Fri
28th Oct Cowroast to Bulbourne
Moored at Cowroast
We
set off for our short cruise through the cutting in lovely sunshine and with
beautiful autumn colours everywhere. At
one point the towpath changes sides, crossing over Bridge 134, a massive bridge
built across the cutting.
Autumn on Tring
Summit
Bridge 134
Bulbourne workshops
We
arrived at Bulbourne where we found some mooring rings. They were on a steep
bank, so we put out the plank so that we didn’t slip in the dark (especially
returning from the pub!).
We
walked to College Lake nature reserve where we had a pleasant time looking at
Widgeon and Tufted Ducks, as well as some lovely autumn bushes.
College Lake reserve
Old Man’s beard
Golden leaves
We
had tea in the cafe and then walked back to the boat. When we were back on board we realised that Hazel
had lost one of the protective plastic lens caps from her pair of binoculars. She retraced her steps back to the road, but
there was no sign. She reported it missing to the staff at the reserve.
0
locks, 2 miles.
Sat
29th Oct Bulbourne
We
walked back to College Lake hoping to find the lost binocular cap. We went first to the reception area, but it
had not been handed in. We then went to the main hide and looked where we had
been sitting – no success. We then
walked down to the lower hide, and again there was no sign. On the way back we
met Brian, the guy we had spoken to by the reservoirs three days earlier. We
exchanged sightings as you do, and then we told him we were hunting for the lens
cap. “Well, aren’t you the lucky ones?” he said. He had found it earlier as he
was a volunteer and was collecting rubbish from the paths and hides. So we accompanied him to the volunteers hut,
and retrieved it. Brilliant. Answered prayer.
College lake again
Fallen leaves
Back
at the boat, another narrowboat pulled in and moored just in front of us. In chatting, James mentioned that they needed
to book if they wanted to eat in the pub tonight. They had a booking, they said.
They were Aylesbury Canal Society moorers whom we had not previously met - Tony
and Sue on Euston 73
Later
we all went for a meal at the Grand Junction Arms, about 20 of us. The food was
excellent, much improved from the basic pub menu that James had experienced here
in 2000.
No
boating today
Sun
30th Oct Bulbourne to Black Jacks
The
clocks changed this morning
Barnabas
went past very early. We found out later that they needed to get the boat back
to Aylesbury and then drive to the West Country by this evening.
We
set off with Euston 73 and headed for
the top lock. Euston was already in and
they had discovered that there was a very low pound. Barnabas had run some
water down and was one or two locks down.
Hazel was about to bring Gabriel into the lock when a CRT man turned up
and said “You can’t go in there. I need to run some water down.” We pointed out that the lock was full, the
gates were open, Euston was already in there, and if we shared the lock, then
we would be delivering a lock full into the next pound. He reluctantly agreed
to let us through, but as soon as we closed the top gates, he padlocked them.
He made us wait in the next pound for 30 minutes while he opened a paddle on
each set of gates for the next few locks.
Into the top lock
Top gates padlocked
Waiting in the pound
Eventually
we were allowed to move on down the lock flight, with lovely views of the
reservoirs. Halfway down we met Warren
on the Pumpout Boat coming up. We
last saw him at the Rickmansworth Festival in 2014.
Marsworth Reservoir
Warren on the Pumpout Boat
Sharing with Euston 73
A misty cruise past
the reservoirs
Euston 73 heads for Aylesbury
Tony
and Sue turned off at Marsworth Junction, while we moved on to the water point
and elsan. It is a pity that the elsan
in this new facility is tucked in a corner making it difficult to use. It is also a shame that the new residents who
have moved in have successfully had the pumpout closed down, and they have put
up “private” notices on the mooring rings for the facilities. The houses have been built too close to the
boaters facilities.
Elsan in a corner
Private sign
The water point
moorings
While
we were filling up with water we heard the sound of church bells coming from
All Saints Church in Marsworth. We realised that we just about had time to get
to the service. We had abandoned the idea of getting to church today as there
is no church in Bulbourne.
We
quickly moved on through Bridge 131 and found a place to moor using our mooring
spikes. We walked as quickly as we could up the hill to the church, where we arrived
just on 1030am. As we sat down they were
just going through the notices.
Marsworth All Saints
It
was a traditional service, with a robed choir and sung responses for communion.
We had some pleasant conversations over coffee afterwards and two ladies wanted
our contact details. We went to the Red
Lion for lunch, where found some decent cider.
Red Lion
Our hasty mooring in
Marsworth
We
had to reverse round a corner past moored boats and through a bridge, but it is
amazing how helpful a bow thruster is in situations like this. We then headed west down the Aylesbury Arm.
Lock 1, Aylesbury Arm
Down the staircase
pair
Locks
3 and 4 were already full from water flowing down and over the top gates. Lock
4, also known as Black Jack’s Lock, was beautiful with autumn colours, and we
could see the two owners of the cottage working away in their lovely garden.
Autumn colours at Black
Jack’s Lock
Fallen leaves
We
found Juniper moored up (Graham and
Sara) and we decided to stay there as well. There was piling, a good view, and
we could get properly into the side.
Moored with Juniper
Three
other boats joined us later on.
11
locks, 2 miles
Mon
31st October Black Jack’s Lock to Aylesbury
Juniper
left early, before we were properly up.
Our final day was misty to start with, but soon turned into a lovely
sunny blue sky day.
Misty morning
Gulls flying overhead
We
had a bit to do so we started with a cooked breakfast, so we wouldn’t need
lunch. We had found out from Bryan that we were going to be moored where we
were last year, i.e. not alongside a pontoon, but stern on. This means that we can’t get at the sides of
the boat without moving, so we decided to clean the roof and sides, and the bow
well.
We
began with the bow well, putting the mats on the bank while we scrubbed the
deck. We then took everything off the roof and stowed the bags of coal in the
front. The roof was a bit messy under
the pallet, so it was scrubbed from bows to stern.
Clearing things off
the roof
Grubbiness revealed
A clean roof
It
was midday before we set off, with most of the locks against us. No boats had
passed either way since Juniper had left.
It
was a glorious day to finish our cruise for the year. Autumn colours
everywhere, and colourful berries and seed pods on the bushes.
Seed pods
Red berries
Wooden boats at Bates
Yard
Ladybirds
As
well as ladybirds all over the locks there were unseasonal flying ants, and
money spiders dropping onto us (apparently from high up almost into space). We collected some late damsons at one point,
and saw a deer in a field. Some cows
found us very interesting.
They don’t see many
boats around here
We
noticed that the building work had been progressing well, with some new houses
apparently finished and occupied since we had left. We passed our apartment but
we didn’t see our tenant.
We
had sent a text to Bryan, giving him our ETA, and he was ready with the lift
bridge raised as we arrived at the Canal Society basin. He had also brought out
the small ramp we need to access the boat via the stern.
Looking clean in
Aylesbury
Back where we
started.
Hugo steps ashore
10
locks, 5 miles
So
that’s it for this year. We
have gone through 513
locks, travelled 858 miles, opened and closed 109 swing or lift bridges and steered
through 11 tunnels. There may not
be much blogging for a while. We need to
collect our car from Suffolk, practice some worship songs for the BCF AGM on 12th
November, and Broughton Church on 13th November. Then there are
doctors, dentist, and optician’s appointments, boat engineers, folk clubs, a
carol concert at Byfleet Boat Club and before we know it, Christmas will be
upon us!!
