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As the forecast was good for the morning we intended to leave Croxley bright and early.  However the first, most important job, was for R to change over the calor gas cylinder or we couldn’t even have a cup of tea! The gas ran out last night but it was too dark to be fiddling about outside.

I filled the lock (laboriously slowly as one of the paddles was not working) and just as we were about to go in Juels Fuels arrived so R decided to wait for them as we needed gas, coal etc. That meant they took our full lock so we had to start again refilling it. Our early start disappeared and then who should appear on the towpath but a friend from Thorpeness.  She just happened to be walking along to pick up her car from a nearby garage. I had no idea she lived in Rickmansworth. Her mother, I seem to remember being told, was rather sweet on R’s father before he got married!

Arriving in Rickmansworth was a bit traumatic.  R had gone ahead to find a mooring before the lock and as I tried to enter our boat swung right across the canal, being pulled over by the force of a nearby weir. It took R all his strength to  try and pull the boat in from the front as he could not reach the centre rope. Eventually he managed to grasp it  but still we couldn’t get the back round. It took two experienced boatmen, who happened to be passing, to help haul in the boat and avert disaster. (I got talking to one of them who shared his secret of how he keeps his legs warm – ladies tights!). As R was mooring up on pins that easily sank into the muddy towpath I decided this was not a safe place to stop – visions of our mooring coming adrift and us being sucked into the weir in the night made me suggest we go beyond the next lock. The air turned blue as R was exhausted and understandably did not want to move. However at that moment a boat rose up from the lock so we were able to glide in without having to do any of the preamble and were shortly mooring up in a far safer spot (in my opinion!).

Piping hot water meant it was a good time to have a bath and we then enjoyed a delicious baked potato from the takeaway canalside cafe – a rare treat as baked potatoes take so long to do in our oven that I don’t think they are worth the gas.

Out of necessity we needed to find a laundrette and the nearest one which wasn’t going to charge me a minimum of £25 for a service wash was a half hour walk. As we got closer so the rain started and by the time we had the clothes in the machine it was a steady heavy drizzle but we were not allowed to stay in the laundrette. 35mins later and a coffee from the local BP garage, drunk on the forecourt, saw us back at the laundrette to feed the meter for the tumble dryer. Another 35mins in the rain and the purchase of some black sacks to keep the tumbled dried clothes dry on the walk home, we ventured back to the boat. We have been nearly 8 weeks on the water and I have to say I think today was the first time we have felt done in by the rain. Not to be defeated, we got the boat heating on to dry ourselves out and now the boat is toasty warm with the stove blazing.

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I am not sure where I get my weather reports from but they seem to be more gloomy in prediction than reality, for which I am thankful! I thought today we would be in need of our wet weather gear so when we set off to discover what Rickmansworth has to offer, our next port of call, I donned both rainmac and waterproof trousers. I needn’t have worried. Blue sky accompanied us all the way and the first rain drops fell as we arrived back at the boat three hours later. It was quite a stretch to Rickmansworth and much of the towpath along the way had ‘do not moor’ notices to visitors.  We passed alot of live aboard widebeams and quite a few garden patches that adjoined them. However once in the town itself we found ample space so will moor there for a night tomorrow. I found the town slightly smaller than I imagined it would be. I had hoped to buy one more pack of Christmas cards but there were none to be had in any of the charity shops. There was a large Waitrose, Tesco and an M&S food store but not much else as far as I could see.

Our friend R came for a cup of tea on the towpath as it was relatively warm and once the rain shower had passed it was a rather lovely afternoon.

As I really haven’t got a lot more to say about today I asked my R for his opinion.  He remarked that we can hear the lazy clatter of the Metropolitan underground leaving Watford and heading into town. This is what I call selective hearing as I haven’t heard it once and yet R who is supposedly hard of hearing notices it all the time! He also remembered the hill we had to climb on our return from Rickmansworth,  remarking that it reminds us we are at the beginning of the Chiltern Hills. I had no idea, geography and a sense of direction not being strong points of mine!

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Waking to a surprisingly beautiful morning,  considering what the weather forecast had predicted,  we set off for Croxley  a journey of a couple of hours and incorporating 4 locks. With a spring in my step and windlass in hand I trotted happily along the towpath opening and closing lock gates and paddles. Until lock number three. R manoeuvred the boat into the full lock. We let the water out and I pushed open the gate. Or at least I tried to push open the gate. Eventually R left the boat via the muddy ladder and I took his place whilst he tried to open first one lock gate  then the other. Neither budged. We secured the boat via the rope and I climbed up the muddy ladder and we both heaved to absolutely no effect. A man watching nearby offered his assistance and the three of us heaved and grunted but the gate wouldn’t budge. Then we decided to open the gate paddle (might have been sensible to have thought of that earlier!) and that was enough to release some pressure and the gate at last opened.

