We set off on Friday morning (16/07/2021) and steadily tackled a lot more heavy wide locks on the Grand Union Canal. How about welding a car onto your narrowboat. When it was suggested to the owner he said that is the best idea since Levi Strauss said I think I’ll make a pair of trousers out of this old tent!
We passed under the mother of all bridges under the M25, so we were finally in London and not “north of Watford” anymore.
We teamed up with Howard and Jenny on share boat Winding Down to go through the big locks togethe.
There were some impressive big houses along the way which gave us a break from long term moored boats. They are floaters rather than boaters said our new friend on the pump out poo boat. At least they were good for his business he said.
Winding Down seemed to be Winding Up as it sped passed the grey narrowboat in the next picture, causing it to come free of its mooring and wedge diagonally across the canal to form a barrier.
At the next lock there was a swan fight, where a strong adult swan was trying to kill a weaker/younger swan by biting it’s neck. It managed to get away and flee from it’s aggressor.
We passed through the last lock into Apsley where a bored school girl with some fishermen helped to open the lock gates. We bid farewell to Winding Down who had passage booked for Brentford Lock on Sunday morning at 07:30 to get out onto the River Thames.
We struggled to find a mooring spot at Rickmansworth as there were so many visiting boats that had outstayed their welcome, but managed to get in behind this big boy.
Vera found Rickmansworth Aquadrome and managed to sneak in a swim in the lake.
There were some nice footpaths through the Aquadrome and many families were out for a promenade in this Nature Reserve.
It was a haven for wildlife here.
The canal was a haven for dragonflies as well as this place.
Mummy was not impressed when wet Vera arrived back at the boat.
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