Victoria Park to Uxbridge

27th May
After our efforts the previous day we were a bit slow to get started, especially as it was raining heavily again. So, a hearty breakfast of porridge, and off into the rain. The lock sides seemed particularly slippery, so we worked slowly and steadily. Coming through Camden was in complete contrast to the huge crowds of the bank holiday Monday.

By the time that we had got to Sainsbury's at Kensal Green the rain had abated, and I went to get supplies. It's huge, and I don't really like supermarkets that I don't know, I can never find what I'm looking for.

After Hampstead Road Lock (Camden Lock), there are no more locks until Cowley, a distance of some 19 and a half miles.

Boat Andrina - two boats bolted together

When there are no locks I often end up doing the steering, but this time we took it in turns, sometimes with the other one sitting on the roof so that we could talk. At one point there was a green woodpecker grubbing in the towpath, as we approached it flew on, its yellow rump flashing as it took off. It settled, then seeing us approaching again it flew on another 50 or so yards. This happened several times until it finally realised that it could end up going a long way if it kept to those tactics, and it circled off to the right.

We eventually got to Uxbridge, and I was completely exhausted after the previous day, so we moored outside the General Elliott, and let them do the cooking for us.

Locks: 8 , Distance: 25.6 miles
Total Locks: 106 , Total Distance: 131.4 miles