I c, I c, I c, but sunny too!

Wednesday, 03 December 2008 18:34

It was cold last night - the temperature went down to minus 3.7 degrees C! We both woke early to a frosted world and didn't want to stir too early!

We left late morning in brilliant sunshine so it was worth waiting! Once away from Common Moor area (Croxley Green) the canal goes through Cassiobury Park, beautiful even in winter! It is very different from when we came down amongst the autumn colours in early November.

Iron Bridge Lock (77) in the middle of Cassiobury Park is extremely slow to fill - we sat there for an age! The bottom gates are very leaky and there are only ground paddles. Some of the locks have both ground and gate paddles making them much quicker.


Grove Bridge the price the 5th Earl of Essex extracted from the canal company to allow them to build the canal through his land - Cassiobury Park.

After Hunton Bridge Locks (72 and 73) the railway makes its appearance and is never far from the canal. Abbots Langley is off to the right and soon the approach to Kings Langley arrives. Home Park Lock (70) has a nasty approach under a skew bridge and there is not much room for more than one boat to "hang around".

John did all the locks today and I stayed at the helm. I usually just "hang around" waiting rather than taking a rope off. I also like to drop him a little before the lock landings as then I can keep back from the wash and turbulence from the paddles as the lock empties.

This is OK in the winter when there are only a few boats around, but not such a good idea if there is a queue behind me! Then I will take a rope off if necessary

Once through Kings Langley lock (69A) it was getting chilly and so it was time to moor. We found a really nice spot past Kings Langley with a lake on our right and open ground on the left. From my galley window I can see the wildlife on the lake - well I could before it got dark! The railway is the other side of the lake but will not bother us too much.

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