Author Archives: admin

Log

Journey from Uxbridge to… the other side of Uxbridge

Summary

This is a trip of 6¾ furlongs and 1 lock from Uxbridge Boat Centre to Uxbridge Lock Winding Hole travelling north on the Grand Union Canal (Grand Junction Canal – Main Line – Gayton to Brentford).

This will take 30 minutes.

Route

Grand Union Canal (Grand Junction Canal – Main Line – Gayton to Brentford)
From Uxbridge Boat Centre (Also known as Uxbridge Boatyard Dock) to:
The General Elliot PH

14 day moorings
 ¼ furlongs, 0 locks
The Dolphin PH ½ furlongs, 0 locks
Uxbridge Visitor Moorings

14 day moorings. Also known as Uxbridge
 3½ furlongs, 0 locks
Swan and Bottle PH

Chef & Brewer. Also known as Way’s Wharf (Offside)
 ¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Swan and Bottle Visitor Moorings

24 hour moorings. Also known as Three Ways Wharf (Offside)
 ¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Denham Marina ¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Uxbridge Lock Winding Hole

Also known as King’s Mill
 1¼ furlongs, 1 lock

Totals

Total distance is 6¾ furlongs and 1 lock.

This is made up of 6¾ furlongs of broad canals; 1 broad lock.

This will take 30 minutes.

Standard
Journal

Paddington Basin – in the midst of it

It was a really nice cruising day, we passed Crazy Camden Town first, then London Zoo, beautiful Little Venice, turned right into Paddington Basin and there we were. Right in the midst of it! It is indeed a very special place to moor up, so central and right next to St. Mary’s Hospital. When we had the door and windows open we could hear the beeping of the various life support machines…

Paddington Station is also just a stone’s throw away, hence it’s rather easy to go to work for once. It was easy to do food shopping, of course and a good launderette was around the corner too. Shame only that the mooring there is another 7 days one only.

If Battle Bridge Basin was swanky, what is Paddington Basin mooring? Futuristic? That is how it looks on a sunny day:

And that on an overcast day (the building on the right being St. Mary’s Hospital):

Mirza, the cousin of Adnan, came to visit us, he was on a business trip to London. He was quite amazed about the location, less about the size of the boat though.

Standard
Log

Journey to Battle Bridge Basin

Summary

This is a trip of 7 furlongs from Islington Visitor Moorings to Battlebridge Basin travelling west on the Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal).

This will take 15 minutes.

Route

Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal)
From Islington Visitor Moorings (7 day moorings) to:
Islington Tunnel (East end) [see navigational note 1 below]

Colebrook Row crosses here. Also known as Colebrook Row
 ½ furlongs, 0 locks
Islington Tunnel (West end) [see navigational note 2 below]

Muriel Street crosses here. Also known as Muriel Street

Having passed through Islington Tunnel [see navigational note 3 below].

4¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Battlebridge Basin

London Canal Museum. Also known as Horsfall Basin, Maiden Lane Basin, Albert Wharf
 2 furlongs, 0 locks

Totals

Total distance is 7 furlongs and 0 locks Today’s travel includes at least 1 tunnel (Islington Tunnel [see navigational note 3 below]. ).

This is made up of 7 furlongs of broad canals.

 

Standard
Log

Journey to Angel

Summary

This is a trip of 7¼ furlongs and 2 locks from Whitmore Road Bridge No 43 to Danbury Street Road Bridge No 38 travelling west on the Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal).

This will take 46 minutes.

Route

Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal)
From Whitmore Road Bridge No 43 (Whitmore Road) to:
City Road Lock No 5 [see navigational note 1 below] 6¾ furlongs, 1 lock
Danbury Street Road Bridge No 38 ½ furlongs, 1 lock

Totals

Total distance is 7¼ furlongs and 2 locks.

This is made up of 7¼ furlongs of broad canals; 2 broad locks.

 

Standard
Journal

De Beauvoir Town – renovation, stage 1

We arrived in De Beauvoir Town, where our dear friends from Urban Upholstery have their shop. The time has arrived for the interior renovation of the boat. There was a lot of work ahead of us – carpets had to be ripped out, cladding put up, new solid wood flooring to be laid etc. One week, many tasks.

The downside was, that Natascha was diagnosed with lyme’s disease and wasn’t exactly in ‘renovation’ shape. Adnan on the other hand was in top form, cutting and hammering like there was no tomorrow, just at the paint job he wasn’t excelling. Well, that was Natascha’s task then, quietly painting the cladding. And our friends from UU upholstered the sofa, made cushions – all in all it went smoothly and Quintessence looked transformed, that stinking awful carpet was finally gone, she looks much brighter, finally a boat to live in, see for yourself:

 

Standard
Log

Journey to Mile End

Summary

This is a trip of 1 mile, 3½ furlongs and 2 locks from Broadway Market Visitor Moorings to Mile End Road Bridge No 56 travelling southeast on the Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal).

