Hertfordshire, UK
We are on our way back up the Grand Union Canal, currently awaiting the arrival of friends to have a Sunday lunch at The Crystal Palace Pub. Mick and Kendra are heading back to Port Townsend this week with their daughter Rose, after a reportedly lovely few days in Paris celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. So Chris and Sue, their daughter Sam and grandson Riley, are bringing the others to Berkhamsted for a final catch up before they leave the country. I guess we are all blessed that travel and communications technology keep us close despite physical distance.
Today is also Father’s Day in Australia. So Bob is having a well earned drink – in celebration of his role as both Dad and Stepdad to 6 fantastic children. And 3 (nearly 4) grandchildren!!!
We arrived here yesterday, having left Watford Thursday afternoon. Watford was a great place to sit and relax and catch up on doing our tax return, general boat maintenance and other duties. We also had a good look around Cassiobury Park. It is brilliant to see so much green space being preserved in this small country, and witness it being enjoyed by so many.
Bob’s eye specialist appointment on Thursday held mixed results. His eye pressure and inflammation are down considerably thanks to the cocktail of medications and careful monitoring. However there is now a small problem with the cornea so the addition of some ointment to the treatment regime and we will be back to see them again next Thursday!!! More research required into the transport system and availability of cost effective means of transport!!!
We are now able to share the driving and the locks taking the physical, mental and emotional pressure off a bit. Bron drove for most of the last 3 days quickly learning how to manouever Celtic Maid in and out of locks, on and off mooring sites, and (mostly) around obstacles such as oncoming boats, trees, floating debris, bridges and moored boats. We have been told many times that this is a contact sport and we have come to believe it. We now see the scratches on our beautiful boat a bit like our wrinkles – evidence of the life we have lived and adventures we have thrived through!!!!
We have again met some lovely people. We traveled most of yesterday sharing a dozen or so locks with NB Moody Blues and its crew – Jane and Michael. Bob and Michael took care of all the locks, the swing bridge and finding moorings, while Bron and Jane swapped storied at the tiller. It always helps to share the locks and is always a pleasure to do so with such friendly and interesting people. We do hope our paths cross again very soon.
Once we arrived in Berkhamsted we took a walk to identify the pub serving the best Sunday roast lunch. Along the towpath (where the best pubs are located of course) we met a couple in their boat enjoying a glass of Prosecco in the afternoon sun. We had quite a chat with Derek and Jane aboard Galliard before we continued our walk to The Rising Sun for a quiet drink. As we returned via The Boat we found them still there and now joined by a woman, who was gardening nearby, now enjoying a crisp Villa Maria Suavignon Blanc with them. Rude not to join in!! And soon Lucy moored up with a little help from the fellas. The towpath community is a diverse and vibrant one!!!!!
So we await our friends, anticipating another lovely day. And there are lots more fun days planned!!!!
The gallery includes a few photos of rare birds and new friends – we hope you enjoy!!