Sunday 5th July

The crew assembled at about mid-day at the BWB Yard, Church Lane, Marsworth Junction ready to take “President” and “Kildare” on the next leg of the 2009 Centenary Tour.

After the usual intros, and farewells to the departing crew we were ready to let go at

2-00pm as planned. The run up the seven Marsworth locks was easy, and we moored right opposite the old BWB Bulbourne Workshops late afternoon. What a stroke of luck, a nice quiet mooring and near to the Junction Arms pub where we planned to eat that evening. WRONG on two counts, as firstly a Blues Band started to play very loudly in the pub garden at about 6-00pm, followed by another Band that seemed even louder. Eventually we wandered up to the pub despite the noise only to find that they had no food for sale. We therefore walked back down the locks thinking that we would eat at the White Lion by lock number 1, but this pub had also stopped serving food as it was now 7-15pm. We were informed that most of the local pubs finished serving food on Sundays at 7-00pm. Undaunted we walked the 50 yards or so to the Anglers Retreat and here we had a result as the landlady, a much more sympathetic soul altogether, had a Takeaway menu from a nearby Pizza Restaurant behind the bar. She said that if would care to order and keep on drinking then we could eat our food in the pub - a very civilised arrangement. We did just that and then walked back to the boats.

Monday

Let go was 8-30am and today’s run was to take us from Bulbourne to Apsley some 10 miles and 21 locks in all.

At Cowroast Marina we stopped briefly to purchase a gas bottle and then we were on our way through the lock and then down Dudswell and Northchurch locks before passing through “Berko”. Vic our Captain (this was in fact his first trip as a Captain) was a mine of historical information about the Grand Union throughout the trip, having spent much of his youth in and around the area, and having seen at first hand many of the old boat people and their practices and way of life. Boating on the G.U. with it’s wide locks and deep water was a joy and we continued travelling easily and quickly down through Bourne End and Winkwell locks and then the swing bridge, past Hemel Hempstead where we saw the Samuel Barlow butty “Hazel” and spoke to the owner who lived aboard and on to Apsley where we had planned to moor for the night close by Sainsburys.

The mooring was no problem at all, and after we had tied up we were visited by a young man very keen to talk to us and look at the boats as his grandparents (the Bests) had worked for both FMC and GUCC, we are hopeful that he might join us. The original idea of purchasing ready cooked chickens at the supermarket to eat on board that evening came to naught however, as although Dave P had done a “dry run” the week before when in the area, and had been advised that every day there were always plenty of such chickens for sale, this particular Monday the store had sold out early, there were none left! A quick change of plan therefore saw us book an 8-00pm table at the nearby Papermill Pub where we enjoyed a very good meal (and there were old photos of FMC boats and others on the walls). When we returned to the boats Vic said that in the morning he quite fancied trying the old boaters’ technique of “ thumb lining”, which is using the breasted pair to open the bottom gates when running downhill by way of lines run from the boats to the gates.

Tuesday

Once again we let go at 8-30am. Dave P had made up two thirty feet lines for the “thumb lining”, and once we were in the first lock Vic showed us all how to run and fix the lines (one from each boat) around the gate handrails such that both gates were both pulled open when the lock had emptied, the lines then dropping off as the boats exited the lock. We employed this method of opening the gates very successfully all the way down to Cowley.

Our journey today took us down past Nash Mills where the G.U. is supplemented by water from the River Gade and where the huge Dickinson Mills once stood. Soon after we passed the site of the old Ovaltine Works at Kings Langley and Vic was in his element as he remembered and recounted how things had been along here in days past.

Our Captain made sure that the crew took turns in all aspects of the actual boating and handling as well as the domestics including the preparation of the breakfast and lunchtime sandwiches, it all worked out very well. He and Eddie were always on hand to advise, instruct and help as necessary, whilst Dave P not only did his stuff down in the ‘ole’ but did whatever else he could as well to assist things.

As we passed through Cassiobury Park the weather was fitfull and at times more than a little damp but by the time we arrived at “Ricky” it was fine.

In Batchworth lock we were met by Fabian of the Batchworth Lock Canal Centre, and once through “ P & K” were reversed into Chess lock right by the Canal Centre as this was to be our home through Wednesday. As soon as we had tied up we set to and cleaned the boats (as we did every evening) and then afterwards walked into town for a pint and meal at the local Wetherspoons.

Wednesday

Our involvement at the Batchworth Lock Centre was to complement the activities of the Centre and show ourselves off to the public at large.

By 9-30am we were ready and soon we were visited by a Councilor from the Three Rivers District Council and his wife, followed about half an hour later by a group of about forty school girls and their teachers. They all came on board and were given a potted history of the boats and boating matters in general. They were a delight, interested and polite.

Throughout the day there was a steady trickle of interested people, taking photos, making videos or just plain interested in coming on board, another Councilor visited us in the afternoon.

The crew took turns to do a little exploring along the delightful River Chess which once served Rickmansworth town wharves and gas works. An FMC Josher was found along the river, un-named and seemingly derelict.

At about 6-00pm the Denham Brass Band arrived and so did the Mayor of Rickmansworth. There were photographs and much interest on the Mayor’s part in the boats. Then Phoenix Morris a local side of Morris dancers turned up and danced before the Brass Band started to play.

With all that was going on our evening meal was taken in two sittings, three of us at a time, we ate Tescos cooked chicken with veg., and it was great together with a glass or two of red wine.

Thursday

Another 8-30am let go and a nice easy run down past Harefield, then through Denham Deep lock and past Uxbridge and the old FMC Dock. At Cowley we had a brief wait whilst two boats carrying children from the Mitcham area went through the lock ahead of us, then immediately winded to return back through the lock, all the children seemingly enjoying their mini cruise. We continued on to Bulls Bridge where we planned to shop at Tescos, fortunately we able to breast up  against a wide beam boat “Elsdale 11”, it was a west London floating classroom. There were about twenty or so children on board and they had just been having a lesson on the history of the canals. Imagine their delight and interest, and their teachers too when we turned up!

After a quick shop we turned onto the Paddington Arm and ran the two miles or so to Willowtree Marina where we were to moor for the night. We entered the marina and after a tricky manoeuvre (why does the wind so often work against one?) we moored on our spot right outside the Marina restaurant. Various interested people had a look at us and then after the cleaning was done it was time to head off to make use of the Marina showers. Afterwards we enjoyed good food in the Bar with a pint or two.

Friday

It was a lovely morning we let go at 8-00am and were quickly out of the Marina and on our way to the London Canal Museum. Past Horsenden Hill and Alperton, then over the North Circular Aquaduct and past the famous Kensal Green Cemetery we ran until we reached Little Venice on the Regents Canal. From here we cruised past the homes of the seriously rich, round Regents Park and London Zoo and then as we took the tight left hander at Cumberland Basin there was little more than a mile to go. Down the three locks at Camden, as usual the Market and canal side full of people then on to St.Pancras lock, the last lock on our journey.

We arrived at Battlebridge Basin at 2-00pm and after waiting a few minutes for a trip boat to exit, we moored outside the Canal Museum after another deft piece of boat handling by the Captain. Having tied up we were offered a drink and biscuits in the Museum which we gratefully accepted and thereafter we swopped the boats over, mooring “President” on the quayside with “Kildare” on the outside.

After a few more chores it was time for teas, coffees and cake “President” style and a natter.

All were agreed that it had been a thoroughly enjoyable trip.

 

Tony Greenway