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| Brentford Basin |
The plan, this year, had always been to go up the Grand
Union Canal (GU) from the start to finish, a way of getting close to our winter mooring.
The temptress of the R. Thames laid its bait as we cruised, easily, along her
waters and we did a tally up of pros and cons before we decided we would
definitely go UP the GU Canal. We have done Norton Junction to Brentford, which
was so last year! It’s Brentford to Norton Junction then continue on the GU
Canal-Mainline to Birmingham. I know there are a ‘lorra’ Locks and miles of
canal but it is not a ‘bar-steward’ and with Cptn and I sharing the helm and Locks,
we can do it ‘piece of cake’.
Brentford Basin, once we had secured our prime visitor
mooring position, was a good resting place for a week while Cptn sorted out his
dental work-to-be-done, in London. Positive decision made, now watch this space,
the tooth fairy will return the missing one!
Cptn has been busy getting DB’s eye-candy plan ready. So
with the first delivery of A4 size stick on colour vinyl plastic, we could make
a start on decorating the exterior of DB. A blank canvas, that we have always
received high praise for her lines. Now we are getting random comments about
her aesthetic plan.
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| 'Statue Bro'? |
“You are BRAVE!”
“It (sic.coloured vinyl plastic) looks interesting; amazing;
wow.....” Depending on age and (L) or (R) Brain dominant.
Time passed quietly in the Basin. Della had a groom. We went for a walk into Syon Park, London home
of the Northumberland’s, and were gob-smacked to see the mass of vehicles
belonging to the huge film unit currently in occupation.
As to be expected, there was no information given to what was being filmed
apart from it’s a sequel to a blockbuster movie. Oh well, I’ll have to wait
until it comes out on DVD and is in the local charity shop for resale! Sorted.
We had visits from some of our London friends, before we
cruised into the sunset. Great to catch up and recharge the friendship batteries!
Sorry to Annabel who got a £60 parking fine, on a bleeding Sunday, in the Brentford
Basin office car park. No-one uses it on a Sunday, for heaven’s sake! Get me
out of London, I thought........
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| Moving on up, moving on out. |
So, happily, we left Brentford Basin at midday on
Monday. The water levels were low but we were more than keen to get underway.
Our mooring was taken straight away by a wide-beam boat. The Basin had been
full all week with London boat people. It’s a way of life.
There is a neglected
plastic boat that looked burglarised and I wonder what C&RT are doing about
it. I’m sure the Enforcement Officer knows and there will be some lengthy
costly procedure taking place....
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| Asking for it..... |
It is so unfair for people who use the waterways
responsibly.
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| There's a book in this! |
The cruise up the Hanwell Flight of 8 Locks is not an
experience I’d rush back to. We did the 2 Locks before the flight, and 6 of the
8 Hanwell Locks before calling it a day. The green algae covered waters are not
pretty and, I think, synonymous with London canal waters.
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| Does algae have floating rights? |
There is work to be done,
on this flight and I think if it were my backdoor waters I’d be out giving a helping hand! All I wanted to do, now, was get on out of here.
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| Hot day starting up |
Next day, we were ready for an early start. The day was
forecast to be hot, and we were keen to be off. I took Della for her early
morning walk with windlass in hand; she had to walk the gang plank as the water
was too shallow to be moored directly alongside the towpath. The gang plank
training at Wargrave Marsh on the R. Thames, had given Della confidence to walk
the plank. We went to the Lock ahead and I wound a gate paddle to empty it. We walked
on up to the top lock and there was a wide-beam boat about to enter it. I let
them know we would be coming up and to leave the gates open as they left the Lock. I
stopped emptying the Lock below and began filling it so it would be ready for
them. I thought they would be down, at our level, before we were ready for the
Lock.
They were just approaching the Lock, from above, as we were
approaching, from below. They didn’t show confidence in what they were doing
and I couldn’t resist giving them words to get moving. Apparently he used to
moor on the River Lee but now moored in London. Surprise surprise. He had been
a boater for 6 years and had cruised the boat down from middle England. “Oh, one
of those.” I said. I’m turning into a bitchy old cow, transparent and robust
with little empathy for diversity. It’s not right!!
Get me out of London. I made an attempt, on August 1st at 0630 hrs, to book a mooring space at Rembrandt Gardens, Paddington with C&RT for 6 – 12 September. In hindsight I was lucky that I didn’t get the mooring. I think to be almost certain of being allocated a space, the email has to be sent on the dot of 00:00hrs 1st of the month for the month ahead.... That will be a new game for me!
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| Bull's Bridge and the GU Paddington Arm |
We cruised straight ahead at Bull’s Bridge and ‘Up’ the GU
to get through Cowley Peachy, Uxbridge and beyond to Copper Mill Lock,
Harefield.
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| Double berthed on Widewater Lock Moorings! I saw 'car'boat near here, last year. |
We were on the way and little sign of boats on the move.
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