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