Living on a Narrowboat
Basically a full day of locks.
Bank holiday Monday. The sun was out, birds singing. After catching my fish, I managed to get an early start at around 8am. When I finished the day, maybe it was 7.30pm. Stopped for about 20 mins for lunch. So almost 11 hours sailing to the day.
Had a few drinks on the way. Dropped in at Aldi.
Continue reading “King’s Langley to Cowroast”
Slow starting Sunday, the weather was bright and sunny which made the last few locks coming out of London pleasant in the bright, warm sunshine.
Saw some nice boats coming out and around Rickmansworth to Cassio, through Watford.
These aren’t sunk.
The people obviously take care of them….
Last stop on the Tube… Technically, out of London as you come out of Watford and Cassiobury. There’s a large country park in Cassiobury and crowds gather to walk their dogs, escort their children to take in the woods and waterways and suchlike. A park scene.
I was locking up at this time. And coming through the park, there were many visitors watching me and taking pictures of Bonnie.
Continue reading “Bratchworth to King’s Langley”
Only 15 miles. For a full 10 hours of sailing.
To get out of Hanwell, we doubled up, me and a boat from Penkridge I’d met the previous day queuing up for Teddington Lock.
Probably cut the locking down from 3 hours to 1 hour and 40 minutes. What we basically did was tie the tow boats together. I went and set the locks for the coming boats and another crew member opened the locks to let the boats out. Third crew member was steering the boats.
We all did our jobs impeccably. It led to a lot less effort in me having to climb out of the boat and up the side of the lock ladder each time to help with the locks.
I had to stop for water at the top. I met the same boat later on in Uxbridge where they stopped for the night. I carried on.
It was really slow going on the GU. I’d put that down to the amount of moored boats I had to come past which is at a snails pace, 2mph or less usually.
I managed 15 miles in a day of around 9 hours.
Continue reading “Hanwell to Batchworth – Bonnie in Wonderland”That’s right, the last day of navigation on the Thames which took me from Walton, a quick stop at teddington lock under Richmond bridge, through Thames lock and up onto the grand union.
It was about 5pm before I made it onto the canal fully.
Just beyond Hampton court. There was indeed no place to stay, and the boats that featured in my previous post were still there, moored right outside. I had to go further down. Just ate lunch, drank my tea then got going.
It’s in the park really. About 1/2 mile or so from the tourist attraction.
Plenty of boats waiting here to catch the tide. Going from Thames lock onto the canal, the CRT allocate you a 2 hour slot, so I had time to wait and catch the flow.
Continue reading “Walton to Hanwell and off the Thames”Last night went to the Tap Room. Fisherman I was talking to where I moored advised the ‘spoons. Whilst looking around town, I had a look in ‘spoons and it was much like any other. Groups of disheveled drinkers with the ambience of an airport lounge, hardcore regulars by the look of them. It’s a utilitarian feel and I had no right to be there so I moved on…
The only place I found in Windsor which was busy was Zizzi, the Italian chain. Whether it was a private party or what I don’t know but it was packed to the rafters, the rest…. Pretty much empty. A common theme I’ve found going around these Thames towns.
The tap room was fairly busy. Small groups of people outside, people inside enjoying a drink and a chat.
The beer in there is second to none. I had an Eton Boatman Ale. Delicious. Only lasted about 4 minutes! That’s the sign of a good drink!
Anyone visiting on a boat, I’d recommend the Tap Room. It’s serves the best beer.
Not really hanging around to drink more. I took my walk across the park and back to the boat…
Continue reading “Thames trip – Windsor to Walton”
