Tug stuck in a bridge ole

It was manic last night with 4 boats all arriving in the basin after 8pm and all looking for a mooring! The only way they could get moored up was to breast up with other boats. This two of them did by pulling alongside nb The Cats Whiskers, not Rogers and Pats boat, without permission. The chap on nb The Cats Whiskers admitted to me this morning that he was a bit peeved that these boats had just assumed they could do it. He had been in town at the time only returning after 10.30pm after the deed was done!  We were also concerned about being blocked in by the pair. Our plans were to leave early the next morning so as to avoid the Gongoozlers at Camden Town, and it would have been impossible for us to reverse out with those boats there. When Ian went to have a word with them they agreed for us to give them a knock once we were ready to leave no matter how early. The other two boats managed to breast up with other boats but at least they had the decency to ask if they could first.

Hemmed in

C&RT volunteer taking license numbers at 7.15am

The boat blocking us on the move after Ian hailed them just after 7am.

I like flowers on the roof but how on earth would the helmsman be able to see over the top of this boat when moving.

Rubbish removed from prop from Diesel boat Baron. He came by yesterday afternoon and filled our tank at 91p a ltr

Working boat Baron.

Heading along the Regents canal.

London Zoo is next door to the canal. I only got a couple of photos of the these birds.

All to soon we made it to Camden Town and the first lock of the day Hampstead Road locks. This has two double locks and both were in our favour. We choose the left hand side but on hindsight we should have taken the R. The balance beam on the left are designed for dwarfs and really hard to close. You almost have to get on your knees to close them. The R side has proper height beams.

Next lock, Hawley lock in Camden Town, confused the hell out of me.  My mind started playing tricks when I could see the lock ahead with the gate open but next to it appeared to be another way through. The view from the boat as well as the low sun in my eyes gave me a false sense of being able to bypass the lock completely as these pictures show.

Me in the lock waiting to go down. Next to it looks as if one could go straight through without bothering with the locks!

Looking back.

I was shocked at the amount of rubbish in Regents canal. The work had been done on the surrounding architecture to make the area look really nice, obviously for the Olympics, but the water was a disgrace! This Coot made good use of the debris. Building its nest with it!! Love the polystyrene food box balanced precariously on top

View taken on the exit portal of Islington Tunnel

And now for my post heading. I'll set the scene first. We had arrived at City Road locks to discover a boat, Lady Elanor, leaving at the bottom. The gate was left open on its departure although we felt sure he must have seen us coming. Anyway, after refilling the lock and my eventual departure we were very surprised to see the other boat still in Sturt lock. Having to travel at least half a mile we would have thought him long gone by the time we reached them. I had to drop Ian off well before the lock because an inconsiderate boater with his widebeam had gone shopping and left the boat tied to the bollards. He returned while I was holding the rope and although I glared at him he just opened the rear doors and went inside without even apologising for stopping on the landing! As Ian had caught up with the lady on the boat in the lock he asked very nicely if they would wait for us at the next lock. This they did but waited below Sturt lock instead. Then, from a mooring on the offside below this lock, a Tug winded and set off in front of them and us. Once I had left Sturt Lock I sailed past the Lady Elanor and tucked in behind the tug. Now at every bridge 'ole he virtually came to a stop. After I had almost, but not quite, put our boat on his rear deck several times, he waved me past. This meant that the Lady Elanor was now stuck behind the tug, we were first for the lock and all we could hope was for the tug owners to allow Lady Elanor to pass as well. This they eventually did but before that happened and at the next bridge 'ole the tug got stuck! If you look at the height of his cabin top you can see why!

No way was he going to make it through in one piece.

To get free they had to push hard on the bridge roof, move as far to the towpath side as possible and inch forward bit by bit. Lady Elanor stuck behind.

Free at last to be confronted by a load of canoeist.

We did get ourselves and Lady Elanor in Actons Lock and was all for pushing on to get on the Hertford Union Canal but with a space right next to Victoria Park it was to good an opportunity to miss by not grabbing it. It's probably a good job we did because our engine over heating problems have resurfaced again. After several phone calls to various company's, Ian eventually managed to get some sort of answer from Marine Engine Services. They suggested the pump was at fault and to check the impellers for wear and tear. So now, while I go off exploring Victoria Park, Ian has his head stuck down the engine hole trying to remove the pump. We may well be here for a few days!

Moored by Victoria Park.

And finally:-

Billy no mates!

The trouble one has finding a mooring!

