City clean up

How about this for a good bit of kit. Its just like a road sweeper but it picks up all the rubbish from the canal. The conveyor on the front of this boat picks up all of the flotsam and jetsam ( mostly jetsam) and keeps the canals in London clean and tidy…. Just the ticket !!

                                                                                                      Happy Days

Settling in

 

We have now had a couple of days in London and surprise surprise I haven't seen a lot of Carolyn . Still its given me a bit of time to catch up with a few little jobs on Inca. Shopping just isn't one of things I enjoy so I just let her Ladyship get on with it.

We decided to go up to the weekly food market in Merchant Square and get something for lunch .While we were there we bumped into fellow bloggers Ray and Diane from Nb Ferndale. Sorry we missed you, we have knocked a couple of times as we have passed by, but after reading your blog I see that you are busy out and about enjoying London, hopefully we will catch up again soon.

Guess what I had for lunch ???.

I dared Carolyn to run through the water but she wouldn't do it.

But I did and got a little bit wet, and as you can see I got stuck in the middle.

I was forced invited to have a look around the shops in Edgware road by Carolyn. Apparently unbeknown to me I soon started moaning and Carolyn said its the last time she ever takes me shopping (Good result there then). At the end of the road is Oxford street where I think Carolyn wanted to go , But with aching feet after all that trudging around I just wasn't up to it. Never mind she went by herself in the end and thoroughly enjoyed it.

                                                                                                   Happy Days

London Bound

 

A few weeks ago I contacted the company that was dealing with the reservations for the Rembrandt Gardens moorings in Little Venice ,London. There are 2 moorings on the end of the gardens so if you are lucky enough to get one you are guaranteed a mooring in the capital. I never expected to be offered one and when the reply came back that we had been given a week we were both well pleased.

The decision was made that the night before we went into London we would moor above Cowley lock and then have an early start ,fill with water and get rid of waste at the lock and then make the near six hour journey into London.

After pulling pins at 07.10 and then filling with water we eventually dropped down Cowley lock at 07.40. Its then not far before we turn off the Grand Union canal at Bulls bridge and onto the the Paddington arm of the canal and a straight lock free run into London.

Passing Greenford water point and just for a change there is room to get on the point. Although C&RT do make it difficult as the moorings start right next to the tap.

That's a different looking tender.

 

 

This has to be one of the most bizarre boats we have ever seen. The whole boat has been fibre glassed over although I'm not sure what is under that.

These flats were still being built the last time we passed here. There is a lot of building work going on all over London so the economy cant be that bad.

Its always good when you cross over the North Circular and watch all the vehicles speeding along below.

Another odd boat. It looks like it could have been some sort of lifeboat. I like the box to stand on so the steerer can see where he is going.

This boat was full of all sorts of bits and bobs. Its called DILLIGAF which stands for   Does It Look Like I Give A ?  and I've forgotten what the last word is .

I didn't know they made boats as well as houses.

After nearly 6 hours of cruising we finally arrive at Little Venice.

The running of the Rembrandt Garden moorings has now been taken over by Canal and River Trust. I'm not sure how it worked before ,but we got a message just after 12.00 from them to say the mooring was empty and ready for us to use.They even told us the name of the other boat on the mooring next to us.

With the mooring being on a bit of a curve we had to leave the arse stern end sticking out to get the bow in . All settled in and Carolyn is itching to hit the shops. I guess I wont be seeing much of her for a day or three.

                                                                                                               Happy Days

Hanging around

 

After a wet night at Rickmansworth we pulled pins and headed down stockers lock and passed the farm which was the location for the TV series Black Beauty back in the 70s.

You cant pass this chap hanging around off the side of a disused building without taking a picture.

While filling with water at Coy Carp lock we finally met up with fellow bloggers George and Carol on their most impressive wide beam boat Still rockin’ . They kindly invited us on board for a cuppa and a look around . It certainly is a beautiful boat and the extra space the a wide beam offers is amazing. Maybe something to think about for the future.

After a night moored below Harefield lock we pulled pins at 09.10 and soon passed Harefield marina ,this is where the HS2 rail viaduct is planned to cross the canal. As you can imagine there are a lot of locals against it.

The next lock is Denham deep .So named as it is the deepest lock on the Grand Union canal at just over 11 feet. As you can see Carolyn was not that happy about walking over the gates with them being so high.

We have passed this boat a few times before and looking at the weed growing under the paddle wheel I guess it doesn't move a lot. Although it would be good to see it cruising down the canal.

The last lock of the day for us is this one at Uxbridge. With the Art deco design building in the background and the side wash pushing you across the canal as you exit the lock its always an enjoyable experience passing through here.

After a couple of miles we picked up a mooring above Cowley lock and settled down for the night. Its a very early start in the morning as we have a bit of along cruise ahead of us .More about that in the next blog update

 

                                                                                                                  Happy Days

Different boats

 

We pulled pins from Cassiobury park at 09.10 and as we head towards London we start to see many different types of boats. I would love to know what the back of this one is about ?

Carolyn thought this was brilliant.

If the engine powered the boat and the steering wheel steered the boat then it would be brilliant.

How about that for an umbrella . It just about covered the whole of the boat . We did wonder if the boat had a leaky roof .

This looks a bit like a shed on a boat .

After a very wet 2 hour cruise we ended up on the moorings at Tesco in Rickmansworth. Being next to the canal its a place where we always do a very large shop. After filling every available space with The red wine stuff essentials we pulled off the Tesco moorings and picked up a mooring just above Stockers lock.

                                                                                                                              Happy Days