RebeccaM

Day 4: Day 5:

Day 1, June 29th 2021 - Linslade to Ivinghoe - approx 5 miles, 6 locks We arrived at Linslade at 13:25, with me having my usual attack of anxiety at all the things that could possibly go wrong. Thankfully having a midweek start meant there was only one other group going out hiring, so all my worries about having to wait ages to be able to set off were for naught. We got the boat quickly loaded and within an hour we'd had our on boat briefing going over all the equipment, engine checks and so on and were ready to set out. I'd also been worried about the fact that we intended to go south, where it's almost two miles to the first lock, unlike the northbound route where it's only two and a half furlongs. But the instructor stayed on with us. The boat - Poppy - was facing the wrong way for a southbound start but the instructor reversed her a couple of boat lengths down to Bossington Lane winding hole and got her round quickly (far quicker than we would have managed at this point, I'm sure!). There was a little drizzle as we set off, although it thankfully didn't persist for long. Husband took over the steering from the instructor and we started making our way out of Linslade. There was early excitement when we had to slow down approaching Mardle Road Footbridge because just beyond we could see another boat across the canal. When we got nearer it turned out it was involved in recovering a partially sunken boat that had been in the water for some time beforehand. They were able to move the working boat over so we could pass, and we continued on to Grove Lock. We moored the boat up on the lock landing and walked up to be shown what was what before we moved the boat in and brought her up. Then we were free and on our own - although with the next lock only about half a mile away we barely had time to get used to the idea before we were tackling our first solo lock! We then had a gentle mile and a half cruise through lovely countryside before coming up to Slapton Lock, quickly followed by Horton Lock and Ivinghoe Bottom and Top Locks. After this we were on the stretch I'd pencilled in as a likely spot for mooring, and we ended up stopping shortly before the bridge. It was a bit silty but we were able to get close enough to not need to rely on the gangplank. Day 2, June 30th 2021 - Ivinghoe to Dudswell - approx 7.5 miles, 15 locks We woke bright and early and fed the ducks, had a leisurely breakfast and eventually set out around 08:00. The weather was cloudy but at least it was dry! We had quite a few locks to tackle today, the first being Seabrook Bottom Lock which we reached within fifteen minutes or so. With this lock and the middle and top locks all being fairly close together husband stayed on the towpath and walked between them - by this point the division of labour was definitely that I was the steerer and he was the lock turner! We also had Seabrook swing bridge to pass through which he'd been looking forward to working. As I was waiting for him to close up the bridge and rejoin me I was able to watch the trains speeding past on the WCML bridge, and a heron also flew over. We proceeded on past moored boats at Cheddington and Pitstone Wharves (amusing ourselves by pointing out the punny names we could spot and admiring ones with particularly nice paint jobs and decoration), and did the first two Marsworth locks (37 & 38) without any undue delays; we were starting to get into a good routine and I was much better at controlling the boat when bringing it in to drop off or pick up. A short cruise past quite a few moored boats the junction with the Alyesbury Arm, and we were now coming up to the Marsworth flight proper. We had taken a walk here with a picnic a few weeks previous so we were now entering recognisable territory! One of the volunteers arrived as he'd come down to set the lock for a descending boat, so he helped us finish off and we didn't have to close the gates as the other boat was visible just up ahead. We pulled in and moored up for lunch; minor excitements up ahead during this as an unoccupied boat appeared to have come unmoored at one end (thankfully not both!) so a volunteer was having to resecure it. After lunch we set off again. The volunteers were involved in bringing down a day boat (decked out with balloons for a party!) which we passed in the pound after lock 43, so we got the odd bit of help from them and a couple of other people. Once we reached the top of the flight we could see the Wendover Arm off to our right, and we passed through Bulbourne into the Tring Cutting. The other half took over tiller duties for a while so I had a chance to relax with the camera. We reached Cow Roast shortly before 16:00, and the husband had some interested onlookers asking questions as we locked down - our first descent. There was another Wyvern boat waiting to come up by the time we had finished, the first we'd seen. On we pushed to the Dudswell locks, mooring up for the night a little beyond Dudswell Lane Bridge. The railway passed fairly close on the offside, but we were so exhuasted it didn't disturb our sleep! Day 3, July 1st - Dudswell to Bulbourne (via Berkhamsted!) - approx 7.5 miles, 13 locks According to my Fitbit records I conked out in bed at 9pm the previous evening and woke up around 4:30 in the morning. The sun wasn't up when I took my first picture of the day at 4:44, but the ducks were! The cloud cover was not so constant as the previous day, and there was mist rising off the canal. When the sunrise did begin soon after it was quite a lovely scene. We took some photos around the boat, had breakfast and made a chocolate biscuit cake before finally setting off around 8:00. I'd been unable to find out if the next locks were still out of use overnight so we were reluctant to set off any