A New Use for CD’s - 15th August

This morning I took Jimmy a walk around Tiddenfoot Waterside Park which is entered by crossing the new bridge 115c to the offside. This was once a busy quarry sending sand to building sites all over England. Work began in the 1920’s and ceased in the 1960’s when it was gradually reclaimed by the wildlife and is now a place for people and wildlife.

We set off and motored up to the water point just before bridge 114, conveniently on a bend and under a large weeping willow, but hey-ho that is narrowboating. The diesel boat and butty were moored just before the water point and a lovely sight did their stern cabins look.

Having filled the tanks we moved up to the 2 hour shopping mooring right outside a 24 hr. Tesco and Aldi store. It was great because we could take the trolley right up to the boat. You can just see our bow through the entrance.

With time to spare we went into Leighton Buzzard, an old market town. The old Fire Station is now a Pizza Express, and it has a Boots, Waitrose and many other high street shops.

Returning to the boat we passed this sculpture called “Fly Past”. Around the base is a granite ring which lists some of the 60 names and spellings of the town dating from 1086 to 1965. The discs surrounding the propeller have relief images relating to the town and its history including the Grand Junction Canal, Sand Quarry, The Vimy Bomber, and Trees and the river Ouzel. The flowers are on the bridge over the river which divides Leighton from Linslade.

As we left Leighton Buzzard we past the Wyvern Shipping Hire base and counted 19 boats moored up 4 a breast waiting for their new clients. We passed another 5 of their boats on route heading back to base so they must have at least 24 boats based here.

These two boats caught our eye today, the wide beam with a mass of flowers in the forepeak and on the roof.
The narrowboat has found a new use for CD’s. It covered in them which apparently keeps it very cool and made it look like it was covered in sequins

. These Cormorants decided to perch on a high dead tree and could be seen from a long way off.

We eventually reached the Soulbury Three Locks. These three locks have very short pounds between them and the last two look like a staircase lock from a distance.The Three Locks Pub stands next to the last lock and drinkers were sat outside when we arrived but soon disappeared inside when we had a short sharp shower lasting only a few minutes.

We moored up in a nice spot mid way between bridges 104 and 102. We were soon joined by a few more boats.

Hawks and Alpacas - 14th August

We dropped down lock 39 to find that the pound below was about 12-15 inches low and several boats were kilted over. As we gingerly went by, one of the mooring chains on a boat broke with an ear splitting twang. We were told by a boat coming up that somebody had left a paddle open on the lock below and caused this havoc. A  C&RT man caught up with us at the next lock trying to find out what had caused the problem, apparently it usually happens when somebody has left a paddle up on the Aylesbury Staircase locks but today it was not the case. He said he would let some more water down from the reservoir.

Lock 38 had the metal band on the cill falling off and woe be tide anybody who got to close to it  on the way down as it was a real trap for your prop or rudder. These swans had managed to rear 8 signets which is quite a feat with all the predators there are about.

We were soon passing Pitstone Wharf where Grebe Canal Cruiser operate and where the Restaurant boats which passed us last night had come from. A little further on we spotted a couple of  Alpacas in the field.

This hawk posed for me sitting on an old dead tree watching the world go by or looking for his next meal.

Could not quite make out what Hill Farm near Slapton Wharf were on about with their advertising of a Glamping Site. Their website and Banner says:  “Two luxury en-suite Wigwams are situated in the beautiful mature orchard at Hill Farm. The orchard is home to wonderful old apple, pear and damson trees. The tranquillity of the orchard, with its canal side setting and breathtaking views of the Chiltern Hills make this an ideal setting to enjoy a unique glamping experience. A step back to more tranquil times. Leafy lanes, apples slowly ripening on ancient laden trees, a majestic heron standing guard on the canal bank. Gaily painted narrow boats meander by. Breakfast alfresco, a lazy morning reading, then perhaps a gentle stroll along the towpath to the local pub for a nice lunch”.

They do not look much like the Wigwams of my youth.

If you need a diversion take the Public Footpath from near Whaddon Farm after bridge 118 where the canal bends sharply right. When you reach the road (B488), take a right and left and you’ll reach Bridego Bridge – the scene of the Great Train Robbery.

Grove Church, at Lock 29, which used to be the smallest church in Bucks, is now a private house, notable for reputedly having a human skeleton under a glass panel in the sitting room.

Grove Lock Pub at lock 28 had a lovely display of hanging baskets.

