Lee and Stort

I have been spending the last few days pottering around on the Lee and walking to some of the places that I haven't managed to cruise to. On Thursday I went to the gunpowder mills at Waltham Abbey. It has lots to interest children including a room full of various types of gun. Anyway I now know how gunpowder was made and I was especially interested in the social history. Yesterday I had a look around Roydon on the Stort. Lots of river cruisers up this way, alongside canoeists and little dinghies. Once I went beyond the M25 the river took on the ambience of holiday resorts. Lots of people sitting by their boats having picnics and drinking wine. Today I visited Ware for the first time. It is a sweet little place with many historical buildings. I might go back to spend some more time tomorrow. The train along here is very convenient as it accompanies the river meaning that a longer walk can be taken with return trip by train.

Up the Lee

Today I started off up the Lee. The weather wasn't perfect but it was mostly dry with little wind and I was getting stir crazy. Luke offered to come with me to ensure I was happy with these locks and he stayed until lunchtime. We were going to go to the pub at Ponders End but the guy there was so condescending that we went to a cafe instead. Neither Luke nor I like to be spoken to as if we are children! ! Perhaps he was having a bad day but customer service is everything. After lunch Luke cycled back to his boat,I lit a lovely cosy fire and settled down with a book.

Bit of a soggy day for a launch

I was back on board for a launch today. This was not the launch of a floating vessel but that of Luke's new business, The Record Deck, a floating emporium of vinyl goodies. Lots of very nice, friendly people turned out to support him and trade was brisk. Perhaps he won't starve after all. In fact he made a very nice rhubarb crumble and tasty fruit salad to sustain the shoppers. I hope it will be a little warmer and drier tomorrow.

Lee navigation

So I have made it to the Lee but can't say I like it much. Everyone tells me that the Stort is beautiful so I will have to persevere. Yesterday I moored at Victoria Park. I was lucky to find a good spot and I got help from the lovely Max from the boat in front of me. I walked through the whole park and also had a wander around the Olympic Park. While I was there we had a short lived storm so I sheltered in the cafe by the Big Red Thing. Later I went to Broadway Market to get Luke some coffee beans. Today I found CRT working on the first lock with some rapid drying cement. They said I could go through in an hour so I had another little walk around the park and was ready to go at 10. I find the locks on this stretch a pain as the bottom gates keep opening. Also it was quite windy today so Olivia wasn't as well behaved as usual. However the folks around here are always willing to help so that's a very good result. As I am moored right opposite Luke's marina I know there are two cafes nearby and I am off shortly to get some lunch.

Making the most of it

The engineer was busy until 4pm so I made the most of being in the area, exploring all the recent developments which have transformed the feel of what was a depressed area. I had a wander around Camley natural park that I have,for many years, seen from the train aa it slows into St Pancras. It's an oasis of calm. Central St Martins also looks fantastic and the presence of students milling around is refreshing.

I also went to the Comics Unmasked exhibition at the British Library. My good old Art Pass (plus my seniority) made it an affordable punt. There was enough to interest and inform me and I whiled away a couple of hours.

Lineus arrived and confirmed that the faulty pressure cap was a contributory factor (it had exploded a week ago and I have one on order). He also tightened the V belt which I check regularly and hadn't thought it was loose. Seems it needs attention at least twice a year. I'd have a go at doing it myself but it's a bit awkward. When Lineus went I walked to Islington and beyond (as far as Kingsland basin).

Aren't boaters brilliant

I have had two boats breasted up so I got help from my good friend Rose and middle boat occupant Grace to extricate Olivia. We then had to reverse through the bridge hole and around the cafe boat so that I could turn up thr Regent's canal. This is new cruising territory for me and is of interest throughout. On reaching Camden Locks I discovered that the poor old boat was overheating. We had got through two locks but needed to tie up and let her cool down. We took the opportunity of a short walk to suss out mooring spots. On our return a boat was preparing the third lock so I asked if I could share with them but needed to walk boat through. This is when I reaffirmed that boaters are brilliant because Nick and Carol offered to tow Olivia to Kings Cross where I was able to find a mooring for the night. I've just got to sort out the source of my overheating now.

Paddington Basin - full house

Last week nbChance put on their blog that they were Billy No Mates at Paddington Basin. Well they aren't now, it was rammed full. I was lucky and got a very nice spot at Little Venice although most boats are double and triple moored.

I was joined by Rose for an enjoyable trip down from Greenford. I can't believe how many more boats there are moored on the canal compared to my last trip 3 years ago. Boats are moored in all sorts of random places where no one would ever have moored back then. We found an interesting antiques and collectables centre not far from Lissom Grove and that kept us amused all afternoon.

Two very different days

Yesterday I was FREEZING while cruising. My hands were colder than they had been in December. I had to moor at the end of a string of boats and found myself moored right outside a noisy 24 hour factory. Anyway I had run short of time so had to put up with it. I met Luke on the South Bank and we had a meal before going to Udderbelly to see my niece's hubby's juggling troupe performing "Smashed". It was great fun and well attended. Luke came back with me to pick up some albums for his new venture, The Record Deck (a floating vinyl record emporium). In case you were wondering I had picked up one of his ebay purchases of albums. Today I met friends for a trip to Eltham Palace. Really worth the visit and we were so lucky with the weather. We finished the day with a meal at Cafe Rouge and I went back to my noisy mooring. Might stuff my ears with tissues tonight.