Miles n Miles (26 in fact and 7 Locks)

We were all still aching after our mammoth day yesterday, but with mist on the water we managed to just get up at 8.30am and we set the lock outside the Grove Inn pub.

We got to Tesco's and the girls picked up a few bits while the boys polished the side of n.b. Utopian. We then cracked on and soon got to the Solbury three. 

After yesterday, we had the locks down to a Tee, where we could both line up and slot in together.

We carried on through the Stoke Hammond Lock and then got to Fenny Stratford with its swing bridge in the middle of it.

It was then on to Milton Keynes with its lovely twists and turns around the town with the only hold up being a boat off its moorings which we both managed to tie back up.

We pulled into Wolverton with its famous mural on the wall and then on to the aqueduct and on to Cosgrove.

We passed under its lovely bridge and then out into the country again and onto Stoke Bruerne.

We were both lucky enough to get a couple of moorings at the bottom of the locks.
So we had covered seven locks, but had done 26 miles, another record for us.. So we had travelled from Windsor on the Thames to Stoke Bruerne in seven days and believe me we were knackered.

We got showered and changed after we had moored up, and then walked up to the top of the flight and went to The Spice of Bruerne for a well deserved curry, and it went down well with a cold Kingfisher beer.

So now tired and full up we came out of there and went into The Boat for another couple of beers chillin' in their big arm chairs.

We had trouble leaving as they said we didn't have to rush and leave, but we needed some air and the walk back would do us good. We had to pass Derwent6 first and it was rude to pass without popping in for a last beer with us before Mark and Sian's departure tomorrow. It wasn't long before the beer turned to wine and the guitar came out with some jamming and loud music, sorry guys if you were moored close to us. Mark is in a Queen tribute band, Forever Queen, and Queen is Del's favourite band so you can imaging what noise we were making.. It was only when we heard the rain hitting the roof we thought it was time to get some sleep. Wow what another great day! 

Broken record

Well today was going to be a mammoth day, according to Mark and Sian on n.b Utopian. We were up and ready to leave at 8.30am and sure enough they were already along side us as we pulled the pins outside the Red Lion pub just before Berkhamsted. They had also got the lock ready so we could pull straight in.

We soon got to the Berkhamsted mooring (where Al got a loaf of bread) and we pushed on through the next two locks. Its funny how you get a routine when you have two boats together and how quickly you can get through a lock. We did have some extra help with Tina (Sian's sister) and her hubby Toby who were with us for a bit.  Before we knew it, we were at the summit and that is where Tina and Toby departed, thanks guys for your help and it was lovely to meet you both.

So it was all down hill from here but the Tring summit was very shallow in places and it did put us back on idle. We pulled into the locks at Marsworth and went down a couple before we saw the lock keeper who then was setting up the locks further down and it really helped us make good time. It was good to see the reservoirs still full knowing we've got some more hot weather to come, so they say.

When we got to the bottom lock we picked up some ice creams and Sian brought the locky one for his help

We then were out in the lovely countryside of the rolling hills around us overlooked by the lion on the hill.

The locks all get a bit spread out and we still pushed on with the prize of a cold beer at the end of all this keeping us going.

We got to Iveninghoe Locks where we celebrated by breaking our record of 23 locks in a day and as we got through Church lock we hit 27 locks and 13 miles, a new record.

We arrived at a nice mooring in the jungle, just opposite the Grove Lock pub at 6.30pm, and quickly showered and got to the bar with a well deserved beer in hand, ten hours we had travelled today..

It was nice to see Tina again who had joined us to see if we had made it. After we had eaten we were shattered, but managed to stay till 10.30pm with us all yawning.

We had better go to bed as we have another record to break tomorrow..

Mark's laminated mission

We were up and about this morning as we planned a busy day. Del cleaned up Derwent6 on the outside and Al sorted the inside. We set off at 11.00am and did two locks before we moored at Apsley where we waited for some friends to arrive at the marina..

At 1.00pm we got a knock on the boat and sure enough Mark and Sian on n.b. Utopian had greeted us, it was lovely to see them. They got their stuff loaded onto their boat (mainly beer and wine) and we set off through the first lock.

We went side by side having a good chat and catch up but Mark was on a mission on their two week trip out and had it all planned on a laminated sheet of A4, "fine" we said and we just tagged along.

We got through Hemel Hempstead even though it was very weedy in places.

