems that the trolly had been stolen from your store. I am so dissapointed that so many TESCO trollies do end up in the canal. You do not seem to care much about the value of them. My boat is my home and could suffer disabling damage if the rudder or propellor gets caught up in a sunken trolly.
Please make arrangements to collect any trollies found alongside the waterways. It would be better if you could operate a locking system that keeps them on your property.

Moving on down the locks

It was going to be a few long trips spread over a few days that we had planned. The locks are all wide on the Grand Union heading south to London so two narrow boats or one wide barge can get in. "There do seem to be more barges down this way." Some of the locks had to be left empty with a paddle up to prevent flooding. There were a few boats coming up which helped our progress.
We did not adopt a routine so approaching a lock varied between Terry and I being first in on one side or the other.

There was one automatic swing bridge to deal with at Winkwell that had been repaired after being damaged by a vehicle the previous week. The facilities at Hemel Hempstead near the lock were occupied so we breasted up in a convenient space between the many boats. The girls went off to the shops while we waited.
It had been a warm sunny day and the canal corridor proved to be quite rural being mostly tree lined through the town. We finally stopped just past the railway bridge at a wide grass edge. It was also deep enough with no other boats in site but the trains were a bit noisy as they passed Kings Langley. The train's electric pickup was creating some disturbance on the Freeview TV so Terry had to move in front of us. We stayed there a day, visiting Kings Langley and enjoyed a round of jam doughnuts and coffee sitting outside a cafe.

It is somewhere around here that Ovaltine was made. I think this is the old Wharf.

Kings Langley lock
Next day we continued on down many more locks to Cassiobury Park which is inside the outer circle created by the M25.

Several locks had delightful little cottages with well kept gardens beside them.

Berkhamsted

When we reached Berkhamsted we were lucky to find a space below lock 52 opposite the park. It has been 6 years since we have been this far south on the Grand Union canal.

Much has changed since then. Trees and bushes have grown up and are preventing the satellite signal getting through. Our terrestrial aerial was set up but only a few channels were watchable.
The main High Street runs parallel with the canal and river Bulbourne with a few bridges that cross the river. The town is very busy with many useful shops, banks and cafe's. At one end there is a wonderful hardware store with everything you may want or need. It is an 'Aladdin's Cave'.

After a few days we moved on down the locks with British Waterways help. A lack of water has been caused by one lock not being shut properly over night.

Marsworth

We move with friends on Plaidy. Every now and then we find a pub for lunch but it is not our usual way. At Marsworth there was a choice of Red or White Lions. Now only Red remains as a country half thatched public house by the canal. We had found a mooring between bridge 129 and 130 and walked to the Red one, beaten by a bunch of people off a day boat. Although our meals were slow coming they were worth waiting for.
While on a walk to the lock we realised how lucky we were to have found a space. Most of the moorings were taken with boats on both sides. Despite the apparent customer potential the White Lion was closed and boarded up.

The British Waterways yard is also closed and up for redevelopment despite local boater protest. I hope that the boater facilities will remain for use. And that this old loading crane is preserved when houses are built here.

Have we seen the best of it?

"Let's hope not." We started boating in 1995 on the Kennet and Avon and have seen that canal grow and decline. In 2000 we got our first boat to live on as a retired couple. Much effort and investment in the waterways was making improvements, all be it slowly. It is now sadly getting much less support from government and deterioration has set in. In order to improve the situation volunteers are being recruited to support British Waterways. Back in the 60's and 70's many groups of people gave their time and effort to save the waterway system. Then all BW had to do was maintain the Navigation. Major changes to the financial arrangements and organisation at BW must result in a change in attitude.
Apparently boating is in decline despite rosy reports from various boat shows. Several canal companies are falling victim to the downturn. Now even well established boat builders like Reeves have failed. It is a shock indeed to the system as they were known to be quality boats that kept their value in the market.

