Another Great Day

Wednesday 20^th September 2017

Bluebell Tearooms, Tring Reservoirs to Opposite Grove Lock Marina

6.75 mile, 11 locks, 1 swingbridge

The original plan for today was to travel about 4 miles and go through 8 locks as we are not due to arrive at Grove Lock Marina until Thursday, however we had agreed with Pam and Darryl (our travelling companions from Tuesday on nb Isadora) that we would travel together again today.  When you have a good team it makes sense to keep on going, so we did!  The sun was shining and despite being a much longer day than we usually do, time just flew by.  

We set off first and did the first lock solo as just after that you pass the Aylesbury Arm

and then these new houses where there is a service point at the far end that we wanted to use.

Two years ago these were brand new

and the service area was under construction.  It is a clean and tidy area, but once again along this canal there is no recycling.

Right on cue as we were about to untie nb Isadora arrived and we completed the other 10 locks together.  Pam, Monty and I walked quite a few stretches, so we had plenty of time to chat.

Just the one swingbridge, which Pam kindly operated for both boats

This stretch of canal is the most scenic since we left the Thames - it opens out with some wonderful far reaching views

On the side of this boat is a sign of how things used to be way back when

a four digit telephone number with the town name in front was all you needed to remember!  When Chris and I moved to the north of Scotland in 1977 we had a three digit number and had to wait about 6 months for a line to become vacant!  Now we all carry a phone about our persons and rarely remember any numbers as the phone does that for us!!

We saw a few boats moving today and a couple of times we crossed at a lock which is always helpful.

We spotted these nestled in a field and assumed they were 'Glamping Abodes'

But it would appear they are Wigwams - not quite the shape I expect a wigwam to be!  They are certainly all mod cons and popular - see see here for full information

Your neighbours are their flock of Wiltshire Horn Sheep, apparently one of the oldest flocks in the country.

The canal  is very shallow in places, so it is good to see dredging going on

We ended up following a load being taken along for removal - the helmsman was kind enough to pull over and let both boats through.

Our last lock of the day was Church Lock with, not surprisingly, a church right beside it. Two years ago it was for sale which we assume must have been successful

I took a sneaky peak through the back gate - I love the conservatory and the window frames are just perfect

What a view - from the bridge at Church Lock

Hidden behind the trees is a livery stable?

Complete with horse exercise area - knowing nothing about horses we are assuming that is what this is for.  Possibly for rehabilitation??

Then the last stretch to find two moorings opposite Grove Lock Marina.

A good mooring for the stern

but a bit more challenging at the bow!  Thank you Pam for fighting the reeds to get us moored.


So what do you do at the end of a long day travelling with great companions - you go to the pub for a drink, of course!

Thursday 21^st to Monday 25^th September 2017

Grove Lock Marina

We moved across around midday, filled with diesel and collected a couple of bags of coal before mooring up in a new home for Tentatrice for the next 4 nights.  Tomorrow we collect a hire car and head for home for a very busy weekend.  We have invited ourselves for dinner at our daughter's as there is nothing in the fridge at home, but more importantly it will be our only chance to see her and her family.  We have a couple of appointments to keep, a trip to an outdoor shop for shoes for both of us - the only pair of shoes Chris has been able to wear since his bunion op have fallen apart and my walking shoes have decided that they are no longer even damp proof, never mind waterproof.  

Monty is going to the dog sitter on Saturday and we are heading back to Bedford for a very important event - the second part of Sue and Ken's (nb Cleddau) 70th birthday bash. We know we will be meeting up with several friends from over the years - these include Jaq from nb Valerie - someone I know a lot of you boaters know well.  Back home on Sunday morning to collect the dog and back to Grove Lock to return the car first thing Monday.  We will be in need of a rest by then, so we will just push across to the other side of the canal before heading off on the final leg of our journey home on Tuesday.  

So until we resume, I will sign off and wish you all a thoroughly good weekend.