We leave a good mooring and find a real character on the Lee Navigation

Tuesday, 30 August 2011 13:00

We had a long cruise today but wanted to get past Tottenham and Enfield before mooring.

Walthamstow Marshes

Fortunately the Lee Navigations skirt the worst of the urbanisation as it travels almost due north ......

It started as a lovely day - blue skies and sun. Much better than the rain of the last few days, We passed a number of waterside watering holes and eateries.

The Anchor and Hope at Walthamstow Marshes was our first

The Leaside Watersport Centre was surprisingly quiet - I thought that the canoeists and rowers would be out on a Bank Holiday, but no. Lee Valley Marina has a services wharf - I could see no diesel price though.

Lee Valley Marina service wharf

We also passed a wide variety of moored boats from this inspection launch to large sailing barges

Inspection Launch

Belle (housing the ARC Gallery above Tottenham Locks

Renaissance and Judith were also moored there

We stopped for water below Tottenham Locks. The water taps are often by the bottom gates and it is not always easy to moor or to reach the tap. We double moored with a narrowboat already there, who conveniently had a dual tap attachment - "I'm an American!"

Tottenham Locks, with the water tap beside the left lock (which is manual)

I reversed back - with a bit of trouble due to the wind and current and went into the right lock (electrified) where John was waiting to operate it. nb Kingfisher joined us.

In Tottenham Lock

After negotiating Stonebridge Lock, we felt almost "at home" as we passed Banbury Reservoir. The east side is lined with large reservoirs all the way to Enfield, but only the high banks can be seen.

Banbury Reservoir, only just visible!

Edmonton is mainly a wasteland of small industry and old wharves - the Edmonton Bus Garage is beside the navigation. The cut to Pickett's Lock (only one lock and manual) is lined with electric pylons.

Cut to Pickett's Lock

We waited for a cruiser to come out and then John operated the lock. Whilst we rose in the lock John chatted to Alf Scaggs the retired Lock Keeper who lives in the bungalow which replaced the Lock House. Now Alf is a real character - he has a Bounty Box, not the highwayman type of Bounty as you will see!

Alf and John have a chat

The "BW" notice below says something like "In accordance with the British Waterways Act 1839 all persons navigating this lock should pay Alf Scaggs Lock Keeper by a Bounty Bar placed in the box above. By ORDER". Alf said last week he found five Twix in there - "Twix, I ask you!" he exclaimed.

Alf's Bounty Box

Pickets lock is half way between Limehouse and Hertford at the top of the Lee (10.5 miles each way) so it seems appropriate to take a break here.

Leaving Pickett's Lock

Onwards to Enfield ......