Brentford

 Today's Canal - Grand Union

We had numerous showers today, some quite heavy, but none lasted for very long. There were some occasional bright spells as well.

First, we dropped down Uxbridge Lock, not far ahead from where we moored overnight, to find a space on the Visitor Moorings below. Although there were several 'squatters' taking up much of the length there were a couple of spaces still available and we tied up in one of them.

Christine and Andrew walked into Uxbridge to meet Ellie at the station but on the way they called at Iceland to pick up some snacks for lunch and also pizzas for tonight. 

Once we were all back on board we set off for the trip down to Brentford. We had been a bit concerned about timings of our arrival at Brentford and able to find an overnight mooring. Hence we planned to ave lunch 'on the go'.

One of our older references listed a BWB base at Uxbridge Moor and we were keen to see where it might be. We are not totally sure yet but as far as we can see, it was just above where Uxbridge Boat Centre is today. The old site has been re-developed into a block of apartments.

At least one of the Wood Hall an Hereward tug boats is alive and well! (see yesterday's blog)

We paused above Cowley Lock to empty elsans before continuing on past the Packet Boat Marina where we moored our previous boat Take Five for several winters.

One of the heavier rain showers arrived . . . 

The bridge across the junction where the Paddington Arm leaves the main line is an iconic picture which we just could not avoid taking. It also shows that some of the time the weather was much brighter.

Just beyond the junction are several cottage terraces which we have photographed in the past. Later we realised that today's picture shows quite different buildings from the older ones. Closer examination and further research shows that each terrace was constructed at three times and the nearer half of each is modern.

At the Hanwell Flight we joined up with a boat that we shared one or two locks a couple of days ago.

We passed under the M4 but a little later, just before Clitheroe's Lock it looked as if we were to do s again, but actually is runs vey close to the canal but then veers away again. At times the traffic looked as if it was not moving a lot faster than we were. Our comeuppance arrived quickly - we were rather slow down this next lock as quite a traffic jam had built up with a number of boats on their way to go out through Thames Lock tonight on the 6.30 tide.

As we came into the main basin area above the Gauging Locks we passed two old and derelict warehouses. It seems that these were built in the 1960's as a transhipment base between Thames lighters and canal boats. 

We filled with water and then looked for our overnight mooring. Fist, we let all the boats for tonight's departure go through the Gauging Lock - a number were waiting as they knew that there was almost nowhere to tie up above Thames Lock. There should be plenty of room but it is currently filled with boats that have squatted here during the pandemic and are reluctant to move off the visitor moorings.

In the end, two of the boats that were just ahead of us on the run through Hanwell who had tied up on the pontoon below the lock offered to double up so that we could come down and join them. (The Gauging and Thames Locks are the only mechanised ones on the Grand Union) The pontoon is a much easier place to adjust to the semi-tidal conditions of the reach between Gauging and Thames Locks. There was time before lour evening meal to deploy our anchor on the fore deck (it and its chain normally reside in a bow locker!) as well as check the propeller and clear any rubbish - actually there was very little.

12.0 Miles - 13 Locks