Upshot of that is that the gods certainly were showing us favour yesterday, as we found what must be one of THE best moorings in Lomdon. Wait til you see where we are, you will see what I mean mate.

I’ll text you the directions etc but basically if you drive to St Pancras International trail station and phone me, I will walk to you and show you where Tge Marina entrance is tucked away. FREE car park too which is rare around here. £10 a night it’s cost us, bargain I reckon.

C&A

I took the opportunity when in Leighton B to visit the Aldi store hoping to find a cheap car stereo to replace Morheus’ temperamental (sp?) one. No joy but I did buy a vehicle hose/broom Thimbu formwashing Morpheus down with, only a tenner, I’ll leave it under the cratch seating for others to share.

Not breaking any records or speed limits we pooled our resources and made great progress, all the way through Marsden mooring just below Cow Steak lock. The stretch from lock 44 to Tring station albeit just a few miles long was quite magical, one of those secret little gems that you find now and then that are behind you before you get to take it all in.

The Mysterious Suitcase!
We were just rebounding at the bottom of the Marsworth locks when we noticed a suitcase sat all alone right next to the lock gate. My aviation security expert training kicked in instinctively and I gave it a little tap with my boot. No explosion but it was heavily full, a womanise suitcase without a doubt.

We waited around for five minutes but no one appeared to claim the case and we needed to push on. I left my number with the Gerry who lives in one of those beautiful lockside cottages that we all coo over when passing and hauled the case aboard. I could and in hindsight should have left the case with Gerry but I had a gut feeling that the owner had met another boat there and was heading south ahead of us.

Not ten minutes had passed when the phone rang, it was my new mate Gerry. The lady who owned Tge case had just popped in to the Marina workshop and had completely forgotten her case back at the canalside. A kind chap from the Marina drove her to rendezvous at Tring rail station and case and owner were re-united. She was most grateful and says that anytime Morpheus owners pass Nb Nile, we are all invited aboard for a glass of wine. I must confess that I felt a lovely warm sensation when she shook my hand and disappeared into the cool evening.

Okay, a quick check with Google maps tells me that when we set off in the morning we will be just 33 miles from Camden. Reality kicked in fairly quickly though when I confirmed with Nicholson’s that is indeed just a shade over 35 miles, add about FORTY FIVE locks and the reality struck me that we will not arrive in London tomorrow, not a cat in bells chance.

Sausage and mash tonight washed down with a can of Guinness (‘original’ of course). Then a nightcap with the crew and hounds in the Cow Roast pub.

Night night.

The ‘crazed towpath goose’ lives on the canal bank opposite Tescos at Leighton Buzzard, he prefers however to patrol the towpath side to ward off passing schoolchildren and innocent bargees. Perhaps he is on a mission to save the world from the evil that is Mr Tesco and globalisation in general? Whatever his mission, it is futile. I chose this mooring specifically for the two most important reasons known to us boaters; supplies (teabags, milk and bread for the captains breakfast toast) and to use their lovely toilets. This cassette system works fine but you soon realise that a well timed, well planned stopover can save a he’ll of a lot of Elsan work. Last may we took four of the grand children and three adults out for a jaunt. After the first night, waking to the lovely aroma of an overflowing elsan cassette, I made a promise to myself to NEVER put myself through the foul experience of cleaning up after a spillage ever again. I spent the rest of that week on toilet- watch; every little angel’s visit to the smallest room was followed by me checking up, or should that be ‘checking down, to prevent me ‘chucking up’. Sorry to be course.

Anyway, Tescos is calling and I’ve just seen Tge Cheese Boat go past and we want some cheeses later, full steam ahead once the girls get back. They’ve been gone ages, I just hope that they haven’t found a Primark!!

Nothing wakes me Luke the smell of bacon butties, strong coffee and blooming ducks rehearsing for next years eurovision. Pulled the pins up by nine thirty and off to Peartree Bridge for an overflowing plate of Sunday roast at the Crown Carvery. Arrives about 1 Oclock and served by 2, much quicker than home and no washing up for the girls; am I too good to them? I am sure they’ll repay me later.

Next stop Tescos at Leighton Buzzard. Overnight and restock first thing tomorrow then it’s onto virgin waters for me and the crew through Marsden….