The London 2010 trip commences

Phase one - getting to Thrupp

Calf Heath to Boggs Lock

24th July 2010

3 miles - 2 locks, 2 hours

Index of posts in this series:
1. - Getting started - this post
2. - Gailey to Kings Bromley
3. - Kings Bromley to Atherstone
4. - Atherstone to Rugby
5. - Rugby to Napton
6. - Napton to Banbury
7. - Banbury
8. - Banbury to Thrupp
9. - Thrupp to Abingdon
10. - Northern Pride
11. - Abingdon
12. - Abingdon to Mapledurham
13. - Maledurham Watermill
14. - Mapledurham to Windsor
15. - Windsor to Hampton Court
16. - Hampton Court
17. - Hampton Court to Brentford
18. - Kew Gardens
19. - Brentford to Norwood
20. - Norwood to Kings Langley
21. - Kings Langley to Berkhampstead
22. - Hemel Hempstead

Every journey starts with a first step, and so it was today.

We have an ambitious target to reach London via the Oxford Canal and the Thames and then climb back up to the Tring summit of the Grand Union in two weeks, handing over to the ultra reliable Mr Whateley who will bring Wand'ring Bark the rest of the way home.

Wand'ring Bark at Gailey

The day was spent at Tilly's school, watching her sing and receive a special award then returning to the boat which we moved two locks down the Gailey flight to a quiet spot away from the A5 and the M6.

Whilst boating is an inherently tranquil activity, my experience suggests that getting ready to go away is a frantic whirl of activity. Packing loads of clothes we probably wont need, piles of food which will disappear in a few days and lots of repair kit that we hope we will never use.

Tilly

We deposited all our stuff on WB 1st thing in the morning, before driving to Derbyshire and then adding a huge pile of Tilly's stuff when we got back. All this activity meant that departure was delayed till gone 5.00 and we got started just as everyone else was stopping.

As I said, every long journey has to start with a single turn of the screw but at last we are off.