Things to do at Linslade

Visitor moorings at Leighton Buzzard are handy for the shops. There is Tesco, Homebase and Aldi here right by the canal. Linslade is on the other side of the canal and has a Launderette and a train station but not much else. The only Post Office is now to be found across the river in L. B.
It was only two hours at the visitor moorings so we moved on and were lucky to find a space round the corner. Now we have 14 days to explore and use the facilities at our leisure. We arranged to get our post delivered but had to instruct the town's PO what 'Poste Restante' meant. "We will collect it to save you having to deliver it to our boat." Then we striped the bedding and got all our bed quilts cleaned at the Launderette.
The satellite and local digital signal was temperamental due to the tall flats and trees. The signal must have been bouncing around because the picture came and went every 5 minutes. Thankfully the post arrived next day so we moved on a mile to a new walk bridge near the old sand pit lake.

The Sands of Time Trail making a good 1/2 hour walk round.
The TV signal was back to normal here so we were able to enjoy the F1 racing from Silverstone at the weekend. Many problems foxed the engineers and drivers with the much improved track and not helped by rain on Sunday which only made half the circuit wet. So it was an entertaining race.

Wimbledon takeover

The second week is always best to watch with so much good tennis to see. We are moving but only short trips, getting lunch then watching the games. The ladies all seem to look the same with long blond hair whatever country they come from. "But why do some make so much noise!" Then it was the men's final with an unexpected result. I usually support the expected looser so that was a win for me. Our own Scottish player did well to get to the semi again. If we really want the Brits to win maybe we should give them more support.
When at Fenny Stratford we went to the Swan for lunch with our friends to celebrate our 45 th Anniversary no less. The shops in the 'High Street' have changed since we were last here. It is a case of the small village and useful shops closing down because people with cars just go along Watling Street to all the drive in shop centres. Perhaps the huge rise in fuel costs will eventually make them change their habits. For those like us without a car rely so much on the small village near the waterway for milk, bread, vegetables and post.

A few hot days

We were still at Cosgrove when Terry n Myra arrived in Plaidy. We had spent a few days below the lock walking round the local quarry by the river Great Ouse.

The 200 year old aqueduct takes the canal over that river at great height. Although short the aqueduct is made in a similar way to that one in Wales. The boarder of Milton Keynes is nearby and the foot paths are in excellent condition.
We stayed on board to watch the Formula One racing from Europe. Then we were invited by Richard and Sarah on board Scarweather for drinks and nibbles. We sat on the bow during that warm evening and watched the hot sun sink slowly below the horizon.

Next day we were off early to beat the heat and shop at Wolverton Tesco. It was when we came out that we felt the heat as it had been cool inside!

A few miles on got us to Haversham where we set up the BBQ. It was a cool spot with the trees providing shade as the sun moved round.
A patrol officer came by on his bike and agreed that we could stay 14 days here. "Not that we would anyway." It is not understood why BW have dismissed the patrol officer back at Cosgrove but they are regretting it now. Several years ago she was very helpful with local information. Like the lock keepers the people 'on the ground' are very much needed to control the use of canals and moorings.
We were lucky to find a gap between the many boats at Campbell Park. Terry n Myra had stopped at the previous bridge and arranged to meet us after lunch. We all walked over to Willen lakes under an increasingly cloudy sky. A cafe provided cups of tea when it started raining. Such a change after those few hot days.

Problems with iTunes

The iPod is able to play hundreds of music tracks. It can display the artist, album name, track title, and pictures relating to the track or album. In order to get the data into the iPod it needs to be connected to a computer running iTunes.

The data can either be loaded to the computer from your own collection of CD's or downloaded from various web sites on the internet. If you are copying from your own CD's you could be using Microsoft Windows Media Player. If you happen to be on line at the same time you will find that data relating to the CD will be downloaded.

I have encountered many problems with these apparently simple procedures. Some tracks have no picture or a poor quality one. The names of the artist, album or tracks are sometimes not known. I think it true to say that most; if not all the data related to the track is contained in the file. I have tried to keep to the *.mp3 file type. iTunes generate *.m4a when copying from a CD.

In order to try and resolve the problems I have developed a procedure to follow from files, folders or directories on the computer to adding or changing the data within iTunes.

More information can be found in our web site at Moore 2 Life.co.uk

Click on Chas' Life then iTunes

Short trips and slow going

Dave Bassett has been fitting cupboards in our galley and bathroom with one more to go in the bedroom. We have been trying to go slowly so he does not travel far from Crick. So we are moving a few miles and staying a few days.

