With today expected to be really hot, we wanted to get our boating done early. Macc wanted to go out at about 5, probably because we’d left the bow doors open so the light had woken him up, which meant we were awake before the alarm was due to go off at 6. We just put some clothes on, brushed our teeth, and set off — Adrian walking to Denham Deep Lock which I brought the boat in electric stealth mode.
It was rather nice, sunny and warm without being hot. Below the lock there’s a floating dry dock that’s currently got a boat in it.
The next little white bridge is one I always looked out for when using the A40 in and out of London. The main road goes over a bridge just beyond it. It’s just after where the M40 becomes the A40 as you head into town.
Between these two bridges is just about the only couple of hundred yards of today’s journey that doesn’t have boats moored. Just beyond is a rather nice house, bordering not only the canal but the River Colne as it joins. It still has the traffic noise to contend with though.
Uxbridge Lock was next, and this one had both bottom gates open which was a pain. Like quite a few locks down here, the lock landing is also at a strange angle.
I’m not sure what’s happened to the office building below the lock. It used to look quite smart, now it looks very unloved and probably empty.
A bit further on is the Uxbridge Boat Centre. The crane had lifted out the boat that was in front of us on Monday, as the guy was having it surveyed before selling it.
We stopped at the water point just before Cowley Lock to fill the tank. The Elsan here was blocked so we’ve reported that. Just as we were ready to leave, a little push tug was being brought up the lock. The guy told Adrian he was going to collect a flat and take it to Paddington. We went down the lock, (our final one of this trip to London) and very carefully moored alongside Dona Ferens. Dale had spoken to the boat which moored just behind him last night, taking the last space, and the owner said they were staying only the one night. So we knew there would be a space for us before long. It was only 8.15, so our two hours of boating had been finished before breakfast.
A little while later the push tug came along, pushing a huge flat. In fact it was so big, the flat and the tug can’t fit in the lock together so the guy had to bring them down individually.
Adrian went off to get a hair cut, and just as he came back the boat behind was getting ready to leave, so we could slip backwards into their space. Were the other side of the canal from the past few days, so we had shade in the morning but the sun has moved around as the day has gone on, so that by mid afternoon the water side of the boat is baking. Macc is spending a lot of time sleeping on the coolest parts of the floor. I’ve also given him a good comb and removed a mass of hair.
Some of his brothers have already been hand stripped, which removes all the dead hair and makes them look completely different. After quite a lot of research and ringing round, we’ve found a groomer on our route in a couple of weeks time who will have a go at Macc, although she said that as it’s his first time it might all be a bit too much for him. We’ll see. We’ve also had a stoppage notice to say there’s a fallen tree blocking the Paddington Arm; hopefully it will be removed tomorrow, as we’re heading that way on Friday.
3 miles, 3 locks. (94 miles, 119 locks)