Warning – this archive may be boring – do not read unless you really haven’t got anything better to do!

Waterways: Regent’s Canal; Lea and Stort Navigations

APRIL – JUNE 2007

9/4/07

Easter Monday – nice day but a chilly breeze here as always – must be to do with the river.

Welcomed Gill and Nick, the Baileys (x4) and Agnieska and Marek (from Poland) on board. Boat was full but our extra-long drinking decks coped well. Went as far as Hackney – shame the pub opposite the weir isn’t better. We ate at a fine italian restaurant called La Figa, on Narrow Street. As the others drifted home, we finished the evening drinking coffee and eating dessert at the deli across the square from the restaurant.

This is our last weekend at Limehouse – we’re sad to leave. Richard, in particular, as enjoyed it here. Looking forward to our new moorings in Northolt – hope they open soon!

15/4/07

Wonderful day’s cruise from Limehouse to Paddington. Weather was amazing – so warm, probably the warmest of the year.

Welcomed on board Simon W and 5 year old son Justin, who was very well-behaved and seemed to enjoy cruising (to the relief of all!)

We found a good visitor mooring in Paddington ready to welcome mum and Sybil the pekingese on board on Tuesday.

17/4/07

Welcomed mum and sybil on board – very swanky to be able to pick them up from Paddington station straight onto the boat (the basin is just behind the station).

It is lovely here – quiet in the basin but close to town, transport and amenities. Security guards patrol the towpath every 15 minutes or so – it feels so secure. We’re off for a wander round London later and what a choice of places we can reach from here. Shame that there are so few boating amenities this end of the basin – having said that, the water and rubbish point at Little Venice are hardly far away. There’s aren’t any permanent moorings right in the basin but if they ever did develop them we’d be straight in the queue!

18/4/07

Another fine day. Relaxing morning with nice lie-in then we went for a walk around London.

Had an immense wander – all the way down Regent’s Street to Piccadilly, through St James’ Park then along Victoria Embankment up to Covent Garden before finally catching the tube at Tottenham Court Road! Luckily we didn’t have the greyhounds – for one, they wouldn’t have been the least bit interested in such a marathon walk; for second, there were people walking some ferrets on a lead in St James’ Park – there would have been carnage! Sybil was in her stroller (like a baby’s buggy but for pets) – she surveyed the whole of London from her lofty position and acted like visiting royalty!

19/4/07

Another fine day’s cruise from Paddington to Limehouse. Interesting bits of London and always plenty to see. Dogs a bit out of sorts after the train journey in to London though they were very good. They enjoyed rummaging around Victoria Park.

20/4/07

Interesting trip from Limehouse Basin to Waltham Abbey – mixture of dereliction, acive industrial and managed countryside. this evening we had a perfect mooring just about Waltham Abbey Town Lock – it is in a large stretch of parkland – perfect for dogs.

Had a few problems with malfunctioning electric locks today but BW very efficient. Met lots of greyhounds and greyhound enthusiats – always a good thing.

21/4/07

Waltham Abbey – Hertford

Had a nice wander around Waltham Abbey – ancient town with old crooked buildings and a myriad of small shops and a lively saturday market. Burial place of King Harold and fine church. Magnificent parkland round the canal.

Fine stretch of canal to Hertford – surrounded by the Lea River Park so great dog walking and beautiful scenery.

Hertford irself a bit disappointing – not picturesque from the water and not tempting enough for a walk teh following morning.

22/4/07

Hertford – Harlow Mill

We welcomed Danusia on board with her latest date Martin the first (long story!). Picked them up neatly just between Hertford and Ware.

DO NOT stop at the Rye House pub – terrible food and the worst service ever. Is permanently black-marked in our copy of Nicholson’s!

Turned into the Stort navigation – amazingly rural considering that we’re not that far from London! Typically narrow and winding river navigation though wide-beams can navigate here – glad we didn’t meet one! Lots of good dog walking here as well.

Good Beefeater pub by Harlow Mill Lock, also a Permier hotel – may be useful when we have guests on board who’d prefer a proper bed (rather then our bed-settee). Had a good supper here – good antidote to the terrible lunch!

23/4/07

Harlow Mill to/from Bishop’s Stortford

The Stort Navigation continued to wind its way through some lovely countryside. It was quiet and tranquil the whole way with NO other boats!