The next lock we met three lads bringing up three short boats together.  It took a while as one of the boats had engine failure so was being punted along the canal and we had to wait a while for him to catch up! After that it was plain sailing for us towards the Croxley lock where we moored for the night. A friend living five minutes walk from the canal joined us for a delightfully muddy walk in the nearby marshes and the rain held off  long enough for us also to enjoy a cup of coffee in a local cafe. There we met a delightful elderly gentleman who was native to Croxley and regaled us with anecdotes of local matters.

All that remains is for me to cook some supper and enjoy the warmth of our multifuel stove! R has been busy foraging for wood along the wooded banks.

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Really didn’t think we’d go anywhere today as it was so rainy and all we wanted was to hunker down and write Christmas cards. The 10am YouTube service from our church had a Zoom interview with us on the boat, which was prerecorded. Not a pretty sight seeing oneself on camera! My sister rang and as it was Sunday we each poured a glass of sherry and toasted our mum! Then the weather cheered up and I realised we had run out of Christmas cards so we decided to walk into Watford not realising how far it was. Still it blew away the cobwebs and we felt so much better for the exercise.

I looked on trip advisor to see if there was a recommendation for some food and No 2 on the list was a Lebanese restaurant that we happened to pass. It was just about to close! So we opted for a nearby cafe where I had the most delicious vegetarian lasagne and R choose me a green smoothie – apple, avocado and spinach, which was surprisingly tasty! Got me thinking that often the most unpretentious places can provide the best food. And at a reasonable price!

We returned to the boat joining the canal downstream so that we could look for a future mooring. We were surprised at how busy the moorings were, an indication we are getting ever closer to London. By the time we arrived back at our boat darkness had fallen but we felt energized and upbeat about life. A day that we thought was going to be humdrum and quiet actually put us both in a relaxed happy mood – the satisfying meal had a lot to do with it!

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It was so lovely to have K come and visit us from home as we were able to go for a walk through Kings Langley, sit outside Fred & Ginger (look out for them – they have a branch in Berkhamsted as well. Not sure if also further afield) and enjoy elevenses. Delicious cakes and coffee! We then started to spy all the festive knitwear (known as a yarn bombing sortie apparently!) which was dotted up and down the High St, some of which you can see on the pictures below.

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A dry afternoon so we decided to travel towards Watford which became quite a workout for me as the locks were further apart than anticipated so I got a good walk! The sixth lock door defeated me and almost defeated R, it was so difficult to open. How less strong people manage on their own, I really do not know.

We moored in a beautiful stretch of water adjacent to a golf course. Very peaceful considering how close we are to major roads, with a fairly decent towpath, obviously well used judging by the amount of people we saw walking past the boat.

The quietest Saturday night I have probably had in December for many a year. And we’ve run out of red wine. Another first! It’s not as though there is even a shop close by. I think we are the furthest we have ever been from a shop looking on Google maps!

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Well goodbye home comforts! We charged the devices, did a final laundry run, changed the Elsan, filled the water tank and did some housework. Phew, then sat down exhausted and we hadn’t even gone anywhere! Not true – I’d nipped to Sainsbury’s to pick up a few essentials as that may be our last close superstore for a while. We shared a calzone from Calzone for lunch – we couldn’t resist one last pizza when they tasted so good and were literally on our doorstep. I even went back to the hairdresser to ascertain the hair products she’d used on my hair, so pleased was I with the silky softness! Couldn’t understand her behind her mask, something about L’Oréal,  which really narrows the field!

The weather was kind as we started the engine and getting the boat out from the Marina was a deal easier than going in! Still had a few boats to avoid as I turned on a sixpence but all was good and we were off. Two locks in close succession I lined the boat up beautifully for R to jump aboard but he declined thinking the next lock was around the corner. So I took off only to have him wave me down – a chap on the towpath said it was a long walk before the next lock and best R got on the boat. Now this is the trouble with last minute changes – you get in a tangle. I wasn’t at the right angle to pull into the side so R had to choose his moment when the bow was close enough for him to jump on. An advantage of long legs! Usually long legs mean tall body which is not advantageous for living on a narrowboat as R has been finding to his cost. A few bangs on the head and knocking things off the side seem a regular occurance! And then the tricky part of steering the boat back on course, avoiding the moored expensive looking boats tied up along the towpath. He was quite beat from tussling with the previous lock gate which proved very recalcitrant, probably because the water level was so high for some reason.

