Winkwell to Stockers

(Posted by Cath)
Winkwell to Stockers
A sunny day, Alan was up early, and took Charlie for his first walk. We ate breakfast and then set off around 9:00 am. I walked Charlie from Winkwell down to Apsley - although he pulled constantly the whole way. He's been taught to walk to 'heel', which he's generally pretty good about, but he's so excited by being on the boat, and walking down the towpath that he's constantly pulling ahead.

Unlike yesterday we were largely on our own, we caught up with a couple of boats, but neither stayed with us for long. After Charlie was back on the boat we got one of the folding bikes off, which allowed us to get the locks ready. It meant that we both got quite a lot of exercise, although Alan is - not surprisingly - still a little nervous about getting on a bike.

Going through Hunton Bridge with a cheerful group of people who'd hired a local community boat for the day.



At Common Moor


We did quite a lot of miles, and a lot of locks, on a hot day. We walked a lot, and cycled a lot. By the time we got to Stocker's Lock, just south of Rickmansworth we were quite tired, so moored up with a plan to take Charlie for a good walk. It was only too late that we realised that David, our son, is planning to meet up with us tomorrow, not on Monday, which means that we really should have pressed on south for another hour or so. It's going to be hard to get to Paddington to meet up with him, and we'll have to set off early.

We took Charlie for a long walk around the lakes that are only just a short distance from the canal. We've moored here many times, but have only just discovered the lakes - as a direct result of having a dog.

Winkwell to Stockers
Miles: 12.4, Locks: 23
Total Miles: 23.0 , Total Locks: 47