Narrowboat Maid of the Mist Blog - August 2011

We hope you enjoy reading about our travels around the British Inland Waterways

1st - Isn't the year disappearing fast? At Willowbridge today. Graham had one last ditch at trying to fix the calorifer. Having managed to get it out of the boat he cleaned off all the old solder and tried again. He thought he had fixed it, so repacked the foam and put it back in the boat. It lasted about three hours. He has finally conceded to buying a new one, but doesn't want to do it straight away.

The effort of getting it in and out of the boat has given him lots of aches and pains, so we are just going to forget about it for a short while.

2nd - Moved on back to Leighton Buzzard. Calling into the local surgery to get a top up of our tablets in the morning, may have to stay a second day if we can't get an appointment.

It was a glorious day, so much so, we bought ourselves a nice parasol from Homebase. Within ten minutes of unpacking it, the heavens opened. Sorry guys, it wasn't me - I bet someone cleaned their windows.

4th - Still at Leighton Buzzard, and the rain is still upon us. Managed to sort out our Dr's appointment so no need to stay any longer. When will this rain stop. Not cruising till it does.

7th - Roll on tomorrow. We will be on the move again. Had Poppet (Lea's dog) for the week, and she has just left with her, having stayed for Sunday dinner. I think Jack will miss Poppet.

8th - Great to be cruising again. Travelled to Marsworth which covered 7½ miles and 12 double locks. Bit of a body shock after being stationery for so long. Did have help with the locks going through with another boat. Jack was thrilled as he likes being off the boat exploring while I work.

9th - Left Marsworth at 9.30am once BW had increased the water levels. We could see it was a little low when we moored up last night, but this morning we were sitting on the bottom for a while.

10th - A facinating day today. We travelled in tandem with Michael and Maureen whose son was ahead of us on working boat Clover (a Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd boat). At the lock alongside the Grand Union Junction bridge we met a lady called Gladys Horn (see image left) who told us she was born on working boat Clover; she is now 80 yrs young. Michael said on his return from London he would offer her a short cruise.

Also on our journey today and watched a working boat delivering the roof trusses of a couple of new canalside houses at Ravens Lane Lock, which we were told were going to be in the price range of £1.8M when finished. We also noticed an awful lot of new apartments had sprung up near Apsley which was previously known as a poor area, so hopefully these new developments will make it happier place to live.

It was a long day, travelling from Dudswell, just north of Berkhamstead to just below the Red Lion lock north of Kings Langley - 8½ miles and 22 locks. I am so tired I couldn't eat any dinner. However, I did manage a little ice cream with home grown strawberries and a little bit of chocolate.

11th - Just moved a short distance to Horton Bridge at Kings Langley. We need some shopping delivered by Tesco and there is a car park to The Old School House just the other side of the bridge.

12th -Having set off at about 10.30 am. Another long day - 5 miles, 10 locks. Travelling quite slowly now as there are lots of moored boats (getting into houseboat region). Came through Batchworth lock where the model canal is based (called the Little Union Canal). Not a lot of available unmarked moorings at the moment, and those that were available, you wouldn't want to use them in this area. Managed to find a visitor mooring just after Batchworth Lock at bridge no. 173 a 7pm.

The water level is still very low and we seem to be picking up rubbish. Yesterday we had a car tyre around our prop and today it was a piece of carpet. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

13th - From Batchworth to just below Coppermill Lock. Only a short distance today. Passed the building with the hanging monkey. It's been hanging there a good few years - see picture on right.

Decided to do a little painting today. I took the magnetic boat number off and the name of our canal magazine, as they had become stuck and had started to look a bit tatty. I had to rub it all down and paint over where they had been. Looks a lot tidier now. Once dry and hard in a couple of days I will stencil them back on.

14th - Today we did 3 miles and three locks to Harefield to below bridge 177, adjacent to the Troy cut.

15th - Long day again today. 7.5 miles and 6 locks to Cowley Lock on the 14 day moorings. Went down to Cowley Peachey and back to Cowley Lock to do some research for canalcuttings.co.uk and to purchase a new calorifier, however they did not sell them at that marina.

16th - Went back to Uxbridge Boat Centre today, 2 miles round trip and found a very helpful chandlery. We purchased our new calorifier and all the associated bits (plus a bit more).

Point of interest: Apparently if your expansion tank is not set at the right pressure, it may reduce the life of your calorifier. Check with your calorifier manufacturer as to the recommended pressure (ours was 4lb pressure under the water pump pressure rating). They also specify the size of the expansion tank - for our calorifer it was 5 litres minimum. We do have a 7.5 litre tank.

17th - Graham fitted the new calorifier today. Not easy, but we are very happy now we have 24hr running water again.

18th - 19th Still at Cowley Lock - carrying out some small diy jobs and a bit more painting. Can't finish the stencilling as I have run out of paint. I have some arriving on Saturday, so will catch up next week.

20th - We have family visiting now for two weeks. Picked them up at the Packet Boat Marina. Just as they arrived the heavens opened, so we moored up at Bulls Bridge. On arrival the sun came out again.

21st - Family all settled in now. Bags unpacked. Cruised a short distance to just passed Willowtree Marina, where there is a park on the opposite side of the towing path. Cooked a lovely Sunday roast and just relaxed.

22nd - Carrying on along the Paddington Arm, and we passed the bridge that was damaged during the recent London riots. See images on right.

23rd to 31st - Stayed in Paddington Basin to enable us to travel into London easily. We shopped in Oxford Street, did the City Sighteeing Tour with cruise. Visited the Diana Memorial in Hyde Park and also took in the Nottinghill Carnival.

Rather than put up just a couple of images I have decided to create a new page for you to get a better feel for our trips. Click here .

Author: Jean Beven

Saw these two gems just passed Marsworth. Not seen this configuration before.

New property being built in Berkhamsted. Finished value estimated to be in the region of £1.8M.

This working boat was carrying the roof trusses for the above property.

Working boat Ovaltine on Grand Union.

Working boat Clover, on which Gladys Horn (left) was born. Clover was accompanied by working boat Fazeley, and taking up the rear, Mum and Dad Pinnock.

This is the carpet we found round the prop - 12th. Couldn't retrieve the car tyre the day before.

Little Union Canal- Batchworth

Monkey hanging on building at side of canal.

Riot damaged bridge on the Paddington Arm.

View of damage to bridge on Paddington Arm during the August riots.