sooner, but it was quite a nice time of day to get moving anyway; the trains rushing past, some joggers and walkers out on the towpath. As we cruised towards our first lock of the day we were followed by a tern who repeatedly dove into the water immediately behind us, trying to catch his breakfast (and eventually succeeding). The water was very clear here and we could look down and see fish moving around. As we worked through the locks down into Berkhamsted the setting became much more urban - first gardens, then flats overlooking the canal. One of the bridges was covered over with scaffolding with men working above on the restoration. No temporary traffic lights but we did have a narrowed channel to contend with as we passed beneath - but being a broad canal to begin with it wasn't impossibly narrow. We moored up on the 4 hour stretch so the other half could pop into Waitrose for a few things we were low on like milk and juice, while I melted the chocolate for the chocolate biscuit cake. When he got back we moved the boat to the offside to top up with water, before going through Lock 53 - below which I had to wind the boat. There is a very wide part of the canal here so pushing the tiller hard over and giving bursts of motoring interspersed with letting the momentum turn it got me round safely if slowly. Straight back into Lock 53, then we knocked off 52 and 51 before mooring for lunch (and chocolate biscuit cake) just beyond bridge 140. It was hard to get the mooring pins in far enough but as we were only staying for a short while and weren't leaving the boat it wasn't much of an issue. (We were also using the method of putting the rope through the pin and bring it back to the boat to tie it up, so even if we pulled one out it would still be on the rope and not lost!) We continued on, nearly picking up a locking partner but they were struggling with a boat that kept breaking down and didn't get anywhere - we left them on the towpath bowhauling it to a suitable mooring spot! Someone coming the other way didn't have a CRT for the lock that had an anti vandal mechanism so we nearly had to stay until they'd locked down, but just on cue someone else going down turned up and did have a key so on we went with a clear conscience. A heron was kind enough to swoop around and pose for us as we approached the site of our previous night's mooring. Before long we were through Dudswell and Cow Roast locks and entering the Tring Cutting. Our mooring for the night was just beyond Bridge 134. We wandered down to the Grand Junction Arms for a drink (outdoors only since this was still Covid Times, thankfully the sun was still out) and passed some boats moored right opposite the winding hole (despite there being a good bit of space elsewhere!). Day 4, July 2nd - Bulbourne to Tiddenfoot Lake - approx 8.5 miles, 18 locks Our final day started with our first fall: I slipped getting back on the boat as it was damp with dew - thankfully I fell onto the boat so stayed dry (mostly - dew!) and the only injuries were a bruise on my leg and a dent in my dignity. We set off, passing the Mikron Theatre boat moored up, and were soon approaching the top of the Marsworth flight. The volunteers were out in force today as it was a sunny, summer Friday, so locks were set ahead for us and we had extra help with paddles and gates. As we were about to leave the last lock they said they would close the gates so we were both onboard the boat, looking back as the lock gates closed behind us - the positioning of the road bridge immediately by the lock hid the volunteers from view so it looked like they were closing of their own accord! It was a much hotter, sunnier day today and we had a lot of locks to get through so at times it was tough going. We were also encountering more boats on the move, although being a broad canal these didn't cause many problems. We had lunch in roughly the same spot we'd moored in on the first night, and not long after getting underway again we came out of a lock to find another boat stopped in the middle of the canal, with a chap in the water trying to get it going. We ended up having to share our remaining locks with them; they were moving the boat for a friend and didn't really have much clue or control of the boat - waiting for one lock to be free (someone was coming up) I pulled over to the landing giving him space to use it as well, and instead he tried to hold his boat in the middle of the canal and ended up ploughing into some boats on long term moorings on the offside. They pissed off some anglers by flying past in the wrong part of the channel, and when we completed the final lock, Grove Lock, they overtook us at a place that was particularly narrow due to reeds on the offside and moored boats on the tow path side - while going at such a speed that I could see the boats surging back and forth and straining at the ropes. Anyway! Not the most pleasant introduction to lock sharing but at least it happened at the end of the journey rather than the beginning. We moored up near Tiddenfoot Lake and went for a walk around it, although as we were both exhausted and the day was hot it was perhaps not as enjoyable as it could have been. Day 5, July 3rd - Tiddenfoot Lake to Linslade - approx 1.5 miles We woke to light drizzle on our last morning, but with just under a mile and half to go to get back to the hire base, we weren't too concerned - and in the end it stopped raining shortly before we set off anyway. We packed everything up and tidied up the boat as best we could, then set off for the short journey back, which was completed without incident, getting us back well before the 9:00 deadline. Then it was time to clear everything off the boat and bid a sad farewell to Poppy, who had served us well! (photos from Days 4 & 5 in following post!)

