Linslade GU

Thursday 06 Oct 2011

At Linslade on the Grand Union Canal.  It had been raining during the night and the wind has not abated.  Started out at 09:15 intending to stick to the 14 ‘lock-miles’.  At Church Lock there is a horse trainer and there were three horses being exercised in a large field, just before the lock there is a covered ‘walk-way’ and last time I passed there were four horses walking round and round all in harnesses so they all had to keep moving.  No other moving boats seen until I had been through six locks at about 13:00 when there were four going towards Linslade.  I was through my last lock for the day by 14:30 and moored up.  The wind has been severe blowing the boat about and making steering difficult.  Twice as I was coming in to moor up prior to going to open the lock gates “Ice Breaker” was blown diagonally across the canal, at one point almost doing a complete U-turn.  That has practised my going aground skills, making use of the pole to push off and tying the stern rope to a bollard, having the engine in reverse and using the long centre line to pull the boat over to the towpath side again.  The wind ensured that I didn’t try to go any further.  There have been no moving boats in either direction other than the four seen earlier.

Friday 07 Oct 2011

At Great Seabrook, north of Marsworth, on the Grand Union Canal.  Again it has been raining during the night, but the wind has dropped.  Start out at 09:15 as there are only nine more ‘up-hill’ locks to go.  Just after starting there was a swing bridge to get past, I had got the bridge part open and was manoeuvring “Ice Breaker” into position when two runners came along the public footpath from the other side of the bridge and gave me assistance.  I was through Marsworth Lock 37 by 09:55 and just before the Marsworth Bridge there was a ‘chocolate box picture’ thatched cottage, with white walls and country garden flowers.  Then the junction with the Aylesbury Arm where ‘nb Molly’ from Red Bull Basin on the Macclesfield Canal and ‘nb Comet’ from Whaley Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal were moored together, made me feel quite nostalgic.  On through the Marsworth Locks and after Lock 44 I passed the first mobile boat which was a Wyvern hire boat.  Then the top lock and Bulbourne Junction where the Wendover Arm heads off.  According to the sign-post Braunston is 55miles and Brentford is 38 and a half miles.  Through the Tring cutting and although I had planned to moor at Bridge 135 I continued until I was out of the cutting as it was gloomy even though the sun was shining.  From here to London is ‘downhill’ all the way