With the girls doing the locks and the boys on the tiller we were making good progress even though Mark had a few problems, but we managed to get to Winkwell in good time..

We were opening the swing bridge when a familiar head poked round the corner, it was George and Carol from w.b Still Rocking, they had moored outside the Three Horseshoes pub and were begging us to come in, it was so tempting.

They had been going since 4.00am and we had a mission with Mark and Sian, so we had to have a quick chat and get going, promising to get together later in the year. Your boat looks fantastic guys!

We were then joined by Sian's sister Tina and her husband Toby, and we got through the next few locks with ease as we headed to Berkhampsted and ended up mooring up outside The Rising Sun pub.

We had a quick change and were soon at the bar drinking their riser beer and after the day it went down a bit too well in the sunshine.

We decided to move up to the Boat pub just 200 metres up the canal and here it was more beers and something to eat.

 As we had to pass the Rising Sun on the way back it was rude not to have another in there.

As it started to get chilly from our day in the sun, we then went back to Mark and Sian's boat for you guessed it more beers and wine.. We rolled out at midnight as we had a very, and I mean VERY! long day tomorrow. Watch this space!

On to Kings Langley

We got up early to look at the weather and saw it was thunder showers in the afternoon so we set off as soon as we could to miss them.. We got to the first lock at Cassiobury which was in our favour, all be it a bit low in the pound to the next one.

This next section around Grove park is one of Del's favourite's on the Grand Union and it never disappoints.

We then pushed on to Hunton Bridge and Abbots Langley with the locks still working for us. They had done a lot of work on the towpaths here which was nice to see.

The clouds started to descend when we got to Kings Langley Lock, and we knew it was time to pull over.

We spotted a couple of ropes on the alcove which were just the right length for Derwent6 so it was rude not to moor there.

We had done eight locks and four miles which took us three hours and we were pleased to moor in the hot and humid heat. We had some lunch and then the heavens opened.. We had some good signals here so we did a few internet jobs we needed to do.. We will need the rest as you will see in the next few blogs.

Our Cook Return's

It was Matty's last day with us and we were treated with some lovely toast and homemade blackberry jam, Mmmmm

One of the reasons we had stopped here was for Cassiobury Park which has loads of things for kids to do and all free over the holiday period. They also had a miniature railway which was a pound a go and it has a long track as well. Matty got on his swimmers again and first jumped on the train with Al.. 

From there it was on to the bouncy castles and then on to the swimming pools.

We had a lovely time in the sunshine and it was the perfect end to the perfect holiday for Matty.
We then walked back to Derwent6 and it was time for him to pack his bags and walk up to the station with Al..

Del stayed on Derwent6 and did some paintwork and polished a side as the weather had got cooler..
Matty was met by Ron at Victoria and Al said her goodbyes and then returned to Derwent6.

We got out the wine and cheeses and chilled in the cratch. We soon had to go to bed, yep Matty had worn us out, but thanks for a fab week with you mate, we will miss your desserts!!

On to Penultimate Watford

We needed a bit of a lie in this morning as it was Matty's penultimate day, so we took it easy and had some breakfast in the cratch, Matty had his first taste of omelette, and loved it. We ended up setting off at 10.30pm and were able to get into the first lock at Copper mill with another boat.

It made life a lot easier and we did the next three locks with them till we got to Tesco's at Rickmansworth.

We topped up with chocolate, and snacks and also some BBQ stuff as Matty wanted one tonight..  We stopped at the small model canal which Matty enjoyed, it is nice to see some youngster's liking the canals, it could be the future for them.

We carried on and at each lock Matty was off collecting Blackberries, he ended up with a couple of big bowls full.

When we pulled into Watford we went past the drunks and had problems opening up the lock gates, but this guy was out to the world, quite nice really.. but he will be sore in the morning!

We got moored up just out of it and managed to get a tv signal and Matty had the fishing net out again.

 It was then cooking time and Matty was making dessert again, this time it was Banoffee Pie.

 Then with all the fresh Blackberries he made us some Jam, in fact we got four jars, Mmmmmmmm

 Then it was BBQ time and Matty lit and cooked the food on it while Al did a nice salad.

While it was cooking, Del showed Matty how to light a fire without matches, something learnt in the Scouts......Matty wants to join the Scouts now..

We all had a lovely Barbie with just the best Banoffee pie.. Let's hope our jam turns out as good!!!