Apsley GU

Tuesday 11 Oct 2011

Grand Union Canal south of Apsley.  A busy day – up early and away from “Ice Breaker” by 06:40 and a quick walk to Apsley station, train to Euston then Underground to Waterloo and walk to St Thomas’s for a blood test.  The journeys both there and back were uneventful but I was in the middle of the rush hour – YUK.  Back on board by 11:00 and ready to set off by 11:15 when “nb Dunravin” went past.  A lovely couple (Peter and Barbara) on board with a beautiful Samoyed called Gundor.  This made operating the locks relatively easy – I lead and set the next lock then after we have left the gates are closed by Barbara.  Just before lock 70 (Kings Langley Home Park) I thought I was seeing things as in amongst the bushes was the head of a Brontosaurus – sorry, we are supposed to call them Brachiosaurus now, anyway the veggie one with the long neck.  The park has a selection of dinosaurs dotted about.  Carrying on we passed Abbots Langley then at Cassiobury Park I moored up, “Dunravin” going on to Batchworth.

Wednesday 12 Oct 2011

On the Grand Union Canal at Cassiobury Park in Watford.  Started out at 08:45 and a good start to the day as heading towards Iron Bridge lock I found that it was in my favour and two boats heading up had seen me and got it ready, nice timing.  On to Cassio Bridge lock and before emptying it saw “nb Kindhearts” approaching so I waited for them, its always easier with two boats.  At Bridgewater Boatyard I topped up with fuel then we carried on down through the locks to Batchworth where there is a model narrow gauge canal (about 18inches wide) with radio controlled boats and working locks.  Unfortunately closed as it’s the end of season.  There is a Tesco supermarket with offside mooring and we moored up while “Kindhearts” did their weekly shop.  While we were in Stockers lock the crew of “nb Janet Grant”, a Braidbar boat came walking past.  Their boat is up at Poynton and they were down here on family reasons, Springwell lock was my last planned lock for the day so I moored up while “Kindhearts” went on.  Today have done 13 lockmiles with the same amount left for tomorrow when I will get to Packet Boat Marina.