Rickmansworth to Widewater Lock, Nr. South Harefield

Friday, 30 November 2012

Very frosty and cold but a bright sunny morning.  The top of me is covered in ICE and the ropes are stiff and frozen almost solid.....

Frozen stiff ropes

On the way from Rickmansworth there are hundreds of boats all moored now for winter in winter moorings.  Such a surprise to see so many.  Also, worth noting, many of the visitor mooring spots have also now been turned into permit only winter mooring spots.  Makes you wander where the boaters who choose to continue cruising the network in winter are supposed to moor......

Miles of boats moored for winter

Pete and Mazey prepare the locks and Susan has warned Pete not to step on top of me today as he could slip and fall in.  When the sun goes in it gets really chilly.  We are lucky to get the last mooring available after Widewater lock and opposite the marina.  The boaters behind us tell Pete that from tomorrow (1st December) this area will also be winter moorings only.  There are no signs up yet - so we will stay until Sunday when we head off towards Paddington Basin.

As Susan and Pete eat a late lunch, Pete spots the Kingfishers playing in the opposite scrub and both dash to get cameras.  It is very dark and Susan manages to take the photo  below - not brilliant but at least they can be seen.

The Illusive Kingfishers

Susan was kept awake during the night by the music from the pub which is about 1/2 a mile away.......

Total 5 miles and 5 locks


Thursday, 29 November 2012

Susan wakes up with a 'BANG'......  I have been hit by another boat that was manoeuvring back into its mooring - two boats tied together.  Pete rushes out to help out.

A sunny chilly morning and having a rest day.

The boat that bashed me