Berkhamstead

Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal – Catch-up June & July 2013

A quick catch-up for those who have missed me!  I have been moored in Packet Boat spending time doing stuff:

Visits to the National Archives at Kew in order to research London Army Medical Units.

Church on Sundays at St Columba’s (Church of Scotland) in Pont Street, Knightsbridge.

Various social events.

Meeting up with friend.

Attending the National Armed Forces day event in Southwark.

Generally keeping busy.  The weather has been changeable, but for most of July the sun has been out, to such an extent that I am not ashamed to take me vest orf – I do not look like I’ve just come out of a sealed nuclear shelter!!

Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal – Thursday 01 August 2013

Enough of that – time to get the boat ready for a trip to Poynton, but first I had to go for an “Ear Nose Throat” (ENT) appointment due to tinnitus on the left side.  The staff at Hillingdon were great as I was put through without waiting, once hearing was checked then straight in to see the specialist.  It was just like being in a Military Hospital again.  There has been a reduction on the left side (slightly more than age allows) but due to one sided tinnitus I have to go for an MRI Scan.  I’ll do that when I return.  Anyway supplies have been bought, water topped up, pump-out done, and engine serviced so all is ready.  I have a couple of visitors booked so will not move until Saturday.

Packet Boat Marina, Grand Union Canal – Friday 02 August 2013

A couple of late phone calls and the visitors have called off.

Batchworth, Grand Union Canal – Saturday 03 August 2013

Headed off from the Marina at 10:30 in glorious sunshine.  At Uxbridge lock joined up with a couple of ‘pirates’ the owner has owned the boat for eight year’s but this was his maiden voyage in her.  We went through Denham Deep and Widewater locks then they stopped at the pub.  There were a couple of anglers on the bollards for the Widewater lock who seemed to be busy examining their worms and when I called out to let them know I was there I got a mouthful of abuse about “f...... boaters who don’t f…… know what the f… they are doing” (that is the expurgated version as there were a couple of dozen f……s.  I didn’t respond as it wasn’t worth it.  I was then on my own until the TESCO at Batchworth and moored at about 16:30.

Batchworth, Grand Union Canal – Sunday 04 August 2013

Quiet day.

Apsley, Grand Union Canal – Monday 05 August 2013

Started at 09:00 and met up with nb Del Boy (staffed by Andy who is a moorer from Packet Boat, his dad Del, and two daughters) and we headed off in sunshine.  The journey was uneventful until we got to Kings Langley lock when it clouded over and we had a ‘little light rain’ we finished the day soaked though as it just kept coming until we arrived at Apsley.  My ‘Nicholson’ guide to the canals is kept in a ziplock plastic bag and even that got soaked.  I spent most of the evening drying the pages but is now all crinkly.

Berkhamstead, Grand Union Canal – Tuesday 06 August 2013

The rain did eventually stop and I started at 07:30, heading through the two Apsley locks that nb Del Boy and crew had done last night.  The sun was out, but a bit chilly in the shade.  At Frogmore End we met again as agreed and headed off on another uneventful day.  At Winkwell lock the sunk tug that I noticed in April is still there and at the Rising Sun lock one of the Gates has been damaged so restricting passage for wide beam boats (from London they can travel North to Top Side Lock or if coming South then as far as Cowroast as there is no winding holes between)  There is very little traffic on the canal.  At Ravens Lane I moored as I’ve someone to meet and nb Del Boy went on.  They are going to Braunston then down the South Oxford and Thames back to Uxbridge.  The sun has warmed up and is again glorious.