Watford

Grand Union Canal – Saturday 05 October 2013

Left at 08:00 having a heron waiting patiently while I photographed him/her and only went as far as the off-side water point at a garage to pick up the weekly paper (for the TV listings).  Just as I was ready to go the pair of traditional working boats from yesterday came along so again I let them through.  They are ‘France’ in Leonard Leigh grey colours and ‘Holland’ in Fellows, Morton & Clayton red and green colours.  Between the two boats they have a crew of six so will be much quicker than me.  After the next lock there was another boat coming up so a wait for a joinery trading boat whose crew recognised me as we seem to pass twice a year when I’m going north!

The next couple of locks were set for me and then I joined with a river GRP boat down to Boxmoor.  Then a steady chug through locks nearly all set by boats coming up.  I’ve managed only 9 miles but 24 locks so a good run in fine sunny weather.