The usual load of rubbish .....................

The weather remains glorious, although I suppose if I was being really picky I could say it was a bit too hot, at the end of the day I bear more than a passing resemblance to a beetroot.  More boats about today, they must have hibernated for the weekend thinking that it would be too busy to travel then and all come out on Monday. 


A rare instance of a boat in the lock at the right time instead of just after I'd closed the gates and carried on around the bend

Make steady and uneventful progress through some beautiful countryside I would have liked to stop more often but on a mission to get to London for a party.  Impressed by the swing bridge at Winkwell, just push some buttons then lights flash, barriers come down and the traffic stops.  I am so overcome with the feeling of power at being able to stop cars and lorries that I leave my keys behind in the mechanism.  By the time I realise they are missing it is far too late to go back for them so I have to buy a new BW key (£9!).  Luckily I have a spare boat key and as I haven’t a clue what the rest of the keys on the ring were for they aren’t a great loss.

Stop at the night in a scenic part of what purports to be Watford, although of Watford there is no evidence, just an immaculate golf course and Cassiobury Park on the other side.

Onwards and onwards, many miles, lots of locks.  Overshoot the entrance to The Paddington Arm because the signpost is obscured by a bush. The start of The Paddington Arm is far from immaculate, industrial, litter strewn and unappealing.  Stop for a lunch break failing to notice that it is a waterpoint that we moored against, aahhh that’s why there are nice bollards here.  The boat actually stopping for water points out that this is a waterpoint but they aren't too bothered about the misdemeanour and draw up alongside for a chat about nothing in particular.

A very wide-beamed boat is moving off from the bankside ahead, about twenty multi-hued children in blue sweatshirts lean over the bow and the teacher is giving a talk about the wild-life of the canals.

‘Look to the left and you will see a swarm of white plastic bags, these have the distinctive blue and red lettering, further on we will find another breed of plastic bags that are bright orange. Oh look just ahead we can see the colourful plumage of a KFC carton.  Look at the polystyrene cups, these are a hardy breed of drinking vessel and will live for many years, as will the Carling can that is floating passed to our right. There are many breeds of can floating in the canals, all with their own markings, you will find Special Brew is the most common along here. If you could see into the water you would be able to see that hardy canal animal the supermarket trolley they are often found in the company of the bicycle wheel.  Sadly it is often difficult to spot because the water is so polluted that we can only see the top few inches of anything.   Watch this narrowboat passing by they usually manage to pick up interesting floating objects on their propellers, oh yes it’s stopping.  Please put your fingers in your ears children the language that boater is using isn’t suitable for ten year olds.’

Trying to find a desirable mooring is trying.  Eventually stop for the night opposite Kensal Green Cemetery, hopefully it will be peaceful, the dead shouldn’t be making too much noise and the gasometer on the towpath side looks well behaved.

 

 

To the coots it isn't rubbish it's just building materials for their des res.