Bishop’s Stortford was a lot bigger than we expected with a lot of good shops and a large modern shopping mall. Has a large Sainsbury’s within easy reach of the water. Could only spare half an hour here but it would be good place to spend a day.

The greyhounds have been very active today – they’ve run all over the place and been wide awake all day (this is rare!). Lou is now exhausted but Blue is still going strong.

24/4/07

Harlow Mill – Cheshunt

Another fine day of cruising – made it back to Cheshunt in good time. Dogs lively again – they’ll sleep for a week when they get home!

Richard and the dogs went home by train – we had a particularly good mooring spot not far from Cheshunt Station. He’ll bring the car back later and we’ll take mum, Sybil and associated stuff back (too complicated by train). If he can park in the car park adjacent to the boat then this will be a perfect spot.

4/5/07

Cheshunt to Waltham Abbey

Welcomed Liam and Lena aboard. Short trip down to Cheshunt to take advantage of good dog walking and convenient town. Pubs a bit disappointing but ate at a fine chinese. Nearby there was a great looking italian restaurant – fully booked! Must try there another time.

5/5/07

Waltham Abbey – Limehouse Basin

Good day’s cruising with ballast provided by Richard’s shopping trip to Waltham Abbey’s wealth of small shops. Lunch was particularly fine – barbecue featuring sausages from a great butcher in town.

Good dog walking on this stretch – lots of freedom to roam around the locks.

Had mini pub-crawl from the ‘Narrow’ to the ‘Grapes’ – the Grapes wins on atmosphere and dog-friendliness. Then we went on to eat at our favourite italian restaurant – La Figa.

Robyn, the manager at Limehouse, is always very good to us and managed to find us a pontoon mooring so that we could on/off-load dogs safely. The wall mooring is a bit high making it positively hazardous to get them on and off – they’ll just about jump off but getting them back on involves a wrestling match!

6/5/07

Limehouse Basin – Paddington Basin

Another fine day despite rain forecast. Jounrey of such contrasts through London.

Finally saw the African Hunting Dogs at London zoo – they are so big and utterly beautiful. Can’t imagine rubbing their tummies and coming away with my hand though!

Also reversed right down City Road Basin for a look – hadn’t realised how big it was. Am surprised that it hasn’t been developed for mooring – would be desirable spot just at the back of the Angel.

Camden locks looking particularly seedy today – multitude of drunks and drug dealers.

Was a canal cavalcade in Little Venice – great array of boats and Liam did a great job of steering his way through them. Despite the crowds we still managed to get a mooring towards the far end of Paddington Basin (our usual spot). Nice lot of stalls at the Cavalcade – money spent!!!!!

11/5/07

Welcomed cousin Paul and his partner Elaine today – another swanky pick-up from Paddington Station. Had a lovely time. Did a short cruise down to St Pancras and back. Horrible weather though – cold and wet but they had a good time anyway. Elaine was particularly entranced – boating really grabs some people but leaves other completely cold. I hope they’ll come again.

Another good evening meal at Tarboosh, our favourite Lebanese restaurant on Edgeware Road.

18/5/07

Lots to celebrate today – 1 year since Indigo Dream was launched, my birthday yesterday and my friend Andrew’s new job. He joined us for a celebration cruise and as he’s a bit of a champagne afficionado a good time was had by all! We cruised to Camden lock and back – usual rotten weather in the evening despite the fact that it had been nice during the day. At least it kept the champagne chilled!

5/6/07

Got Matthew on board today for a meeting and cruised to St Pancras (where he could catch a train back to Derby!).

He seemed to have a thoroughly good time. Weather glorious so great day in all.

20/6/07

EDF cruise from Paddington to City Road Basin – good time had by all. Ate at the Narrowboat pub – people who had the fish weren’t well so don’t order that if you go there!

We left the boat at City Road Basin – was fine there – felt secure there despite (or maybe because) there were lots of people around. BW gave us permission to squat in Paddington Basin for a few months because of delays in opeing our new mooring at Engineers Wharf in Northolt – cool! However, there’s a ‘dragon boat’ race there at the weekend so we have to clear the moorings for a short while.

23/6/07

Moved boat from City Road to Limehouse Basin. We want to do a few cruisies round the Bow Back Rivers before they shut down the waterways at the beginning of July (5 YEAR closure for the Olympics work apparently!).