Coming up to the next lock we passed Jules Fuels who looked like they were bedding down for the night. Such a useful and helpful addition to the canals, having floating supplies of essentials. I had already thought we’d be bedding down for the night in the previous lock so slow was it to empty out (we’re descending) due to only one paddle operating and such leaky gates that it seemed as though there was as much water flowing into the lock as fast as we were trying to empty it. Let me tell you the thought of being stuck in a lock all night is a bit like lowering a coffin in the ground. All very dark and claustrophobic. A note of reassurance here for those of you who are canal virgins – every lock does have a greasy and muddy ladder so you can climb out!

We had arrived at Kings Langley, not exactly a village but smaller than a town and highly recommended as a stopover. So we moored up behind a boat that looks familiar – not unsurprising as we are all on the same stretch of water and settled in for the night. I had ascertained that we had a good 4G signal so that I could partake in my regular Friday afternoon Zoom. Always a joy to feel connected with friends and family.

Later in the evening I stepped outside the boat and soaked in the atmosphere of a still, slightly foggy night, where there was an eeriness in the air and a slight chill. It was beautiful and I wish I could have captured it on camera. Set me up well for watching another murder mystery as you felt anything could happen!

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What a treat! Friends from home came to see us. They arrived at The Paper Mill pub, very close to our mooring, and we met in the outside eating area – a marquee with no sides and one central heater. You are right in what I am sure you are thinking – it was blooming cold, even with all our extra layers. A hot bowl of delicious homemade parsnip soup helped the internal heating system prior to us setting off on a brisk walk along the towpath. Not many scenic alternatives on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead! Unfortunately the footwear of P was not man enough for the puddles and mud associated with British towpaths at this time of year so we felt rather responsible for the state of his shoes after the walk. It was great seeing them though, catching up on local news and having a relatively normal time together, considering all the Covid restrictions. Our only thought though was, was it really necessary to sit outside in the cold when there was a spacious airy pub with only half a dozen people at most inside, all presumably bubbled. I think that’s what I am missing the most – the simple joy of sitting in warmth and comfort with a couple of friends enjoying a drink or meal together. It looks like a long winter ahead!

Our challenge for the day was trying to wirelessly join our printer to our laptop or phone. Two fruitless hours and a few dozen expletives later saw us in PC World buying an old fashioned bit of printer cable to plumb the two together. No doubt one of our children will sort the problem in minutes. Meanwhile we were just happy PC World was less than a five minute walk away.

My luxury of the day was a haircut. Never thought I would say that as I tend to think of haircuts as obligatory necessities. Such fine straight hair as mine doesn’t look any better in my opinion before or after a cut! However even I noticed it needed a tidy up and there just happened to be a salon right by the marina with availability. So post haircut, first conditioner on it for months, it actually feels like an advert – silky smooth!!

Another long walk along the muddy canal to work out where we may moor on Friday night. It has certainly recharged our batteries, as well as those of the phones and laptop, to spend some time hooked up to electricity – we even bought a small fan heater so that we can have some instant heat for the next three mornings. There’s a water hook up right outside our mooring so no shortage there, and when I went to investigate the other facilities, the cleanest Elsan I have ever had the joy of seeing! It does take a lot longer to do simple everyday tasks, like showering and laundry. First off you need to check noone else has chosen the same time as you to use the facilities. Then you need to gather everything together in the hopes that you don’t forget something vital, because it’s annoying to have to return to the boat, unlock the padlock, find the missing item, shut the padlock, return to the facilities etc (especially if it’s raining!). It just makes me appreciate the ease of home life and how much more I can achieve in a morning if I need to. I was also able to join in the Breathe meeting (Zoom coffee chat) and later in the day play some online bridge with daughter C and her childhood friend and her mother. That’s a great plus of an oldie like me being bought into the 21st century. A year ago I hadn’t heard of, let alone considered online bridge. Yet its a great way to connect with family and friends who are miles away geographically. Or when we are locked down!

In the afternoon we were interviewed by our rector who wants us to share not only the purpose, but the challenges and opportunities that are arising from our trip. We’ll be on screen at the Sunday morning service, which feels a bit daunting. Not too keen on seeing or hearing myself.

