We woke up this morning Apsley and now we are blogging from Hemel Hempsted. We travelled 7 clicks (2 miles and 5 locks), with Elizabeth lock winding and riding Blossom and Pete driving Bella. It took us just under two hours, if we don't count the time it took to take on water, put off waste and go shopping at Sainsbury's. When we got to Hemel and did a bit of unpacking and putting food away, Elizabeth took the train from Hemel to Apsley to collect Reg (the car). 3 minute train journey. 15 minute drive. 5 minutes walk each side from boat to station, station to car. All in all, 28 minutes to walk, train, walk and drive from Apsley to Hemel. Ah, canal time is wonderful!
If we had just walked and trained and driven, we would not have had the hoot of a time helping Clara (Marsworth) and her crew through the Fishery lock. We would never have met the guy, having just acquired his new boat, who teaches art and drama to adults with special needs. Elizabeth would not have had the joy of three little boys having so much fun at the Sainsbury's lock and helping open and close the gates. And we wouldn't have noticed the horses on the common, the cows not sure of whether it would rain or not, the duck with her brood of 10, or realised we were back with the moorhen family we last saw a month ago. Ah, canal time. Wonderful.
