Marsworth to Berkhamsted

 Thu 24^th June Marsworth to Cowroast

Moored in Marsworth

James had good intentions concerning a wander round the reservoirs at dawn. However, the eyelids would not co-operate. Just as well, you might say, as we are now spared another load of photos of feathered friends.

As we were starting to prepare the boat for departure, two CRT volunteers came past, and said they would prepare the first lock for us. That was helpful. One was a trainee under supervision, so while they helped Hazel up through the lock, James went ahead setting the next lock each time.  After four locks, we met two boats coming down, and another following behind. The whole flight of six locks took us one hour – good progress.

Marsworth flight 

Young cormorant 

Heron in flight 

Meeting some boats 

Bulbourne Junction

At the top, the Wendover Arm leaves to the right, where we think Eric and Sue went last night. We went straight on, following the summit pound for three miles.  The old lock making facility is being converted into desirable dwellings.

Redeveloping the old lock making site.

The canal then goes through a cutting, and in the past we have seen dead badgers in the canal, as they can’t get out at the side. This time there was a dead deer. There is a solid looking bridge spanning the canal.

Tring summit pound

We moored half a mile before Cowroast, opposite some light industrial units where there are mooring rings.

Moored before Cowroast

We discovered that our plastic chairs had been well used by ducks in the night on the roof, and needed a thorough clean. A job for James. Meanwhile, Hazel took the opportunity to vacuum through the boat inside.

The ducks have been active

Later, a guy on a bike spotted our Christian symbols, and started singing a Hare Krishna song as he cycled past. We find all varieties of faiths on the canals. We often see a Buddha on the top of a boat, and we are tempted to ask why it is there. Are they Buddhists? Perhaps they feel it gives them a sense of peace? Or is it just an ornament easily available from a garden centre?  There may be other reasons. One day we’ll go along a line of boats and do a little survey.

Rain was forecast for late evening, but it never arrived.

We discovered that the business opposite has bright floodlights shining across the canal. We may not moor here again for that reason, although it was quiet when the workers went home.

6 locks, 3 miles. Dep 0930, arr 1130.

Fri 25^th June Cowroast to Berkhamsted

There was some light rain early on, and we waited for it to stop before we set off. As we arrived at the lock, Jules Fuels had just pulled out. We let them go, and helped them through the lock. We emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish, before following them down the locks.

We found a dead deer in Northchurch Lock, and we flushed it out, and reported it to a CRT man who was nearby.

Jules Fuels and a dead deer 

Swans and weed

At Bushes Lock, two boats came up and they were a long way apart, so we waited for the second one. The first one was from Banbury, and they know the Braybrooks. The boat is either called Spanners, or Bump ‘n Grind. The Willow tree above the lock hindered visibility somewhat. The lock is appropriately named. 

Bushes Lock, with the boat from Banbury 

Shears required 

We were pleased to find a mooring in Berkhamsted, on rings on the Waitrose pound. Hazel went to explore the shops. James went to tighten the stern gland, and discovered diesel dripping from the second filter. We called out Ed Boden, our marine engineer, who is going to come on Monday. Meanwhile, we have turned off the diesel.

We booked a meal at the Thai Cottage, and it turned out to be delightful, with attentive service, and lovely food.

Later there were some lads in the park across the canal, singing football songs very loudly. They stopped suddenly, and we thought they may have been asked to move on.

A painted bridge in Berkhamsted

7 locks, 3 miles. Dep 0920, arr 1250.

Sat 26^th June  Berkhamsted

Some shopping, some exploring.

In the evening, a visit to Wetherspoons, almost next door the the Thai Cottage.

Hazel spotted a rat running along the bank opposite. We had more high-spirited lads in the park after closing time.

No boating today. No pictures either

Sun 27^th June  Berkhamsted

We watched a bit of this morning’s service from Broughton, which was led by Jack and Sandra. Jack showed the interview with us recorded on Tuesday. He also preached. We didn’t have time to watch it all live, as we needed to catch a bus back to Aylesbury for a meal in Jack and Sandra’s garden with our life group. It was good to see people properly after such a long time. Even then, we weren’t hugging, and we sat in groups of six maximum.

Link to the YouTube service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uK9VnTNN58

We took a bus back to Berkhamsted, almost door to door. Thankfully, the bus runs on a Sunday, so this was possible. However, if we had wanted to visit for a 1030 service, we would not have got there in time.

James was concerned about disposing of cassettes, as there are thirteen locks between here and Apsley, where the next sanitary station is, according to the Nicholson Guide. We already have two full cassettes, and we can’t leave until Ed Boden has visited tomorrow. There is also rain forecast, and we don’t like boating in the rain. We don’t want to have to do longer days than we want to, just because we have full cassettes.

We considered taking the cassettes to the public toilets, but that is quite a walk from here. James remembered using a facility half a mile and three locks south from here on our first trip through this area years ago. It is no longer marked on the maps, and last time we passed, it looked as though it was on a private off-side mooring.

He set off on foot to explore, and found the place, in the car park of a pub called the Old Mill, which appears to have closed down. He met a pleasant guy called Nick on the boat that was moored there, and discovered that he had only arrived today, and wasn’t moored there permanently. The elsan facility was overgrown, but it still worked, and was still connected. James was given permission to step across this guy’s boat tomorrow to dispose of the cassettes. Good! Problem solved!

Rain later meant that we weren’t serenaded again by loud male football fans.

No boating or pics today

Next:  Hopefully, a visit from Ed Boden to sort out our diesel in the bilges. Then heading further south, rain permitting, towards Brentford and the Thames.