Hemel Hempstead to Leighton Buzzard

 

 

Nash Mill Top Lock No 68 to Leighton Buzzard Bridge No 114 is a trip of 32 miles and 72 locks.

 

After a couple of days in Hemel Hempstead  to prepare the boat, Ellis will be ready to cast off and continue her northerly journey – this time with a  Segway down the Aylesbury arm.  As before, it’s new ground (water) for Ellis and as such, Capt. E. has no experience or ‘insider knowledge’ in regards mooring spots.    The popularity of the navigation for ‘continuous moorers’, anecdotally suggests finding somewhere to tie up each day will be  interesting!

 

With that in mind, the entire trip will very much be an adventure for both crew and guests alike.  Roughly speaking, we’ll need to cover around 4 hours chugging each day in order to reach Leighton Buzzard by mid afternoon on our final full day – some days will be longer than others if necessary for water/fuel and refuse stops and we may end up double breasting against other boats.  It’s all part of the fun.

 

As usual, we’ll expect guests to come aboard around  1.30pm on day 1 and when we’ve  had a glass of something fizzy – (not to forget the introductory blah blah) we’ll  cast off north and continue our journey up the Grand Union Canal.  As has been the norm for this year, we’ll make it up as we go along and try not to be too regimented about mooring spots.  If it’s busy we may end up double breasted.

 

Hopefully there’ll be opportunity to visit a few pubs and explore various towns and villages along the way… we’ll pass through/by:  Bourne End, Berkhamsted, Marsworth,  Aylesbury, Linslade and end the trip in Leighton Buzzard where guests will depart after breakfast on the final morning.