Sept 19-23 Away from
Annie
We popped home to see John's sister, Liz and Mike, as she has a
serious operation pending. We also saw friends and other family,
having a lovely day in Leicester, where we left the car, on our way
back to the boat. We found that there are TWO St Margarets train
stations in the London area, however: Oops!
Sunday 24 September St
Margarets Stanstead to Hertford (4 locks, 4.5 miles)
Up late after arriving at Annie on the last train at 11.30pm last
night! Tootled along through Ware to East Hertford. John winded Annie
and backed her up to the head of navigation, where 15' craft turn,
which surprised onlookers! We moored by the scenic riverside
cottages, by impressive allotments and very close to the town centre
for East Hertford. It was a pleasant adjunct to the main town, with
some nice buildings and quality shops.
Monday 25 September
Hertford to Ware (2 locks, 2 miles)
The weather forecast promised a glorious day, so we walked around
Hertford and had a coffee before setting off. The first lock was
slow, as one paddle was broken. Liana walked along the riverside walk
the 1 ¼ miles to the Hardmead Lock at Ware in the sun, spotting two
dead rats on the way. This is EA maintained, as it part of their
flood defence mechanism. We decided to moor on a short 40' visitor
mooring next to several trip boats. Walking into town, we saw St Mary
the Virgin church just as it started to rain. John lit candles for
ill relatives Liz and Ivan. A gentleman explained to us about the
pictures and stained glass in the style of Morris. After visiting
several charity shops, we decided to stay, as the weather was
worsening.
Tuesday 26 September
Ware down the Lee and up the Stort to above Harlow Lock (10 locks, 11
miles 3004 Engine hours)
The upper reaches of the Lee are wide and quite pretty. Reaching
Feilde Lock, we turned up the Stort and passed a large lake with a
lock and marina, by Brick Lock, with loads of boats, none moving. We
motored gently in the sun, finding it much narrower, very rural,
quite twisty and pretty, like many a midland canal. Harlow could
barely be glimpsed through the trees as we passed by. We moored ¾
mile above Harlow Lock, with pins in countryside as far from the
railway as we could.
Wednesday 27 September
¾ mile above Harlow Lock to Bishop Stortford (7 locks, 7 miles,
3008 Eh)
Another lovely day saw us travelling up river. We saw canoes near
Sheering Mill Lock. The river is very scenic hereabouts. We were
clearly following a boat, as all the locks were set against us – hi
ho, so we relaxed and enjoyed the trip, taking our time.
John left his aluminium windlass, found many years ago on a lock
balance beam in Stoke, and didn't realise for a couple of locks. We
live in hope! This cast a cloud, too, as the sky darkened and we
approached Bishop Stortford. John picked up plastic on the propeller
as he turned Annie in the shallow winding hole at the head of
navigation, where we moored to have a look at the town near the other
boaters on NB Rainbows End. It is pleasant enough, with plenty of
charity shops to peruse. Surrounded by modern flats, tv reception was
so so.
Thursday 28 September
Bishop Stortford down the Stort to Lower Lock (17 locks, 14 miles,162
litres @ 69p, 3015Eh)
After a wet night we set off at 7.15 and visited the services.
Rainbows End had clearly departed the night before after a quick turn
round, so we had to close bottom gates and fill each lock, in the Lee
Valley way … it became waterproofs and shower dodging down the
first six locks. Then we passed Rainbows End and asked them if they'd
found a windlass: “Yes!”, they replied. John was very grateful,
as he and it have done loads of locks together! Our luck had changed,
the next two locks were set for us, and the sun shone. The trip boats
had gone out from above Burnt Mill Lock, so then locks were against
us until we met them returning. We ate sandwiches on the go as it
turned into a beautiful afternoon. After 14 locks, we entered Royston
Village Marina through its own lock, crossed the large lake and
filled up with diesel at 69p at the marina services. After a coffee
at their cafe and a tour of the lake, we continued to below the last
lock, Lower Lock, below which we moored. Apart from a weed boat and
the trip boats, no other boat was moving on the Stort until three
residential boats headed up later: Had the enforcement officer been
about?
Friday 29 September
Lower Lock, River Stort to Lee Valley White Water Centre (6 locks, 6
miles)
Saturday 30 September
Lee Valley White Water Centre to Limehouse Basin (8 locks, 14 miles)
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