Voyages of Gabriel: Kings Langley to Uxbridge

Thu 1^st July Kings Langley to Cassiobury Park

After passing through two locks today, we went under the M25, which seems to have scaffolding in place on both sides of the canal. This was here last time we came this way. Perhaps it enables inspections to take place easily.

Home Park Lock

M25 bridge

There were lots of boats moored near Grove Bridge. It a very scenic area.

Grove Bridge

Our last lock of the day was Cassiobury Park Lock 76, before we were fortunate to find a mooring, between two other boats.

Cassiobury Park Lock

There were two families of mandarin ducks which came hoping to be fed.

Mandarin Duck

There was a loud bunch of people, drinking, on a cruiser, moored two boats behind us. They decided to go to the next lock, and one of their guys set off on the towpath to walk to the lock. A lady on the boat decided he needed a windlass, and she threw one from her boat as she passed. It landed in the water between Gabriel and the bank, in the triangle formed by our two mooring ropes at the stern. Thankfully, it just missed our newly painted stern deck. James retrieved it for them with a magnet.

Moored at Cassiobury Park.

8 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1020, arr 1330

Fri 2^nd July Cassiobury Park to Springwell

We had heard that Andy and Sue were heading our way, so we waited for them to arrive. They tied Springwater alongside, as there was nowhere else to moor. It was good to catch up again, after we last saw them at the mission. They travel a bit faster than we do, and have been down into Paddington and back again.

Andy and Sue

Springwater

Our first lock was Iron Bridge Lock. We often have gongoozlers here, but today there was a party of thirty + school children with teachers, learning about how locks work. Sadly, we weren’t allowed to take a photo, but we did give out a lot of “How do locks work?” leaflets. There were a few more at Batchworth lock and we managed a long-distance shot.

At Cassio Bridge Lock there is a farm with rare breeds and exotic animals. Interesting assorted noises coming from there.

Cassio Bridge Lock

Jemima’s cousin

We managed to empty two cassettes at Batchworth Lock, but the water tap was too far, and the rubbish bins had been removed to somewhere else.

Batchworth Lock

We had been warned about busy moorings in Rickmansworth, and it was so. Thankfully, we didn’t need to visit Tesco. The sign says no overnight mooring, but some boats have been there for several days apparently. We passed historic wooden boat nb Roger.

Busy moorings

nb Roger

We couldn’t see any available moorings all the way to Stocker’s Lock. We carried on through Springwell Lock, and moored near the first pipe bridge. There a reedbed next to the canal, and there is a good range of wildlife. There was a large swan family, and black headed gulls swooping around catching things.

Eight cygnets

Black headed gull

Exquisite craftsmanship

Moored at Stockwell.

7 locks, 5 miles. Dep 1140, arr 1510

Sat 3^rd July Springwell to Uxbridge

We distinctly heard a cuckoo this morning. This is most unusual for July. No photo, but we did see a lovely family of Great Crested Grebes.

Great Crested Grebe family

We had intended to get water and deal with rubbish at Copper Mill Lock, but there was another boat on the water point, and a wide beam moored just where you need to put on some welly to negotiate the mill stream that flows out into the canal, so we carried on without pausing for facilities.

Just before Black Jack’s Lock, there is a row of Victorian houses, presumably for canal workers.

Workers Houses

Black Jack’s Lock

Just after Harefield Marina, we saw the workings for HS2, which will cross the canal at this point, on a viaduct.

HS2

At Denham Deep Lock, a boat was coming up. The water flowing out at the bottom due to leakage was as much as the water coming in at the top through the paddles, so it was difficult to open the gates. Two people shoving hard did not shift it. A nudge with the boat got it open slightly but not enough to hold it. A passer by added his weight to the beam, and with three people shoving, we managed to get it open.

Leakage at Denham Deep Lock

The gap in the lock gates

Below the lock was a floating dry dock

We moored in Uxbridge, and went shopping in Tesco and Superdrug. Later we went for an excellent Indian meal at Javitri. Good food, good service, and a free brandy at the end.

There were lots of parakeets around. We thought we heard one in Cassiobury Park earlier in the week.