Little Blue - Narrowboat

Paddington, London, October 4, 2012

Early morning start.

Denham Yacht Station, Uxbridge, October 4, 5, 2012

I didn't get a photo this time at Denham Yacht Station, so here's some ducks to make up for it.

Cruising hours:    6.5
Miles:            20.00
Locks:             1

Cumulative hours:  6.5
Cumulative miles: 20.00
Cumulative locks:  1

Batchworth, October 6, 2012

The happy crew of Little Blue - Peter and Myah - on the morning of October 7 in Batchworth, before setting off for Croxley, where I dropped them off, before carrying on to Hunton Bridge.

Cruising hours:    4
Miles:             8
Locks:             7

Cumulative hours: 10.5
Cumulative miles: 28.00
Cumulative locks:  8

Hunton Bridge, Abbots Langley, October 7, 2012

The photo is Lady Capel's Lock just before Hunton Bridge.

Cruising hours:    6
Miles:             5
Locks:            10

Cumulative hours: 16.5
Cumulative miles: 33.00
Cumulative locks: 18

Fisheries Lock, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, October 8, 2012

Fortunately, Alison and Paul, my sister and her husband, live in Boxmoor. I had a lovely dinner and evening at their house where I also got my laundry done. Luxury!

Cruising hours:    6
Miles:             5
Locks:             9

Cumulative hours: 21.5
Cumulative miles: 38.00
Cumulative locks: 27

Northchurch, Berkhamsted, October 9, 2012

I finally managed to get the stove to stay alight after numerous failures on previous occasions. Plenty of paper and kindling, along with coal that's not damp, proved to be the solution.

Cruising hours:    7
Miles:             4.5
Locks:            15

Cumulative hours: 28.5
Cumulative miles: 42.5
Cumulative locks: 42

Grove Lock, Leighton Buzzard, October 10, 2012

The swing bridge at Great Seabrook, which is impossible to pass through if you're single-handed. It's manually operated from the canal side opposite the towpath. Unfortunately, there's nowhere on that side to tie up your boat that's not obstructing the bridge as it swings. If as a single-hander you tie up on the tow path side, cross the bridge, swing it, you can't get back to your boat. Fortunately, I noticed a boat tied up not far ahead of me so I asked them if they'd help, and they did, luckily for me. I also, doubled up with them through the next eight locks including Grove Lock.

Cruising hours:   10
Miles:            12.5
Locks:            21

Cumulative hours: 38.5
Cumulative miles: 55.0
Cumulative locks: 63

Fenny Stratford, October 11, 2012

Cruising hours:    5
Miles:             8.5
Locks:             6

Cumulative hours: 43.5
Cumulative miles: 63.5
Cumulative locks: 69

Stoke Bruerne, October 12, 2012

Cruising hours:    9
Miles:            17.00
Locks:             8

Cumulative hours: 52.5
Cumulative miles: 80.5
Cumulative locks: 77

Norton Junction, October 13, 2012

It's early in the morning and very cold with a thick mist. The chimney's off and the lights on in preparation for the Braunston tunnel.

Cruising hours:    8
Miles:            14.25
Locks:             7

Cumulative hours: 60.5
Cumulative miles: 94.75
Cumulative locks: 84