I though Nb. Smiffbob might be interested in this boat as it it owned by the Smiffs. This lovely wooden boat was moored just below the Grove Lock Pub and looked in really good condition.

We had just moored up when the heavens opened up and we had Lightening, Thunder, Rain and Hail all in the space of a few minutes and then the sun came out. The afternoon was fine but we could keep hearing thunder in the distance.

Wendover Arm - 13th August

We were just about to have dinner last night when we heard shouting and grunting and these two boats came charging along the canal, turned at the winding hole and went back down the canal. It looked like they were training for an event.
Moored opposite to us is Nb. Hart of February which was the 10th Sandhills boat  and is featured on their website.

We left our mooring and followed a wide beam for a short while and then he kindly pulled over to allow us to pass as he said he was only ambling along. We continued on through the Tring Cutting which forms the summit pound and came out at the old Bulbourne BW Workshops which are now an Iron Works design company for your garden figures.

We made the sharp turn into the Wendover Arm and struggled up the very shallow and narrow arm. About half way to the current terminus are a couple of very sharp bends around a flour mill and then we reached the final winding hole at Little Tring Farm. We had intended to stay the day here but the 48 hr moorings were full, I think because we were a little early arriving there and people had not moved off. The terminus is marked by a plaque commemorating Tim Wilkinson author of “Hold on a Minute”, whose legacy enabled the arm to be restored in 2004. So we decided to head off back down the arm and negotiate the Marsworth flight of locks.

At the top lock of the flight is a dry dock and sign post which gives the distance to Braunston as 55 miles and Brentford 38 miles. At Lock 42 is a house which offers Bed and Breakfast and also a shop of local crafts. The bottom lock is adjacent to a road bridge where the White Lion pub is now closed down.

We decided to give the Anglers Retreat a try for a late lunch. However the chef was off and they had a rush of people all at once so we had to wait about 1.5 hours for a meal. Regulars said that this was unusual but that the food would be worth waiting for. I must say my Steak and Ale pie and June’s Hand Carved Ham, Egg and Chips was very tasty and good value.The pub has its name on the chimney because it is just at the right level for people walking around the reservoir.

There are three reservoirs in this cluster and they have a variety of wild life on them including these Great Crested Grebe with their three very young chicks.

I walked down to the Aylesbury Arm Junction. The first lock 9Marsworth) is a Staircase of 2 locks and has just had the lower lock beam replaced after it failed a couple of weeks ago. There is a new development being built at the junction which is just at the iron work stage.

Free Beer and Super Moons - 12th August

Last night was a night of contrasts with first a lovely rainbow and then the Super Moon lit up the sky like daylight.

As we left our mooring we passed the Fishery Inn, which is only circa 1905 but has a nice canal frontage. The girls worked really well today and we were soon at  our first Swing Bridge at Winkwell with the Three Horseshoes pub nestling next to it. Very little traffic was on the lane despite it being near to rush hour so we did not hold up the business of the day.

Here are a couple of interesting boats we spotted on the run today, both unusual designs to see on a canal.

Entering Berkhamstead was a delight with all the flowers, weeping willows, parkland and lovely properties bordering the canal. For beer lovers it would be even better as the Rising Sun Pub was advertising “FREE BEER INSIDE”.

Bridge 142 at Ravens Lane Lock proudly announces our arrival in the “Port of Berkhamstead” a throw back to the days when Castle Wharf was a hub of the inland water transport and boat building activity.

At Bridge 141 there is a Totem Pole making us think we were back in Canada. In the early 1960s, Roger Alsford, a great-grandson of the founder of the timber company, James Alsford (1841–1912), went to work at the Tahsis lumber mill on Vancouver Island. During a strike he was rescued from starvation by a local Kwakiutl community. Alsford's brother, William John Alsford, visited the island, and in gratitude for their hospitality, commissioned a totem pole from the Canadian First Nations artist Henry Hunt. The western red cedar pole, 30 feet long and 3 feet in diameter, was carved by Hunt at Thunderbird Park, a centre for First Nation monuments. The completed pole was shipped to Britain and erected at Alsford's Wharf in 1968.

The bridge also supports a plaque in the centre which commemorates the Canal Duke, Francis Egerton of Berkhamsted, 1735 to 1803. It was erected on the 200th anniversary of his death in 2003. He was the 3rd Lord Bridgwater and lived at Ashridge near Berkhamsted. He is seen as the father of the inland waterways system, having commissioned the Bridgwater canal from his coal mines in Worsley near Manchester in the 1770s and having lived long enough to see the Grand Junction canal from London to Berkhamsted completed in 1798. He died before it was extended to Birmingham.