Oh, ditto! We watched almost all of them before our first trip last year and learnt a lot. Our next holiday is in July and we're going with Kate Boats from Stockton Top Marina, so was looking forward to passing - sorry to hear they'll be shut down by then.

Floating Market in Cassiobury Park, Watford. 30th April 2022.

Marsworth, July 2021 - getting all your ducks geese in a row!

Thanks for sharing this, funnily enough I had my first season DVD out just yesterday to have on in the background while doing cross stitch and while it was on we noticed you could see the registration number clearly in a few spots, I think it was 47116. Do share any more information when you can get it, and hope your Covid recovery isn’t too prolonged. We’re occasionally down in Kent to see the in-laws so might see if we can detour and try to spot her next time we’re there…!

Wandered along a section of the towpath in Berkhamsted this morning before netball, here are a few photos from it. All taken between locks 51 and 53. The cormorant was quite funny because when I spotted it, it didn't have its wings open. But just as I changed the massive zoom lens onto the camera it stuck them out as if to say "okay then, but make sure you get my best side!".

We hired from Wyvern last summer. It was a midweek break and we did Linslade to Berkhamsted and back with not a tunnel to be seen… plenty of locks though so depends how active you want to be. (We turned at the railway station which made it 26 locks each way..!) After leaving Linslade (which happens quite quickly) it’s rural until getting into Berkhamsted which is mostly lovely to boat through. We haven’t boated (?!) further than that but have walked the Berko-Hemel stretch. Still no tunnels but not always great scenery.

We went with Wyvern and the kitchen tap on their boats has a filter. I’m fairly sure that any hire company that felt you shouldn’t drink from their tank would tell you that loud and clear - if only to make sure their own backside is covered!

Slow is the key - I don’t profess to be an expert at all, given we have one holiday under our belt, but by the end of it I had realised I was initially trying too hard when it came to stopping. Getting speed down to nearly nothing and then using the boat’s remaining momentum to almost drift in made for (mostly!!!) cleaner landings.

They seem to be doing a good job of it; this was our first time on a canal holiday and the tuition was good, the boat was well turned out and seemed to handle well. Plus with my blue dress and red hair I looked very colour-co-ordinated! ;-)

July 2021 - Berkhamsted (Lock 53 and Lower Kings Road Bridge), Marsworth Lock 40, Heron near Cheddington

Ware, 25th June 2021

Marsworth, late morning/lunchtime today.

Interestingly we went for a walk along there today and passed this information board near bridge 141 referring to the place.... but this just raises the question of why it's not shown on maps as being a winding hole?

We walked from Berkhamsted to Hemel Hempstead along the towpath today. Lower Kings Road Bridge in Berkhamsted is open again... and looking amazing!

Three from Berkhamsted, last month.

Dihydrogen monoxide kills!

I'm still taking a lot less time to get to work than I was pre-Covid (although I'm doing lates so travelling in any time between 2pm and 6pm, not mornings). Even last week when my four mile journey was going through two sets of temporary lights, it was still taking a little less time than I used to allow for my "average" journey time at the same time of day. It is a little heavier than the first lockdown - but more places are open than at the beginning of the first lockdown so that's not unexpected.

Three from Berkhamsted in spring 2020.

Thanks - that's useful to know! Yes, that's more my concern... we have walked along there before and eyeballed it but unless the water is incredibly clear that's not much help with what may be lurking below.

No, I don't think we will be trying it! Still.... useful to know for emergencies.

Thank you both - it's good to hear it can be done in that wide spot. We did a walk there recently along the towpath and were standing there trying to figure out for ourselves how wide it was, but as well as it being quite hard to judge, that doesn't give much idea of depths etc. We have Aylesbury or Wendover down as "Plan B" in case of problems with the initial plan (along with a "Plan C" if we end up having to go north instead of south!). But my husband much preferred the idea of Berko over Aylesbury, and as he's also very keen on the idea of cooking on the boat (nor are we heavy drinkers) the lack of pubs will hopefully not be an issue.

Hi everyone, We have booked to hire (government permitting!!) from Wyvern at the end of June/beginning of July. It's a midweek break and our vague aim is Berkhamsted and back. I wondered if anyone had any recent experience with winding in Berkhamsted and/or in Bullbeggers Lane Winding Hole near Lock 56. Someone has added a note on CanalPlan which suggests it could be shallow there and that it can be better to wind "at Winkwell or Berkhamsted". Winkwell is going to be too far; there are no official winding holes marked in Berkhamsted but I assume they are referring to the wide part of the canal near the station, just after lock 53 and between Lower Kings Road Bridge and Bridge 141? The boat we are hiring is 'only' (!) 48ft. 1 - Is it possible to turn at this spot (near the station) in Berkhamsted? 2 - If so, does it need any special technique... and will two novices doing probably their first ever wind be able to manage it? (Especially with the pressure of onlookers if the weather is good!) 3 - Has anyone used the Bullbeggers Lane WH lately, is it shallow? Any particular advice on it? Our backup plan if we're running very late is to turn at Cowroast so this may all end up being academic anyway, but it would be nice to know when we get there whether continuing will commit us to going all the way past Lock 56, or whether we would be able to turn in Berkhamsted and cut the last three (six, by the time we've come back too!) locks. Thanks in advance!