G.U. The Chilterns childhood memories.

A chilly morning requiring winter clothes yet again which transformed itself to a warm, sunny day later on as we worked our way through 5 double locks on our own, as traffic was light on the Grand Union today. It was very hard work but rewarded by stunning views of the Chilton hills.

I was born very close to Ivanhoe Beacon and Tring, an area we are currently passing through. I spent many hours fishing in the grand Union canal as a child, so this trip is like returning home to my childhood and is proving to be a very moving experience. After 5 tough locks I was physically and mentally exhausted, requiring a relaxing sleep for the afternoon. We have Seabrook locks ahead of us, overlooked by Ivanhoe Beacon and the chalk white lion cut into the hillside of Whipsnade Zoo.

We were joined for lunch at "Bluebells" café adjacent the bottom lock by Margaret and Bob, when the rain set in with a vengeance.

The Grand Union is currently short of water caused by leaking locks. Indeed, the pound in which we were moored last night dropped at least a foot before we got up. Luckily we had moored with loose ropes thus avoiding hanging by them as the water dropped, but we were on the canal bottom until a CART employee let some water down, also freeing at least two other similarly trapped boats.

We stopped for water and to empty the oblutions before the new Aylesbury Arm and moored for lunch at Bluebells cafe with Margaret and Bob, before heavy rain set in for the late afternoon/early evening. A quick inspection of Startops End Reservoir, only two thirds full, confirmed a water shortage for the canal. The water was crystal clear and the reservoir bottom easily observed. 6 more locks of the Marsworth flight to go before reaching Bulbourne Junction, where the Wendover Arm restoration project began, now almost half completed.