Ralph from River and Canal Rescue was back at 8.15am and quickly fitted the replacement Bowman Cap that provided one of the cooling water connections. The engine was fired up but for ten minutes there was no pressure in the system and no cooling water could get to the engine. Eventually with a bit of ‘fiddling’ here and their especially opening up the mud box the water began to gush and cool the engine.
So along with ‘New Chapter’ we chugged away from sleepy Marsworth at 9.20am.
It was obviously once one of the real centres of canal history. But in 2010 it is peaceful and quite. We were actually moored nearer Startops End, a separate village which is small with no shops but two pubs.
One boat had recently gone through which was bad news as the rest of the Marsworth climb of six locks were likely to be set against us. As they say ‘no problem…. No rush’
As we climb through today’s Marsworth six locks taking up some 42 feet (it doesn’t sound much) a lots of the way on the right are reservoirs.
These are essential features of any canal system. Here there are three of them and nowadays electric pumps pull a daily average of four millions of water to the Tring Summit to provide water for the locks using the stretch. The Tringford Pumping Station does all this work.
Immediately above Marsworth Top Lock is Bulbourne Junction where the Wendover Arm loins the Grand Union. This six mile branch was initially built to bring water supplies to the summit and was later developed into a full canal. Thanks to the efforts of the local preservation society a good part of the ‘old’ line has been restored. Another trip for another year!
There are a series of British Waterways buildings oppositite the junction and a famous old dry dock.
and for the first few hundred yards of the summit the canal is lined with boats on both sides
Now we are at the Tring Summit the canal will start its descent on its way to the Thames at Brentford. It is now downhill all the way.
But first Hallmark and New Chapter will have a three cruise from Bulbourne Junction through the amazing Tring Cutting. This runs between Marsworth Top Lock (45) and Cowroast Lock (46). The cutting actually takes the canal over the chalk edge of the Chilterns The cutting is reported to have taken five years to build (with picks and shovels) and the maximum depth is 30 feet.
As the canal emerges from the cutting you get views towards the beech woods such as below. For quite a distance the River Bulbourne runs into and alongside the canal.
First then we get to Cowroast Lock and then we have a steady procession of locks down to Berkhamstead.
Brkhamstead is no canal side village. It is a large town which has taken trouble to make the canal’s appearance important.. There are a lot of plaques explaining the canal history as you walk along the tow path
The moorings are almost full. There is one spot left so Hallmark is moored alongside New Chapter for the night.
After a bit of tidying up and a ‘wash and brush’ up I set off for the town to find an internet connection and a place to eat. I find both. The internet connection in the public library is very good and I manage to charge my camera batteries too.
Yes a great day. I decide to do a half day tomorrow and have another look at Berkhamstead and post some more blogging!
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