Day 111 and we were still in bed when a boat went past us going the same direction as us so we hoped someone would be equally keen in the other direction; but this wasn’t to be. Fortunately however we got off just ahead of a pair of boats who came off their mooring just behind us. At least we had the advantage of a couple of locks being set for us as we soon met some boats coming the other way. Our luck didn’t last and soon a single handed braodbeam pulled out just ahead of us. To be fair the young guy on it was skilled and very athletic so didn’t hold us up much, but nothing else came the other way for a long time. The first the pair of boats appeared as we were leaving each lock and helped with the gates, much as we appeared each time the broad beam was leaving a lock and helped him with the gates. We all stopped at Winkwell as we all wanted diesel and for some other services. Unfortunately when we got there there was a boat already on the service mooring who was getting diesel, having pump out and some welding and didn’t move on so we took it in turns to moor alongside him. To make sure no one came the other way and jump the queue we all moved through the swing bridge and moored opposite the marina. There was one boat going the other way so when we went through three boats passed through, the power you feel when you get to stop the traffic! J managed the expectations of the first car she stopped, fortunately he was a boater so understood. As we moored on the bridge mooring J looked out for other boats and opened the bridge for them; for which the two single handers were very grateful. We had a nice chat with them both whilst we waited. One American from Seattle who was in IT but now making his home here and seemingly embracing the British way of life. He had only had the boat (Apollo) for a month. The other single hander was a very well spoken guy called John. Once the broadbeam had done most of his services the boss of the boat yard decided to take all his staff to the pub for lunch, so in the end we were there for two and a half hours but we decided to press on to our planned mooring as we have been delayed too many times this week. We definitely needed the fuel as we took on 197 l the total tank size is about 240l. It seemed we were destined to be delayed, we met two pairs of breasted up boats when the lock was set for them, both pairs were moving very slowly and we came up behind another two broadbeams; the first was another single hander, fortunately he moored up quite quickly as he showed no inclination to shut the gates after him as he left the lock. Got to the moorings in Kings Langley as it started to rain. Moored in splendid solitude in the same spot as we used last year having been past many moored boats not long beforehand.

Day 112 and another boat going the same way as us came past as we were having a (relatively) late breakfast. They had about a 20 minute start on us and we weren’t able to catch them up, although we did see them on a mooring later in the day. Lots of gongoozlers today as it was Sunday, at one time J could see at least five people taking pictures as we went through one lock. At another the female members of a Muslim family were very interested and the lady J took to be the grandmother was apparently explaining, correctly judging by the gestures, how a lock worked to daughter and grandchildren (?). Saw another boat disappearing in the distance at one lock and caught them up two locks later when they had to wait for a couple of boats coming up. this was the only lock we got to share with them as they moored above our last lock into Rickmansworth. Found a mooring that was just long enough and set off for provisions. On the way back we stopped at a tea room (Cinnamon Square) we had noticed on our way to the supermarket. Really nice patisserie and big mugs of coffee.  As we were going to have to make bread tomorrow and the bread looked good we went to buy a loaf, but as they decided it was a bit old they gave it to us for free. Surprisingly quiet night.

Day 113 and a day of contrasts we left Rickmansworth at our normal sort of time and it was really quiet although we came across miles of moored boats through out the day. We overtook a hired broadbeam watering below one lock and managed to pass them, at the same time we were being followed by a broadbeam work boat. The stretch south of Rickmansworth is new ground for us and we were quite presently surprised by some of it and thoroughly depressed by other bits. We thought those who moored in the marina next to the sewage works must either be desperate or unable to smell anything. The locks were more widely spaced today so at least we both had a chance to sit down, which made a nice change after the last couple of days. The countryside disappears once you reach Uxbridge and from then on things get more and more dismal. Tried to moor at Bull’s bridge by the junction that takes the canal into central London but there was not enough space for us and no-one seemed to be on any of the boats of a suitable size for us to moor alongside so we pressed on to the top of Hanwell flight where there were supposed to be some moorings. They did exist but were full and J not keen even if there had been a space as someone chucked something into the water just behind us as we went past. Went down two locks with a boat called Morpheus which then turned around and went back up as had decided not to go any further as they, understandably as it was distinctly depressing and they were not planning on going onto the Thames. The duck weed was really thick and both boats struggled to get out of the first lock. We moored below the second lock. The best of a bad job. We had only been there about 10 minutes when we started to go aground and start tilting quite dramatically; the drawers were coming out on their own! D tried to push SH off whilst J went down to next lock to see if someone had left a paddle open. Found a boat coming up through the next lock. They had been running water though as they were stuck in the pound below. Our position somewhat rectified by letting the water out of the lock above us and then J emptied the lock once the boat going up had moved on. Think tomorrow morning might be challenging.