Despite the odd shower we decided to press on to Cow Roast and during this stretch of out journey passed more moving boats than we have seen for a couple of weeks and even had the odd lock in our favour.

The name "Cow Roast" is believed to have come from the corruption of its original name "Cow Rest. This is likely due to it being used as a drovers' route so that cattle could be taken to London to provide meat; the cows and their drivers would rest overnight before continuing their journey onward.

Lock Ness Monster is on the Canals–11th August

This morning we left a little earlier than planned as we were all up and ready so June walked Jimmy up to the first lock so that it was ready when the boats arrived. Just through the lock this boat had a nice sign to encourage boaters to slow down passed moored boats, it read “Please pass slowly Moorhens in residence”. We are normally asked to close  lock gates behind us but these two at North Grove Lock did not want to stay shut as the wind blew them open again. Next we were passing under the M25 with its busy flow of traffic, at least it was moving, glad we were not on it though.

A  little further on Graham radioed back to us to say that he had found the Lock Ness Monster and sure enough as we approached a bank of reeds we saw his head standing up above them. So why all the fuss up in Scotland when he is down here in Hemel Hempstead.

There were a few interesting boats on the run today; the top one had a VW car body attached to the cruiser stern to act as a covered Wheelhouse. The steering wheel was still in place but I could not be sure if they used that for actually steering. Apparently the mooring outside B & Q is popular for people fitting out their boats.

There were some nice gardens alongside the canal and just below Lock 65 at Frogmore End came a delicious smell of roasting coffee from the Smith’s Coffee Company Factory who had their door open onto the towpath.

As we approached the Apsley Locks we passed the Apsley Marina housed within a nice new development of shops and apartments. We moored on the offside immediately before Lock 66 on the Sainsbury Moorings and went into the store for our shopping. Another very convenient Supermarket for boaters. We then went above the lock to fill with water at the Sanitary Station.

We did another couple of locks and moored up just before the Fishery Inn at Boxmoor and a good job we did as just as we were having some lunch the heavens opened up for a few shorts minutes before the sun came again.

Bertha was Late - 10th August

The forecast was for a very wet and windy morning as the remains of hurricane Bertha arrived. However we awoke to a lovely morning with the sun breaking through the clouds when I took Jimmy his early morning walk. As we got back to the boat the first shower arrived and these continued throughout the morning. At lunch time the sun came out and we went a walk up the River Gade on which we are now moored and which forms this stretch of the Grand Union Canal.

The River Gade is a chalk stream. It is a tributary of the Colne and feeds into the Grand Union Canal. The river gathers rain water that has soaked through the chalk.  It becomes alkaline and rich in nutrients and is cooled by its journey through the chalk to emerge at a constant temperature of 56 degrees, regardless of summer heat or winter freezing. Away from the canalised sections rocky ridges in the riverbed cause little waterfalls and natural places where the river could be dammed for mill runs and for the watercress beds. Watercress, which is very rich in iron, has been grown in the Gade commercially for centuries, with great amounts packed and sent for the London market. Harvesting watercress was cold wet and tiring work.  

We had not been back from the walk more than 20 minutes when the sky turned black and the wind started to blow. We had rain and three lots of Thunder and Lightening and then it was over. For the rest of the day we had bright sunshine with an odd shower but increasing winds.

For Jimmy’s evening walk we went up to look at The Grove Hotel and Golf Resort. What a place, the enormous car park was full of cars including Rolls Royce and Ferrari, some with covers on them to protect the paintwork. Valet Parking was the order of the day and the Golf course was well manicured and set up for golf buggies. A round of golf here costs from £165 - £185 unless you are a resident when it cost £140.

The complex is set in 300 acres and has a walled garden and a lovely water feature outside the Golf Club House which has a cedar tree planted in 1777. There are also spectacular views over the Hertfordshire countryside.

Later in the evening the wind dropped and was just a mere breeze.

A Big Fish Tale - a 20Lb+ Carp - 9th August

Leaving Denham the canal takes a 1.5 mile long straight as it follows the Colne valley passing large lakes on either side. Just before Widewater Lock there is a boatyard and marina situated in one of the lakes the waters of which break out into the canal in several places making it look as though you could enter through the gaps.

