grand union canal onwards towards London

Monday 11th July

Well we got back safe and sound from our trip and decided to stay in Aylesbury till today, always lots to do on Merlot.

 A view of the Aylesbury mooring with the Waterside Theatre just behind.

Goodbye to our swan family who took a shine to Trev and his ponytail.

We set off this morning early as we have 23 locks to get through and the weather is lovely and hot which although is great, it makes lock opening and closing hard work in the heat.  When ever I feel a bit knackered and very hot, I think of how all this exercise will sort the bingo wings out .. Lol ...

Some interesting bridges along this pretty canal

Trev woke up with the beginnings of a cold so just as well I am doing all the work ...he! he!
We arrived in Marsworth hot and tired but without incident.  As we arrived at the last lock, we had to help three beautiful cygnets find their parents who were above the lock having been separated between locks.   Trev gave them a stern telling off reminding them that they need to keep a better eye on their babies.
We are now on the Grand Union canal.   We moored up for the night and after a refreshing shower had a early night with a bit of book reading.

Tues 12th July
We awoke after 12 hours sleep feeling revitalized and ready for the next leg of the journey to London
We set off under a cloudy sky and traveled towards Hemel Hemstead.  We made sure the water tank was full so with the engine heating the water, I could do much needed clothes washing  (our little washing machine is fab, much more efficient than any I have had in a house)

Some strange boats and people about!!!!!!!!!!

We moored up just outside the town of Hemel Hemstead for the night as we have been advised not to stop overnight in the town - too many undesirables about.
We went for a walk into the shopping area and came across a Indian restaurant called Sitar and surprise surprise, Trev fancied a meal. After a drink in a pub nearby, we went for our meal.
Wow how good was the service,  we were made to feel very welcome and when our meal came they had included a complimentary side dish of spicy battered potatoes which were lovely.  At the end of the meal which included another extra dish on the house, we were offered a complimentary drink of our choice.     The food was lovely and if we are in the area again we will definitely visit again.
Back to Merlot for another early night giving TV a miss.
A word about TV and boat life - sometimes we cannot get a sky signal due to trees etc and to my surprise I enjoy those evenings as we find we talk about all sorts and get to enjoy a good book as well as making watching TV something of a treat instead of just having it on and finding ourselves watching all sorts of nonsense.

Wed 13th July
We set off and decided to stop in Hemel Hemstead for a quick shop at Asda (my fav supermarket)    Well what a carry on,  Trev was not at all happy about leaving Merlot moored up so when we got to the supermarket and realized Trev was not a happy chap,  I suggested he gives me his HUGE haversack so he could return back to guard the boat.  (I was not too happy as I did think he was being over protective and I would have to carry all the shopping back on my own but I suppose its better to be safe than sorry with our home and all our stuff)  I did the shop and made my way back weighed down by the filled haversack.  We immediately set off giving us time to get over our little strop.    The area was just as bad a we expected - not a place to visit although once out of the town the canal in this area is  beautiful with stunning countryside all around.

Boo hoo, my lovely new kitchen sink tap has broken with the head coming off,  Trev said he would fix it for me (I should think so Trev you know what my kitchen means to me)
We had a good day and moored up in a lovely rural stretch called Hunton Bridge.

Thur 14th July
Setting off quite early as again we had quite a few locks to negotiate and the condition of some gates were rather worse for wear.   We spoke to a guy who transports materials up and down this stretch of canal and he agreed that due to all the cuts, British waterways are not maintaining the locks and bridges as they should.   The locks take ages to empty or fill as they are leaking so badly and on one occasion we had to empty and fill the lock twice to get the gates to close sufficiently to use - what a waste of water!!!!!!
We continued along this lovely area, Batchsworth and on coming across a Tesco right on the side of the canal, we decided to do a small shop - small being the operative word as Tesco is my least favorite supermarket but needs must.
There was a little sort of shed offering breakfasts, sandwiches, snacks etc just along the canal so after being told that the food was really good and reasonably priced, we decided to have a bite to eat before doing the shop (you know what they say - never shop on a empty stomach)     We ordered two sandwiches and coffee. Well I don't know what standards the couple have that recommended it, but the coffee was tasteless and the sandwiches were little more than two huge slices of white bread (very fresh bread I have to admit) with very little filling and cost 4.50 each so not so reasonable.  The woman cooking and serving the food could have done with a lesson in being friendly to her customers as she had the most miserable face making us feel like she was doing us a favor by just being there.  One to miss!!
We moved Merlot on a little way and moored up in a lovely area just outside a small town called Richmansworth.   Just opposite the mooring were beautiful horses in a hilly field and a huge flock of Canadian geese.

