Monday was another Bank Holiday in Belgium, so back for another long weekend - I could get used to this. :-) Plenty of lightning bolts and torrential rain between Berkhamsted and Tring, but back to sunshine and dry roads at Linslade.
Fri May 9th - 2 miles, 5 furlongs, 2 locks - Linslade to The Grove Total cruising time 1 hour 25 minutes. Set off from the Globe at 6.35pm, stopped briefly at Tescos to get some milk, and through Grove lock by 8.20pm. Tied up just beyond the lock moorings and walked back to the Globe to retrieve my car. Too late for food at the pub by the time I got back, so contented myself with a couple of pints and a bag of crisps. Sat May 10th - 9 miles, 6 furlongs, 17 locks - The Grove to Wendover Arm Total cruising time 7 hours. Early start at 6.00am to drive the car to Marsworth before walking back along the cut to The Grove. I'd just finished a light breakfast and started the engine at 8.30am, when I heard the paddles being wound on the lock behind me. As it happens there was only a single boat in the lock, so we were able to share locks all the way to Marsworth (they were heading down the Aylesbury Arm). Through Ivinghoe locks by 10.30am, Seabrook by 11.30am and arrived at Marsworth Junction at 12.30pm. I stopped on the water point to top off the tanks and dispose of some rubbish. Left there at 1.45pm for the Marsworth 7, arriving at the top at 3.45pm. Went to the end of the Arm to wind before arriving back at the festival site at 4.54pm, and trying to find somewhere to moor with a bit of depth. After half a dozen attempts I found somewhere that I could get within a gangplanks length of the bank. Used the full complement of mooring pins to try and stop Arun moving before the festival. Bow rope forwards, stern rope backwards, centre rope sideways to a third pin. Fourth pin driven at an angle through the hoop of the third to try to lock it in place. Spring line from Bow T-stud to these pins and on to stern dolly. Fifth pin through the woodpecker hole in the gangplank to stop it sliding down the bank. Locked up and walked back to Marsworth before driving back to Chris' for the remainder of the weekend. Terry Streeter NB Arun - Wendover Arm
