Somewhat belated write up but here it is. We left home on the first Sunday of the holiday. This was to be our hardest day with 16 locks and just over 8 miles. Very different to the first day of our last boating holiday when we managed from Tring Station to the bottom of Stoke Bruern in one hit with Simon single handing most of the way. Weather was kind and we found ourselves moored almost at the bottom of the Maffers flight before too long. We do find though that the anti-vandal locks on all the gates between Berkhamsted station and Northchurch really do slow you down. Had a very nice snack in the Anglers Retreat and discussed Xmas day plans with our friends. In the evening my sister and her boyfriend came to visit, too late for food at the pub so they got a store cupboard special and presents were exchanged.
Christmas Eve .... Shock horror .... no boating. We stayed put. Worked hard on cleaning the boat up and tidying up the ravages of the previous week's party season. How can two people and one cat be so messy in one week????? Had an early night after another visit to the Anglers. We like that pub lots. Christmas Day. Rain, rain and more rain. Fry up breakfast and checked on arrival time of our friends on their boat. Turkey was delivered by one of the crew and we got to work on prepping dinner. Eventually went down the final lock, used the services and then tied up alongside Casablanca who were facing south. Friends turn up. Much ferrying of food and drink and pressies from car. Many attempts to get Casablanca's engine started. Much to everyone's relief it spluttered into life on the final attempt before the starter battery gave up. We untied and pottered very very slowly into the top lock of the Marsworth two giving Casablanca a chance to wind and catch us up. Dropped down the two, round the corner and moored up. Yep, a whole three locks and less than a mile in one day. We are looking forward to being able to boat like this when we are retired. Slap up Christmas dinner and everyone too stuffed to move although three of us managed to crank some volume out of the CD player and dance off some of the excesses a bit later. Boxing Day. A quick pootle down to Grebe, a naughty wind, and then back up the two locks before retiring to the Anglers for a swift couple. Very nice. The day after. Another easy day, just up the flight to Bulbourne. Visited the GJA but it was very quiet, not how it used to be. Went home early. Friday. Back home in reasonable weather to go out for a curry with the Jannocks and J & Caro on Parglena. A nice end to a very relaxing Xmas boating break. Debbi nb TIAMI
