Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal - October 2011 to April 2012
Where to start?  Having settled in to my berth I removed all the bits not needed (spare ropes and poles etc) and put them into storage.  Then time was spent cleaning and polishing the boat so that she was ready for winter.  Time was spent getting Hillingdon Council to accept that I was a genuine resident but eventually they did, so I now have a library card, and official London Borough bus pass.  During the months moored up friends have visited and short ‘day’ cruises have been taken – from the Marina up through Cowley and Uxbridge locks, stop for lunch at a pub and back.  This gives guests a little experience of canal life, I do ask if they would prefer to come out when it is freezing and chucking it down but so far no offers.  The winter has been reasonably mild (weedy southerner that I am) although there was snow and ice for about 10 days (a photo for this year’s Christmas card?), but with the squirrel stove working the boat has been nice and warm inside.  Life in London is totally different in speed to the canals, but I can revert to high speed Londoner going past tourists and taking short cuts on the London UndergrounD (where the sign saying “Exit in emergency only” just means you may be going against the flow, if its timed right there may be no-one coming the other way).  Time has just flown by as I had a reasonably full diary of meetings and people to see, duties at St Columba’s Church, along with visits to cinemas, theatres and places like the National Archives at Kew to do research.  Also visits for check-ups with optician, dentist and doctor, nothing to worry about with the first two but a diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes put off down my leaving Uxbridge.  I’ve had various tests and the results show it is mild and I should be ok on just diet, I will report how I’m doing
My plan for this year is to head off to Crick (meeting the Braidbar crew), go around the Cheshire ring, head to Poynton (for the Braidbar owners’ weekend) and return to Packet Boat for the winter.  There are a few meetings I have to go to so at times it will be moor-up and let the train take the strain!  So no pressure eh.
However it’s time to head out into the world again.
April 2012.  I was going to give the boat a wash-down with a hose, but we are now officially in drought so a bucket and sponge it has to be.  (Since the Government declared a drought this has brought the storm clouds gathering and it has been raining heavily).  Items were got out of store and put back onto the boat, and those not required for cruising (long mains power lead, hose and mains powered electric heater etc) put into store.  Food stores stocked up and ready to go.
Apsley, Grand Union Canal -Monday 7 May 2012
Well I have been out for a week.  I left Packet Boat Marina last Monday having filled up with water and pumped out the holding tank (no easy flush and forget on a boat) and have gone slowly so that I get back into the swing of speed, locks, rain and the other joys of cruising.  Monday I moored just after Denham Deep Lock having done 3 locks and 3 miles, Tuesday was at Batchworth opposite the TESCO (5 locks and 6 miles), Wednesday at Cassiobury Park Lock (5 locks and 2 miles).  After I had moored the Fellowes, Morton & Clayton (FMC) boat “President” with its butty (unpowered) “Kildare” (both run by the Black Country Living Museum) moored up.  Usually the butty is towed but here it was ‘breasted-up’ (tied side by side).  They were heading towards London as they are at the Camden Cavalcade this weekend then in the Queen’s Jubilee Thames Pageant over the June Bank Holiday so won’t be at Crick this year.
Thursday I did 10 locks and 4 miles to get to Apsley having crossed the M25 so I’m now out in the country!  I moored up just before bridge 154 which has a double arch; this means that boats going through the main arch will be clear of me.  I will not be moving until Tuesday (I’m going to try not to cruise at weekends unless I have to (or I have visitors)
Friday I had a quick trip back into London (half hour on train) to go to the AGM and Marchers Lunch of the London Transport Old Comrades Association.  Saturday spent exploring the Apsley area and Sunday off to Church at St Mary’s