Berkhamsted to Fishery Lock

30 July - Berkhamsted

Up at 8 for Pete and 7 for Vicki, she published yesterdays blog and then we had breakfast, after that a walk to Berkhamsted Castle, built in 1070 by the Normans and still with its earthworks and wall infills in some places. What has happened over the Centuries is the wall stone have been removed for other projects and in this case the Flint rubble inside is still cemented in place. An impressive set of ruins. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berkhamsted-castle

Vicki then went into town and to get a haircut while I did e-mail and messaging and dishes.
We moved off at 11 leaving behind Rodger & Mary and their lovely boat Dorinda, they are staying put until the weekend to meet up with family who will drive over to visit. A great couple who have been a pleasure to cruise with. Thanks Guys.

 New haircut and Mary & Roger this is the Swan that was attacking your boat

A smooth cruise with locks descending and some with signs saying please leave the downstream gates open because of leakage through the walls, so that was one thing that didn't have to be done - made life easy.

 You can see why the locks need to be left empty

 Dog on guard at the Rising Sun

 Some interesting boats along the way

We stopped at Winkwell Boat Yard for a pump out and Diesel [ Jeff they have 80p diesel ] and went on for 2 more locks and moored for the night at Fishery Lock at 4 30 pm.

Swing bridge before boat yard - like this, key operated and no hard work apart from

 the finger holding open and close ;-)

TOTAL - 10 locks, 4 miles, 1 movable bridge, 1 castle visit and haircut for Vicki who bought Sushi back for lunch and Indian for dinner - 9 out of 10 for both

Marsworth to Berkhamsted – (Gas Lock 2)

29 July – definitely on boat mode 

Up at 6.30 Breakfast (Vogel’s toast – yum). Moved on by 8.30 and straight into locks, very low water on pounds and CRT on site moving water down as required. Spectacular scenery - Vicki had a grand time closing gates and snapping pictures as Roger went ahead to set the next lock. Throughout the day we all wondered at some stage what day is it - no idea.

 New building development happening in Marsworth

 At first lock we meet boats coming out and ours coming in, making the first lock very easy apart from me getting side tracked taking photo's of a Heron

 He posed very nicely

Locks climb for a while until we get to the summit at Tring which is 3 miles through country side and a long deep cutting. 

 A walk between locks gives you a good view of reservoir and nice shots of boats - Pete driving into lock and Mary in control of Dorinda

This ends at Cowroast – not a BBQ but a town that every time a boat crosses this summit uses 200.000 gallons of water in locks up and down. That explains the low pounds. There is also the old lock gate building depot now days making garden sculptures at Bulbourne.

 Everyone hard at work at the locks - Pete and Mary talking and Roger reading

Have definitely seen some cool boats along the way

After Cowroast the canal starts to drop downhill again and the locks get a little easier. As we had got to the summit a lot quicker than we thought we have moved on again after lunch to Berkhamsted and stopped at 4.

Drinks on Dorinda with Roger & Mary. Then Vicki & I went off into town for a Thai Restaurant dinner 9.5/10 and only 5 minutes from the boat. http://thaicottage.com/

TOTAL 6 miles, 13 locks

Leighton Buzzard to Marsworth

28 July - Day 4 of our plot to London

Up at 6.30 breakfast and a Skype conversation with Clara. Vicki went off to post postcards and do another bit of shopping and rubbish disposal etc.

Flag was flying nicely this morning in wind

At 8.30 we moved off with our lock buddies on Dorinda, not every lock in our favour but we worked our way through 9 before stopping for lunch just past bridge 126 at Pitstone.

Pete still spotting treasures

 Only one small incident in the mornings run, while moving up to a lock Mary on the tiller of Dorinda was hit by a sudden gust of wind  [narrowboats are very susceptible to crosswinds being shallow draft and flat bottomed] Mary ended up across the canal and Rodger had to jump on and save the day.
As he walked past me when all was well I asked him how she was [she needs a whiskey he said].
I thought I can do that and as she stopped beside me in the lock I handed her a small one, I have made a friend for life.

 This was where Mary lost Dorinda in trees

 More treasures

After lunch we moved on thru 2 more  locks to Marsworth and retired to the Red Lion for a drink which nearly turned to tears as it didn't open until 5pm and it was only 4.30 so a quick wander around All Saints with some locals was a good way to waste half an hour.

Last 2 locks had a boat at top just starting descent so we allowed them to come 

through first so not to waste water. Ponds were very low.

 Entering Marsworth Village, first mention in records is 975

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsworth

 All Saints Church, Marsworth - 15th Century

http://www.cmmbells.org.uk/Marsworth/History.html

 The Red Lion - didn't open until 5pm - 17th century freehouse

http://www.redlionmarsworth.co.uk/

 View for night in Marsworth, another sad view, 

Clouds disappearing what will the weather be tomorrow

Dinner on board more locks tomorrow.

TOTAL - 9 miles, 11 locks and 1 swing bridge and 1 load washing and waterfill