Week 6 - Berkhamsted to Paddington Basin

Monday 8th July - Berkhamsted to Nash Mills

We left early this morning and made our way down the first of 17 locks.  We spoke to the owner of the lock keeper's cottage and she described it as long and thin like a narrowboat and originally was one room, it looked beautiful though.

The Rising Sun at this lock was flying 2 important flags, the European Union and LGBT flags, both close to our hearts.

An interesting boat, not sure how it works, but someone has worked hard on it!

This was one of the few key operated swing bridges we have come across on this canal.  It is beside a pub, so lots of people watching as you hold up the traffic.

This was taken having come through Fishery Lock - it was such a leaky lock that we had to harness the power of the boat to open the gates, Dave tied the bow rope to the gates and I put the boat into hard reverse and gradually the gates opened!  Fortunately there was a cafe at the top and we had cake as a reward for our hard work!

We moored at Nash Mills for the night.  The boats on the left of the picture are all widebeam tour boats, providing day trips for the good people of Hemel Hempstead.

This building is what remains of an old paper mill, the Gade River in this area was known for a number of paper mills, Nash Mills being one of them, the clock has Basildon Bond written in place of the numbers.

5.75 miles, 17 locks, 6 hrs 18 mins cruising time.

Tuesday 9th July - Nash Mills to Stocker Lock, Rickmansworth

We left Nash Mills and collected a single boater on the way to share the locks with.  Here we have our first view of the M25 and behind it is overground in to London.  We are getting closer to London!

Bridge 164, Grove Bridge was ornamented at the request of the local landowner, and gives access to The Grove, an 18th Century mansion.

Between the bridges in Cassiobury there is to be a floating market, much of the mooring has been suspended to make way for the canal market traders.  It should be a very colourful event.

At this lock we were photographed so often, I decided to return the compliment!

At this lock the cottage is below the level of the lock, what we can see is the upper windows, and the front door is below the white fence.

Much of the route of the canal along here follows the course of the River Gade, with weirs in several places along the canal.

I don't think I have enough plants on our boat, they suggested I could squash them up and put a few more on!

We moored up opposite Stocker's Farm and had a walk around the numerous lakes just south of Rickmansworth.

Toby enjoyed a cooling swim in the river, I think he must be the only dog who shakes himself whilst in the water!

8.5 miles, 14 locks, 6 hrs 48 mins

Wednesday 10th July - Rickmansworth to Denham Deep Lock

We left our mooring early and made our way towards Hillingdon, this boatyard has narrowboats for hire for disabled and disadvantaged groups.

We stopped to put on water and after the lock we found a slalom course set out as the water came back from the weir.  

At Black Jack's Lock was a cafe where Dave bought homemade cakes from, delicious they were too!  We moored up above Denham Deep Lock for the night and went for a lovely walk through the country park and around the village of Denham. 

This is an example of some of the very attractive buildings in Denham.  It was the site of the Denham Film Studios, and has been home to a number of notable residents including Cilla Black, Paul Daniels, Sir John Mills and Sir Roger Moore.

5 miles, 4 locks 4 hrs 12 mins cruising time.

Thursday 11th July - Denham Deep Lock to Paddington Basin

A very attractive duck on the canal, taken just before we set off on our way to Paddington Basin.  We were lucky and shared the few locks today with another boat also on its way in to London.  

On the way we passed the entrance to the Slough Arm, we had wondered about cruising down the Arm but we decided that we would leave it for another time, as some of the reports had suggested it was rather unpleasant.  

This was the site of the Nestle factory which is being totally demolished, the dust rising from here was amazing, leaving our windows quite dirty!

Here we are at the left turn onto the arm which leads down to Paddington Basin, totally lock free and an easy run into the capital.

Or so we thought - it was really not the most pleasant journey we have ever made.  The canal was choked with green weed, rubbish lay on top of the weed and this made it difficult for the boat to pass through.  There was a tree down which left a narrow passage to pass through causing the boat to tip alarmingly as we were very close to the edge of the canal, much of the surroundings were undergoing redevelopment which made it busy, noisy and dirty.

However, once we got to Little Venice and the turning into Paddington Basin, the weed was constantly being cleared up and it became much prettier and busy with tourists and sightseers.

Here we are moored below St Mary's Hospital in the last available spot before the winding hole at the end of the Basin.

We retired to the green space in front of the big screen for a well earned drink and a spot of tennis.  Toby was allowed on the grass so long as he didn't make a mess(!) and we celebrated our arrival in the capital!

20.25 miles, 3 locks, 7 hrs 36 mins cruising time.

Friday 12th July - Paddington Basin

Today we went for a walk along the Regent's Canal as far as Camden Lock and back through Regent's Park.  Here is the famous Paddington Bear just outside the main line station.

We had a good look around Camden Markets, around 200 stalls jostle for space in the narrow alleyways off Camden High Street/Chalk Farm Road. This market was originally known as Buck Street Market. Many of the stallholders sell their own jewellery and clothes designs.  

A life-sized bronze statue of Amy Winehouse stands at the central point of Camden’s Stables Market, as a tribute to the late, great singer and Camden girl.

Camden Lock was formerly a wharf with stables, it has twin locks only one of which is used.  It is very popular with gongoozlers watching the boats going through the lock.

Sunday 14th July - Paddington Basin to Limehouse Basin

This morning we woke to rain, so we waited until it had stopped and then set off on our trip to Limehouse Basin via the Olympic park.

We turned right at the junction and headed in to Little Venice.

There are boats moored both sides of the canal, often double breasted, very colourful and everybody on their boats were smiley and waving as we cruised past.  In the distance is the mouth of Maida Hill Tunnel, a single working tunnel, simply because you might meet a wide beam coming the other way!

On the way to Camden Lock there are a number of these huge mansions which reach down to the canalside.  Needless to say there is no mooring along this stretch of the canal!

At the Chinese Pagoda we turned left towards Camden and Hampstead Lock, the only set of double locks on the Grand Union Canal.

We attracted an enormous crowd as we negotiated our way down this lock, fortunately it all went very smoothly indeed and as we were leaving the lock there was a spontaneous round of applause!!!

These old gas works have been renovated and turned into flats, a good use of space, and they look pretty smart.

We turned left onto the Hertford Union Canal heading towards the Olympic Park and then left again into The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

All of the sights were still there and the waterways have been opened up, but you weren't allowed to moor in the park and it all looked very sad and drab, not how I remember it when we went to the Olympics 7 years ago.

The Stadium is now home to West Ham United Football club.

Here we are moored in Limehouse Basin, surrounded by expensive flats and huge sea going boats, we feel pretty small, but also very pleased with ourselves for having achieved the aim of this whole journey.

13.5 miles, 12 locks, 7 hrs 18 mins.