Retirement with No Problem

Back Jacks Lock, Aylesbury Arm to Bulbourne, Grand Union Canal, 1.5 miles 11 locks

There was ice on the canal this morning, but a simply glorious day, a clear blue sky and the sun doing it’s best first thing to melt frost and ice.  We were lucky too, BW had a man working checking the state of the pounds (stretch of water between locks). The pounds were down, and he let water through from the GU main line before we set off this morning.

Note to self: “Do a waterways glossary for all those odd waterways type words”

Nice pic today of the boats leaving their moorings on the way to Black Jacks, the first lock of the day.  I had to be very careful too with my footing, you can see the amount of frost and ice around the lock gates.

We had a late breakfast at Marsworth Junction while we waited for Moore 2 Life to fill with water before locking up together to the Tring Summit Level, the highest point on the Grand Union Canal.  There was lots of gongoozlers (folk who like to watch boats, but like even more to watch crews struggle with gates) out today, can’t blame them really, this certainly was the best day of the winter so far.  There were lots of children about, and where I could gave them a little information about locks, canals and bits of history in a language that only children can understand!  I let them push gates open and shut, and at one lock, Vic had disappeared, and there was I marshaling a couple of youngsters with the lock gate, when I looked up and saw Moore 2 Life leave through the gate on his side and NP wandering over to take up the vacant space!  Stranded I was, much to the amusement of all at the lock side!

On up to the Tring Summit Level then for the night.  Bletchley and Argus the coal and diesel boats arrived just after dark, and have moored up just in front of us.  Diesel is just 37p a litre, a good price, and Peter has some coal too, we are down to our last bag but one, and need a good fill of diesel, so that is handy, and will be our first job of the day tomorrow!

Just gonna post this blog quick now, off for a pint….. errrrrrr two half pints at the Grand Junction Arms just along from here…….. need to wrap up warm though