Day 22 - Saturday January 6th - Bulbourne Junction to Hemel Hempstead 9 miles 2 furlongs, 17 locks, 6 hours 55 minutes Weather - Rain
Weather - Rain. Says it all really. A very wet day altogether. Overslept somewhat, something to do with the pints of London Pride and a snifter of Woods 100 Rum when I got back to the boat. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. :-) Set off at 8.20am for the run along the summit level to Cowroast. The notices telling you to leave the lock empty have been removed - perhaps they've finally got round to sorting out the leaking lock wall. Through Cowroast by 9.25am and on to Dudswell. The next five locks were all empty, gates shut but one bottom paddle raised. Don't know why, only one of these is a 'leave lock empty' one. Gas 2 lock was set with top gates open while the next lock was empty with both gates open. After that I had a spell of locks set with one top gate open, allowing me to make good progress. At Sewer lock there was a boat coming out of the lock, but they didn't see me and shut the gates. Said hello to Julian as I passed him just above lock 59. Jannock was looking OK on her new mooring there. Through Winkwell swing bridge by 2.40pm. Quite a respectable queue of cars waiting for me to close the bridge for them, although they did managed to sort themselves out quite quickly - unlike the time when I went through at 5pm on a weekday. :-) The rain which had been fairly fitful up until now set in properly as I left Boxmoor top lock, although since I was planning to stop above Fishery lock I hadn't got far to go by then. Tied up above Fishery lock at 3.15pm and retreated inside to warm up, dry off, and drink several mugs of tea. Terry Streeter NB Arun - Hemel Hempstead