Learnt a salutary lesson when watching another episode of ‘The Marvellous Mrs Maisel’. Having just finished Series 2 we settled down to Series 3. I did think rather a lot had happened between the end of Series 2 and the beginning of Series 3 but just thought they had decided to fast forward. It wasn’t until the credits appeared I realised we had just watched the final episode of Series 3! It’s like reading the final chapter of a book when you are only halfway through! On the positive side I will now have time to watch all the Christmas specials appearing on BritBox – already binged on ‘1983 All creatures great and small’ and To the Manor Born’ with Penelope Keith. Light hearted entertainment that reminds me what good humour we brits enjoy!

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I had a general tidy up, vacuumed the floor, wet washed it and got rid of all the mud and we looked like we were on a new boat – ‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ as my mother used to say! Even R commented on the difference. Before we could muddy it up again we decided to enter the Marina which involved R operating a swing bridge whilst I had to single handedly manoeuvre the boat into its specified mooring. It would have been sensible of me to have the boat pole to hand, which helps to push off the side or other vessels but it was a case of being wise after the event as I sat in the middle of a marina almost chocfull of boats wondering how I was going to reverse into our allocated space without bumping the very expensive looking adjacent wide beams, some of whom had people in! This boat has no steerage in reverse so it was on a wing and a prayer that I eventually managed to squeeze into our mooring and by then R was at hand to secure us.

A welcome visit from G&M meant the arrival of some Christmas decorations which have certainly cheered the boat. They were en route to the family house in Suffolk with an ex demo Range cooker which I first spied in a kitchen shop near home. Little did I imagine 3 months later I would have persuaded the purse strings that it would be perfect to replace the, in my opinion, substandard cooker I had been using to cook on for a dozen or so people every summer for the past few years!

Such a treat to have electricity (although it took a deal of time to sort out the logistics as we had to set up an electricity account!) with the knowledge we won’t run out of phone battery. Celebrated by playing 2 hours of online bridge with some good friends!

Time to move on and say goodbye to our fellow canal men. The friendly yorkshire man who has a chainsaw on his boat had cut up some wood and left it for us so R nipped to B&Q and bought a hatchet as the logs are still a bit big. The street entertainer in the wide beam is hoping to resume work in April, so look out for a man with three papercups and a rubberball in Covent Garden! Enough to make the mind boggle!

It is getting a little nippy so after dressing I went back under the duvet and as I gradually emerged started wrapping Christmas presents. I had to send a secret santa present to my Japanese nephew in law. Having found that he has a sweet tooth and also has a new motorbike I purchased some suitable gifts that then cost £22 to post!! No doubt they will also be hit by an import duty on arrival! Christmas is fast approaching which feels strange on our boat as we have no decorations to remind us. I thought our house would remain rather sad and sober but I didn’t reckon on son G and girlfriend M, who have discovered my stash of Christmas decorations in the loft and have set too. Sending through the picture of the Lladro Nativity scene was a joy – I bought it in the German ‘naafi’ when my brother in law was in the army (think it cost £70) so it has been on display for over 40 Christmases!

Fortuitously as we were about to set off another boat passed us and agreed to wait at the next lock so we could work the lock together. I had great fun in a stretch of canal, with no other boats in sight, seeing how fast I could go so that I wouldn’t keep the first boat waiting! They were a lovely couple who for over a decade have lived aboard their boat due to straightened circumstances. I didn’t get the feeling they would necessarily have chosen this way of life but they certainly were making the best of it. She knits and sews, they have no computer, just an old DVD player and I got the impression he spent a lot of time fixing technical boat problems. It humbled me to think we are doing this canal lark by choice and have a backstop! Some are not so fortunate. Unusually for this day and age he was puffing away on a pipe which made me nostalgic for my dad. When we were sorting through mum’s possessions in October we came across many of dad’s old pipes and it was like an end of an era disposing of them! It felt very final.

Arriving at Apsley, only an hour after we set out (spoiler alert – more toilet talk!) I had the unpleasant ‘potty’ duty whilst R filled up with water. There’s a great relief knowing the toilet cassettes are all clean and we have two weeks worth of facilities! Infact we are elongating this by checking in for three nights to the Apsley Marina. Our equivalent of a minibreak! At our disposal we will have toilets, showers washing machine, hooked up electricity and water. And a mudfree zone outside the boat! R even bought a small fan heater that we can put on first thing in the morning to take the damp chill away. What luxury! Opposite us is a pub with a marquee so anyone wanting to visit us for a walk and talk is more than welcome as we are allowed in to the pub for tea and coffee (and only need to purchase food if wanting alcohol).

R has finished his accordian practice and another episode of Vera beckons. Intermittently the fire alarm sounds – i think we are a bit smoky tonight. We certainly are roasting hot! Can’t complain as better than cold and damp.

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