                                                                                                                                                   After settling Merlot down, I went for a little walk along the canal and came across a boat which looked like it had been there for months as the owner had plants in pots on the towpath.  The owner turned out to be a guy who looked rather like a less attractive Crocodile Dundee who said he had  been there for nearly a year much to the British waterways disgust ( you are only supposed to moor up for 14 days then move on)  I am not sure how he gets away with it but all power to him.   He went on to tell me about the signal crayfish he regularly caught using a crayfish net.  Wow when he pulled the trap up it was filled with rather large signal crayfish, so called because they  wave their large claws about warning anyone foolish enough to get too near.   These American crayfish were introduced to our waters a few years ago and now due to the fact they are so aggressive, they are killing off our indigenous prawns and crayfish in English waters - a bit like the grey squirrel.   The environment agency encourages people to catch and eat these signals (apparently they make very good eating - better than lobster and best of all in my book, they are free food.)   We have to get a trap!!!!   My hero made a makeshift trap out of a large water bottle and ofter putting some left over pork inside, I gleefully lowered the trap into the water with great anticipation.

We went for a walk into the town which was quite nice with all the shops we like, butchers greengrocer and to Trevs delight a nice Weatherspoons pub.   Trev stayed for a pint and I went shopping for meat and vegies.
  When we got back from the town,  I excitedly pulled our trap up and to my disappointment found not one crayfish.  To be honest I would have been amazed if we had caught any but thanks for trying Trev.  We agreed we would order a trap online as soon as we got to London and found a post office to collect it from - cant wait!!!!!
We liked the area so decided to stay for the weekend.   It is a beautiful area with lots of lakes and water sports available.     We had a lovely chilled out weekend but still never caught any crayfish.

Monday 18th July
We set off for the second to last leg of the journey to Little Venice in London.  As I undid the moorings, I remembered the submerged Crayfish trap and without expectation pulled it up only to find a huge crayfish who did not look happy snapping at me with his rather large claws.

                                                             I was ecstatic but we decided to let it go as one lonely crayfish would not make a meal.   One reprieved and I am sure relieved crayfish.
We moored up in a rather industrial area called Cowley Peachey as we wanted to make sure our water tank was full before arriving in Little Venice as when we did a recce before we went abroad, we found that in Little Venice there was only one water supply and a lot of boats.  Little Venice is very popular as you can stay there for 14 days free of charge so the moorings are usually filled up although you are permitted to double moor if needed.    We had also bought lots of large bottles of water to use for drinks to save the water in our tank for showers and washing dishes.  Ahhh the joys of living on a boat..  you quickly learn to appreciate things taken for granted living in a house like how much water and power you use which is a good thing all in all.

Tuesday 19th July
Set off earlyish cruising along possibly the worst canal we have ever been on.   Through Southall towards London centre.  We would definitely have not risked stopping for anything along this stretch.
We duly arrived in Little Venice and as expected found the moorings all taken so we double moored (with permission from the boat owner) in very nice little spot.   We soon found we were not able to get a satellite signal for TV but hey ho we are in London with lots of things to do.

pics of mooring in Little Venice.. note the green algae on the water.
After settling Merlot down, we decided to walk to Camden Market and get something to eat from the street food stalls there.   It took us about 45 min walk along the canal.  We found a pub at Camden Lock and had a drink then got a bite from the stalls.  I have to say the food market in Camden is amazing.  You can eat food from about 8 different countries, all cooked to order and the most expensive being 4.50.   I LOVE street food  especially when it is of this standard.     We went on another expedition looking for one of Trev's pubs (he finds them in the good beer guide or on trip adviser)   You would have to see us to appreciate how funny our expeditions look.   Trev sets off with his trusty phone and selected app saying he knows exactly where he is going,  we walk down a road then suddenly he stops focusing on his phone looking puzzled and usually does a 100 degree turn around now heading back, I dutifully follow resigned to a few more 100 degree turns.   It usually takes about three of four turns and words of reassurance from Trev that he knows where we are going before we find the pub.   On this occasion we were both desperate for the toilet and although we came across a pub in the right location, it was not called The Sentinal which was the pub he was looking for.  We hurried in now quite desperate and so as not to offend the bar person, Trev hastily ordered a half of fosters before hurrying to the men's whilst I just made it to the ladies.    When I came out Trev sheepishly told me that this was the right pub after all, he had for some reason got the name wrong - OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Anyway we had a drink giving the larger a miss.   Back to Merlot on the bus after purchasing a oyster card which allows you to travel by bus or train for half the price - what a good system.