I could not resist including these two photos of a bungalow with a crocodile in the front garden, Its not real however. 

The river now joins the canal and as we have had a lot of rain last night there was quite a flow making entering the lock a little tricky. Here you can see in the top right hand picture how the bow of Autumn Years in pushed over by the force of the water flow. Some lovely houses adjoin the river/canal with their own moorings at the bottom of their gardens.

Again there are some interesting houses along our route including these old farm building and a glass house which hides nothing from the passing boater.

Whilst on the river section we came upon this fisherman who had caught a gigantic Carp and was just having it photographed for his records. He said it weighed over 20lbs. but it looked much heavier.

At Stockers Lock there are two lots of old Waterways Tools displayed in the garden of the Lock Cottage. At the top of the bottom picture is a mould to which the depth of the canal must be dredged but can you read it backwards. “Foot of Wall 6ft 0in below WL”

Just before Batchworth Lock is a Tesco at Frogmore Wharf. Very handy for the boater as it has its own wharf where you can literally walk off you boat into the store. Great if you buy your heavy goods here as you don’t have to carry them far. On the end wall of Tesco is a sample of Ricky Art, from the people of Rickmansworth.
At Batchworth there are two locks so be sure to take the right hand lock as the other leads you into the river Chess which is navigable for a very short distance. At the side of the lock is the only UK Working Model of the Union Canal. The Chess lock is nicely situated and has some lovely picnic tables along its length.

We soon passed by Cassio Park which was hidden behind the bordering trees, but we could hear the sound of music and voices so we assumed a fete or similar event was going on. Above Cassio Park Locks we passed by Grove Mill, a water mill where the mill stream doubles as a private canal arm. The very narrow Grove Bridge is controlled by traffic lights for vehicles passing over it into the Grove Golf Club and Hotel, and at night it is light up with LED lighting, as are several of the large trees.

The golf course looks very well manicured and has a few holes with water on them, but people seem to think that it is safe to picnic on the tees. They must have held a wedding at the club house as there was a loud honking noise as this old car bedecked in white ribbon came over the bridge.
We are now moored up in the open awaiting the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Bertha to do its worst.

Golf and Celebrities - 8th Aug

The dire weather forecast yesterday for this morning did not materialise and we set out in warm sunshine. We soon reached the Junction with the Slough Arm with lots of Floating Pennywort growing down it, although there was a clear channel for the boats.

Lots of moored boats on this stretch and one even had a smart duck house at the stern. This pump out station at The Packet Boat Marina has its own pump out card machine which seemed a good idea.

I was intrigued by this short arm which had an island in the middle. The Toll House Tea Rooms at the side of  Cowley Lock, ideal for dropping in for breakfast as your crew operate the lock. They were obviously expecting trouble here as they have built a Pill Box into the side of the canal bridge.

Some lovely houses and gardens which we passed on our journey.. It was very strangethough to see a stern paddle wheeler on a narrowboat moored up to the bank.

Just before Denham deep Lock (11’1”) is this Dry Dock made out of a large wide beam boat. It looked quite strange to see a Narrowboat being piggy backed on a Wide Beam. After our afternoon walk we called into the cafe by the side of the lock for tea and home made cake. The lady behind the counter said how quiet it has been on the canals this year.

A short while after mooring up I had a text from Adam (Briar Rose) to see where we were. It transpired that they were only 1 mile away and coming towards us, so I put the kettle on and Adam and Adrian joined us for a chat over tea and cake. It was great to see them again particularly as June had missed Adam whilst we were moored in Paddington.

We decided to walk into Denham village for a nose around and took the path just below the lock. It took us into the Buckinghamshire Golf Club and right passed its lovely Club House and then out towards St Mary’s Church.

Walking through the church we came out into the old part of the village of Denham with its 3 pubs, village green and mysterious large house with several expensive cars in the drive. It is believed that the house is owned and lived in by 4 business men brothers and their families.

Several TV and Theatre stars have lived or still live in the village and include Raymond Baxter, Cilla Black singer, entertainer and television personality has her main residence in Denham Green, Brian Connolly, Jess Conrad, Paul Daniels, Rosemarie Ford, Sir John Mills, film actor, was a resident of the village for many years, and is commemorated by a blue plaque on his former house by the church. Roger Moore, Mike Oldfield, Shane Ritchie

In the Church Yard is the grave of Sir John Mills and his beloved wife.

Spotted this fungus growing on a tree on the Golf Course. It does not look real.