The End is Nigh

Another hot day started with a walk around Waltham Common with the dogs. It was getting hotter by the minute and the dogs charged about for a bit but after a while, enjoyed exploring the shade.

Dogs enjoying a good sniff about

We had breakfast and then I went off to the nearby shop to get a few provisions while Angela made Banjo ship shape. I returned after 20 minutes with only Coke and fruit juice but no water or milk - we may be on dry cereal tomorrow morning!

We were moored right outside the venue for the Olympic white water venue

We set off and almost immediately caught up with a small narrowboat moving incredibly slowly. We were not far off the next lock and so decided to stay behind them, share the lock and then move off ahead of them. As it turned out, they thought the same, since they only had a small engine and were happy to drift along enjoying the scenery. So, we went through the lock and then said farewell to them. The next lock was set against us and by the time we had closed the top gates and emptied the lock, the slow boat caught up with us again. We repeated this for another couple of locks, and enjoyed one trip down the weed hatch, before finally leaving them behind as they intended to moor up.

I finally gave in to the heat and donned a silly hat

Soon we arrived in Broxbourne, which has a row of very nice houses, and lots of small hired motor boats, large trip boats and pedalos to avoid.

Broxbourne houses and beautiful gardens

Angela jumped ship at Cartagena Lock and walked along the towpath with the dogs, to meet up again at Dobbs Weir Lock.

Dogs looking surprised to see me passing by

Amazing array of vegetation

We made our way through Dobbs Weir and passed the location of our first mooring of this trip, just over 3 weeks ago, starting to feel a bit sad that tonight would be our last of this trip. We decided to stop at the Fish and Eels pub for a drink, and a prawn cocktail and were fortunate to be able to moor directly outside.

Lola and Anushka enjoying the shade under our table at the pub

Refreshed, we headed for the last lock on the River Lee before turning onto the River Stort. It was good to be back on the Stort which is a really pretty river, twisting and turning beneath willows and passing through some lovely countryside. We passed through the narrow bridges in Roydon and then reached Roydon Lock. There was a boat on the lock landing which appeared to be waiting to the lock, and so we drifted about waiting for it to move off so that we could land. After a few minutes a delightful Irish man appeared and told us that he would operate the lock for us as a group of children were using the lock as a swimming pool and he wanted to fill it up again for them. He did just that and said that we should look him up as his boat has a web page - http://www.pentargon.webs.com/. After we left, the crowd of damp boys who had been patiently waiting leaped back in.

Roydon swimming baths beautifully captured by Angela

We decided that we would stop for the night out in the country between Roydon and Hunsdon, only a short distance upstream from here, hoping to use a spot we have used a few times before.

How on earth did this get through the low and narrow bridges in Roydon?

Alas our favourite spot was taken by another boat, but we found another place a short distance further along. The only problem here is that the railway is pretty close and must have a "sound horn" sign somewhere close!

Tonight's mooring

Banjo's solar lights look quite striking here in the country

So, tonight, having watched the final of the Apprentice, we will bed down for our last night. We have 3 locks left to pass through before we reach the marina, which will not take long, and will then have to tidy up and take everything off the boat etc. It will be good to be home, but a little sad to leave our compact little maritime world.....