Goodbye Harefield, Hello cruising again!

Tuesday, 02 December 2008 19:44

December greeted us with a lovely sunny day on Monday. I was stuck indoors all day at Harefield Hospital but got the all clear and approval of our new life style! John changed the oil and pottered on the boat.

In the evening Nick and Shirley from Dragonfly came over and we had a great time! John got his guitar out and we had a real 60s and 70s singsong! Hopefully we will keep in touch.

This morning was another lovely sunny one - cold and crisp. We got going just after 10 and set our first lock of the day! Travelling up the Harefield locks is very pleasant and quiet. No wonder people choose to moor along this stretch.

There was a fair bit of water coming down the rivers either side of the canal and into the large lakes that also border the canal. When we got to Copper Mill lock (84) there was a very fierce stream entering from the right by the canoe slalom. Coupled with very leaky gates this lock could cause problems for the un-aware helmsman. However we got through very well

Just before the lock there are some houses that are for sale. How about one of these Lois? 

A mere £445,000 each!

I don't think so! But handy for the Hospital .........................









Soon the rain started so we clambered into our wet weather gear over our layers keeping us warm! We made Tesco in Rickmansworth for lunch, shopped and then went up to Batchworth lock (81) for water etc. By now the rain had stopped and there were blue skies again - fickle as usual!

From here on the locks were set for us as a couple of boats had come down. However we only did two as we moored above Common Moor lock, near where we moored on the way down!

The temperature had really dropped and it was 1 degree C by then! Another heavy shower about 6 pm and the temperature seems to be settled at 0 degrees with icy conditions forecast!

I promised you pictures of our "pony power" at Denham Deep lock, before Harefield. Now you can all say ahh!














Here he comes up the towpath. Perhaps he will help with the gates too! 


Now he thinks he might pull the boat, or perhaps not!











Hopefully we will not be snowed or iced in tomorrow and can continue up the Grand Union.

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