Day 24: Marsworth Bridge to Aldbury

A later Sunday start.  We've heard that there's a broken electric swing bridge at Winkwell a few miles ahead, between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead, which won't be repaired until 28th May so we're pacing ourselves to arrive about then. It's quite windy today, 17 - 18 mph. We have six locks of the Marsworth flight to ascend and hope there are a few boats coming down or going up to help out - although everyone is commenting about how quiet the waterway is.  Fortunately, there's one lockkeeper on duty as we enter the first lock, who goes up and prepares the next for us.


The first lock of the day

Waiting for the next lock to empty

The trick is to keep the boat motionless, or almost, against the lock wall while the lock fills

A rope looped round a bollard helps hold the boat in

A gate balance beam, showing how eroded they become over time - this could be 20 years old

In the top lock now

Coming up

We're over half way between Braunston and Brentford, hurray! The short arm to the right to Wendover is currently being restored

Impressive toll house at the junction. The lower left hand windows allowed the tollkeeper to see boats coming from both directions

Historic and beautifully decorated narrowboat 'Hood' originally built in the 1940s to carry coal. This seems late for a wooden hull. The owner compares it to Trigger's broom, since most of it has gradually been replaced and only 3 original planks remain

Bulbourne yard, now sensitively transformed into housing

After topping up at the water point, energetically aided by two small children who were doing some clothes washing with their mum, we're on Tring summit, 3 miles of closely wooded canal


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