This will take 56 minutes.

Route

Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal)
From Broadway Market Visitor Moorings (7 day moorings) to:
Hertford Union Junction

Junction of Regent’s and Hertford Union Canals. Also known as Hertford Union Canal and Regents Canal Junction
 7¼ furlongs, 1 lock
Mile End Lock No 9 [see navigational note 1 below] 3¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Mile End Road Bridge No 56

A11. Also known as Globe Bridge
 ½ furlongs, 1 lock

Totals

Total distance is 1 mile, 3½ furlongs and 2 locks.

This is made up of 1 mile, 3½ furlongs of broad canals; 2 broad locks.

This will take 56 minutes.

 

Standard
Journal

Mooring up next to the Village Butty

It’s a privilege really to moor up next to “The Village Butty” the community boat for bargees and non-bargees alike. Step into the magic world of bargees, where game nights, concerts and “how to toilet composting” events take place. All very necessary, insightful and great fun. On special days you even get oysters – what a treat (for those who like ’em).

It was Adnan’s birthday and we headed to Ombra Bar for delicious food, one of our all time favourites, like in the olden days when we lived in Hackney. On the way back we went for a game night to the Village Butty – what a lovely way to celebrate a birthday!

 

 

Standard
Reflections

Reflections on Bargee Life 2

Not long ago Natascha had a chat with the chap from the coal boat, she moaned about the overcrowded canal network in London and that the CRT (Canal & River Trust) are not really supporting bargees in town, how bad the facilities are, etc. Just a good old moan because life as a bargee isn’t always that romantic. He replied that the canal network is too old and can hardly cater for the masses of boats going up and down the locks and apparently this constant movement puts a strain on them. Fair point.

A thought that crossed Nat’s mind many times, is that somehow the bargee community isn’t as such respected by the society, rather vilified sometimes. When she arrived in London back in 2002, the Regents Canal was a no-go area at night, way too dangerous. It got safer with the arrival of the boater community, we believe, though the odd disturbed mind was still around and making peoples life a problem, for sure.

Another thing that we really find problematic is, that, the bargee way of life should be regarded as an enrichment for society. Is there any where in Europe such a community of “water gypsies”? We don’t think so. Hence, why not cherish, support and even protect it?

A beautiful three minute film on boater life from “The Guardian“:

Standard
Log

Journey to Hertford Union Canal

Summary

This is a trip of 7½ furlongs from Mile End Lock No 9 to Gunmakers Lane Bridge.

This will take 17 minutes.

From Mile End Lock No 9 travel northwest on the Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal) for 3¾ furlongs to Hertford Union Junction, then travel northeast on the Grand Union Canal (Hertford Union Canal) for 3¾ furlongs to Gunmakers Lane Bridge.

Route

Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal)
From Mile End Lock No 9 to:
Hertford Union Junction

Junction of Regent’s and Hertford Union Canals
 3¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Grand Union Canal (Hertford Union Canal)
From Hertford Union Junction (Junction of Regent’s and Hertford Union Canals) to:
Gunmakers Lane Bridge

Also known as Three Colt Bridge
 3¾ furlongs, 0 locks

Totals

Total distance is 7½ furlongs and 0 locks (not counting Mile End Lock No 9).

This is made up of 7½ furlongs of broad canals.

This will take 17 minutes.

Standard
Log

Journey to Mile End

Summary

This is a trip of 1 mile, ½ furlongs and 3 locks from Limehouse Basin Junction Footbridge No 9 to Mile End Lock No 9.

This will take 1 hour and 4 minutes.

From Limehouse Basin Junction Footbridge No 9 travel northwest on the Lee and Stort Navigation (Limehouse Cut) for ¼ furlongs to Limehouse Basin, then travel north on the Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal) for 1 mile and 3 locks to Mile End Lock No 9.

Route

Lee and Stort Navigation (Limehouse Cut)
From Limehouse Basin Junction Footbridge No 9 to:
Limehouse Basin

with Lion Wharf, South Quay, Medland Quay, Regent’s Canal Wharf, Liverpool Steam Wharf, East Quay and North Quay. Also known as Regent’s Canal Dock
 ¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Grand Union Canal (Regent’s Canal)
From Limehouse Basin (with Lion Wharf, South Quay, Medland Quay, Regent’s Canal Wharf, Liverpool Steam Wharf, East Quay and North Quay. Also known as Regent’s Canal Dock) to:
Mile End Lock No 9 1 mile, 3 locks

Totals

Total distance is 1 mile, ½ furlongs and 3 locks (not counting Mile End Lock No 9).

This is made up of 1 mile of broad canals; ¼ furlongs of commercial waterways; 3 broad locks.

This will take 1 hour and 4 minutes.

Standard