Thursday, 10 August 2017

Hunsdon Mill to Bishop's Stortford

Monday 7th August

Weather was dry but overcast, but at least not raining! I started walking along the towpath with Dex whilst John was steering. It was a pretty walk with streams flowing off the river Stort.
 We were still beside the Hunsdon Mead nature reserve. 







 After about a mile we arrived at Parndon Mill Lock. http://www.parndonmill.co.uk/history



 There was a lovely bridge nearby which had been built by craftsmen working in the mill.






 Soon after I came across a bird hide. 


I loved this boat with a Polar bear figurehead! 

Before we reached Harlow we saw this climbing and canoeing adventure centre. They had a complete assault course too!

 We had arrived at Burnt Mill Lock. Harlow station is right next door.
 It had some interesting balls on display!! These are part of a collection of artwork along the river. http://www.visitessex.com/discover/cultural/harlow-sculpture-town.aspx

 We had no desire to moor here however as it was so noisy and industrial looking.
 We carried on towards Bishop's Stortford. I had noticed Dex was quite subdued and not his normal self. His eyes were looking sore and he couldn't open them fully. So I called ahead and made a vet's appointment at Pets at Home in Bishop's Stortford. I took the latest appointment they could give me which was 6.15pm. Hopefully we could get there by then.
 Some of the Willows were making navigation quite difficult and we often had to duck as we went underneath them.

 At the next lock, Latton Lock, we had some help with the gates which was much appreciated!

 Soon we were off out into the open countryside again. 

 We passed through Harlow Mill lock. 





Out into pretty open countryside once again.  



 Into Shearing Mill Lock.


 Then through Sawbridgeworth. There was a marina village here with new houses and a private marina. No mooring signs were everywhere and not one boat to be seen!










 We then came to Sawbridgeworth Lock. This was quite unusual having a whole row of houses beside the lock and their windows at ground level looking out at the lock.


 More open countryside. We did find we missed having some hills to look at!





The river twisted and turned and on one bend we came across a herd of highland cattle.



 There were a lot of plants and weed in the river and we had to try and negotiate our way around it so it didn't get tangled in the prop.

 We nearly had a disaster at this low bridge just before Tednambury lock. I was steering the boat and I approached the bridge and could see there was no way the sunlounger would make it under this time. So I had to reverse and moor up so John could take it off the roof. Luckily we managed to store it in the front cratch for the rest of the journey.


 We carried on through Spellbrook lock. 




 At South mill lock John met a man who was an artist who did boat art, decorating boat ware for sale and also painted pictures of boats. He had been living on his boat for 24 years!




 Soon we were approaching Bishop's Stortford. It wasn't a great view from the canal and we did wonder what we were coming to!






 I read the map book incorrectly and told John we could turn the boat around after we went through this bridge. We did this in Hertford and I thought it would be the same. But it wasn't and we soon realised the water was too shallow and full of weed and we couldn't even get under the bridge. We had passed a turning point (winding hole) further back and so John had to reverse all the way back! Oops, you can imagine how popular I was!!!




Anyway he managed it and we arrived at our mooring place just after 5pm. Time for a quick cuppa before walking Dex to the vets!

We didn't get to see a lot of Bishop's Stortford, I was busy walking Dex to the vets and back (twice) and John went to Sainsburys! But I did see a lovely old church https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints'_Church,_Hockerill

 and a nice old house by the canal. I don't know what this once was unfortunately.

Dex and I also found a lovely big park to walk in. 

I don't really think we did Bishop's Stortford justice but we couldn't afford to stay longer as we needed to be back in London by the weekend to meet up with family and friends. 

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