The conclusion of the write-up of the move of Willow from Buckby to Northolt in five days (yes, it's taken considerably more time to write about it than actually to do it).
Shortly after leaving Cowley Lock we arrived at Cowley Peachey Junction, although we'd gone past it before I realised. Before the junction is High Line Yachting on the right; the Slough Arm is indicated only by another sign to the HLY marina. There's no fingerpost pointing to Slough. Why not?
A little further on more canalside work was in progress: mowing the grass.
Very good, but where do the grass cuttings go?
Yup, in the cut.
Along this stretch are many willow trees - in fact, willows are all over the place here: Willow Avenue is a famous old road in Uxbridge; Willowtree Marina is just round the corner on the Paddington arm; there are the trees, and, of course, NB Willow cruising past them all.
The cottage on the Paddington Arm near Bulls Bridge Junction is in a terrible state; and what are those poles on the trailer for? Perhaps that's a marquee below.
Not too long after this photo was taken we arrived at the other High Line Yachting base at Northolt. This was it: the end of the journey. We'd made it, and well within the five days we'd given ourselves. I phoned Willow's owner, and he came and reimbursed me for the diesel, and took my dad to the underground station. Then he drove me back to my car, which was where I'd left it in a lay-by on the A5 at Buckby; and I drove home.
It had been an excellent cruise, despite the lack of time for stopping to explore much en route. And we'd had superb warm and sunny weather. The boat performed well too.
Next I'll continue posting photos of our cruise of Shadow from Stockton to Tattenhall.
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