Having moored last night on the Tesco 24 hour moorings and then noticed it was a Tesco 24 open all hours store and then suddenly realising, after we had moored and settled down to our meal, that a small plastic cruiser in front of us had a generator, which, incidently, he started up and kept going well into the late evening, we started to wish that we had turned right through Bulls Bridge Junction and found a more peaceful mooring. With little sleep to be had because of lorry deliveries, generator noise, car noise and motorbikes roaring at all times of the night we got up very early, did a early Tesco shop and was away before you could say Jack Robinson. Paddington was a good 13 miles away and we hoped to reach our destination before lunch. We have always held the theory that moorings would become available between 11am and noon. There was no chance of reaching Little Venice before lunch as it seemed the nearer we got to Paddington the more continues moorers were around. Mile upon mile of static boats with rubbish piled along the route. Ian had another theory. The boats that were evicted from the Bow Back Rivers because of the Olympics had now found another place to stay and mess up the towpath! Anyway, as we expected Little Venice was chocker block. Not a space to be had with most boats doubled up. Onwards then into Paddington basin and right by the bridge 'ole... a space.  We did overhang the 'ole somewhat but assumed boats would be able to get by. Ian wasn't happy though, and off he went to see if any of the pontoons were free. Eureka. Ian came back to say two of the inner pontoons were empty so we hastily made our way further into the basin, winded, and by 2pm we were finally moored. We did have one slight issue with these moorings. No grass for Jade to go and do her hurry ups on, being all concrete paving. Nothing for it but to have a walk to see if we could find a dog friendly area. Sure enough 100yds away and having to cross two main roads, we found a small park with a dog bin. Result. We returned to the boat just in time before the forecasted rain appeared. I feel so sorry for those boaters who are still coming down the arm looking for a mooring. They wont have a hope in hell of getting moored up before Victoria Park on the Regents canal!

Not sure if the bridge 'oles are tall enough

A glimpse of Wembly stadium

Duck weed covers the canal all the way into Little Venice

Ian walking Jade back. We are moored furthest away, middle section of the pontoon

And finally:-

Fledgeling Heron

With what I assumed was one of it's parents nearby

Green Veined White

Comma butterfly

As above

A meeting takes place

It is so nice when fellow bloggers put themselves out so that a meet and greet can take place. We had been in contact with Sue and Richard (Indigo Dream) and had arranged to meet them along the GU after Brentford before we turned off at Bulls Bridge. The original plan was for Indigo Dream and Matilda Rose, with Jill and Graham, to leave Teddington on Sunday's tide and arrive at Thames lock in Brentford later in the day. So as far as we were concerned 2 boats would arrive sometime either Sunday or Monday and we found a good mooring by the Fox Pub ready for when they arrived. So I was somewhat confused when I received a communication from Richard to say they would be with us on Sunday morning and would be bringing breakfast. The timing would depend on the road closures due to a bike race that was following the Olympic route taken last year. Now that did confuse me! What would road closures have to do with bringing two boats along the GU? Turns out the plan had changed somewhat and instead of arriving by boat they would come by car! Now for me that was something very special. To make the effort of still coming to see us especially when Richard and Andy had to go and fetch their cars, was humbling. When they did arrive in Richard and Sue car  they came with 5 of their lovely hounds, as well as Jill and Graham and Sarah and Andy ( you may know them by a blog called Dogs on Tour.) Breakfast consisted of yummy hot bread and cheese with two different sorts of jams made by Sues fair hand. I make vast quantities of tea and coffee's and for at least two hours we all sat in the sunshine outside the boat enjoying good company and great conversation.There was much hilarity when one of the hounds helped himself to some of my banana cake set out on our small table. Just the right head height and much to much of a temptation not to help himself ( Not sure which hound as they all look very similar ) Jade seemed quite indifferent to 5 hounds invading her space, after all there was too many willing hands to feed her titbits.Thanks for a really lovely morning and hope to meet you all again in the future.

From L to R Jill, Graham, Andy, Sue (at the back) Richard (sitting down) Sarah and Ian. Apart from Jade in the front all the hounds looked the same. I only recognised Ty because of his lovely bright green bandage on his back leg!

After peace resumed and washing up done, we decided to make tracks and get Hanwell flight out of the way. Bulls bridge was our destination and even though we travelled up the flight very slowly with 2 girls on their live aboard residential boat who, incidentally, had only ever done a few locks in the two years of owning the boat, and meeting a drunkard in the top lock who couldn't steer the boat in a straight line which, consequently, meant he kept crashing into the lock walls before he managed to finally get out of the lock, we finally moored by the Tesco 24 hour moorings after 2 hours of travel. The sun is still shinning and we are enjoying a cool beer. Tomorrow we head for Paddington.

First lock on the Hanwell flight

And this syringe stuck to the lock wall!

Passing Reckless from the TV program. I asked the new owner if much work had to be done. He said most of the interior has now been burnt in his stove!

Going up with newbe lockers!

The girl steering couldn't see over the top. No wonder she kept asking for help from her friend.

The now demolished Bulls bridge facility block. A temporary Elsan disposal has been put in place near to the lock.

 This Budgie landed on the towpath and then nearly drowned itself when he tried to land in the water. Thankfully he managed to take off again but an escapee from his cage I think!

And finally:-

Gatekeeper butterfly

Ladybird nymph

Ladybird pupa

Lady pupa in its moult