We were somewhere near Blisworth when Mo n Nes stopped for a chat. We do not set off if it is raining so now that the dry spell has ended we are happy to stop a while. The problem is that after 3 days we get itchy feet and need to move on. We try to find moorings with a hard edge to hook on to and some local walks.

Yardley Gobion has a marina that sells gas so we stopped to exchange bottles in between the showers. We passed the new Thrupp Wharf marina which is filling up with boats. But there are still many boats on private moorings on the canal. It was BW's intention to reduce the on line moorings so no real sign of that happening. There are many large trees and bushes that reduce the width of the canal by half in places. So what with boats on one side and trees on the other it can be slow going.

We have stopped past the Cosgrove lock. Above the lock there are many tatty boats and BW work boats occupying the visitor moorings by that lovely stone bridge.

A walk on the wild side

Or a walk along the (h)edge rows.

The wild strip is left for the rabbits, birds bees butterflies and other creepy crawlies. While the grain stands tall and green in dry cracked ground waiting for the rain to arrive with the skylarks twittering above and diving to their nests. When was the last time you heard the 'dawn chorus' ? "Yes, I know you have to be up early". It is wonderful when you do because then you know that the countryside is alive.
We walked to Rothersthorp and back to the canal of course.

Almost through the back garden of this lovely cottage where the public path went.

A natural life

We got water and diesel while passing through Weedon on our way to Bugbrooke.

There we walked into the village to post a letter and visit the little shop. On the way back we sat a while in the millennium garden. It was on the way back to the boat that we saw two people waving their arms.
They were Les n Jaq! Back on our boat we made tea and offered cake and biscuits while getting to know them both together.

Jaq is lovely and friendly and it was not long before we were talking about English and American life. Jaq loves to do the cooking and has told us about many mouth watering meals and snacks. It seems that there are many natural plants and herbs growing near our boats. Her knowledge of natural herbal remedies has been gained over many years of training. They were obliged to leave all too soon heading for the Wilton locks to be tackled the next day. We wished them both well on their journey back to America for marriage and hope to see them on their return.

A way of life, old and new

Boating is a way of life that we enjoy but it was so different back in the 1900's. Chas is reading a book about the working life 'on the cut'. The canal system was built like a cross linking major ports and rivers with factories. Birmingham grew bigger because it was surrounded by all the raw materials needed to make iron and steel. The waterways kick started the industrial revolution. There were many families and companies involved with the transport of raw materials and manufactured goods. Cargo like coal, wood, iron, steel, crockery and even chocolate were moved about on the waterways until the railways and roads did it quicker.
The old boating families had a hard life having to load and unload much of the cargo by hand. They almost had their own language. The propeller was known as 'the blades' while the rudder was 'the ellum'. The diesel engine was 'kicked over' to start and 'put out' to stop. The 'A' frames supporting the cargo covers was 'the cratch'. Just like the Navy they had a name for every part of the boat or ship. If the boat got stuck on mud the skipper was said to be 'hill climbing'.

Buckby is some way from the canal but has given its name to the drinking water jug used by the old boaters because it was made and painted there. We have just had ours repainted at a shop half way down the Buckby flight of locks. It was always the boater's tradition to paint parts of the boat and various items belonging to it with roses and castles.
We took our boat down those locks, sometimes called Wilton, joining a boat at the top but they went on down with a single boat at the next. While we waited for two boats to come up we were joined by another single boat coming down. "It is always safer and easier with two boats in these wide locks." We stopped at the bottom for diesel at Wilton Marina but were told that their tank was empty! So after getting an oil filter we moved on down to near bridge 19.

Be dazzled by the light near bridge 21. Richard Hall has designed a range of LED lighting to fit existing units. Now even a replacement for 'florescent' tubes. After some simple modification the LED tubes are twice as bright and consume half the power. One tube is all that is needed in each unit. All are now regulated to be powered by between 10 and 30 volts DC.
The canal is quite busy this week because it is half term with children on holiday. So you would not believe that the demand for boating holidays has fallen. 'A fall in lock usage last year has sparked concern' is reported in 'Towpath Talk'. Some hire boat companies have advertising panels stuck between their windows and apparently there are many more second hand boats for sale.