I stumbled across this abode amongst the trees bordering the towpath between the canal and the river Bulbourne while out with Gunner.
The gentleman who lived there happened to be sitting in the doorway and as surprised to see me as I him. Surrounded by the clutter of books, paper and cardboard, he told me he'd been happily living there for a couple of years now and was getting along just fine. He also had a very noticeable and impressively bulging assortment of pens in the handkerchief pocket of his jacket, which I was at a loss to imagine what they were all needed for. Similarly, I could make the same observation when it comes to the number of fishing rods I have, so who am I to question? Gunner wagged his tail profusely and made another friend whilst we chatted, then, after a while, we upped and left him to his sun-dappled haven amongst the trees.
Later, as me and Gunner returned to 'wilvir', we passed our new acquaintance walking the towpath in the direction of Berkhampsted with a rucksack on his back and carrying a bag of papers and empty drinking water bottles. That gave me the opportunity to take the photograph you see here. Good health and good luck to you sir, It was a pleasure to meet you.
12th Jun 2011, 09:47
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5th Jun 2011, 11:26
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4th Jun 2011, 17:37
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We're moored in a deep cutting bathed in sunlight just south of Tring.
3rd Jun 2011, 10:38
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I caught and released this Mirror Carp unharmed when it graced the net on Sunday. This was one of two big 'mirrors' caught using a 10' foot carp rod and centre-pin reel loaded with 8lb line to present a sliding-float ledgered bait, during a week of catching predominantly 'common' carp, including the beauty in the second photo.
31st May 2011, 23:18
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Photo:
1. Solar panels fixed to a cut-down pallet and wired directly to the batteries.
I mounted a solar panel 'array' on the roof of the boat two weeks ago to help charge the domestic battery system. It has since proved to be so efficient that the 12v system, Fridge, water pump, radio and lights can now run 24/7 whilst being charged by the panels during the day. This has already reduced our generator running costs considerably as I preferred to charge the batteries with a stand-alone generator rather than run the engine when we've been moored. So our little experiment has proven to be a great success and all for £99.98 at Maplin's.
31st May 2011, 22:40
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Photo:
1. We desperately need some rain.
2. Daisies bathe in the warmth of a gentle south westerly breeze.
3. A view from Wilstone Reservoir's hide.
4. Restoring the Wendover canal bed.
5. The navigable link at Tring.
I headed south from where we're moored at Puttenham Top Lock walking across tangled-hedged fields to the Wendover Canal, passing along the west side of Wilstone Reservoir on the way out and its east side on the way home. Much of the once abandoned Wendover Canal is dry although great effort is underway to restore the long ago de-watered stretch between Tring and Wendover (apparently it leaked like a sieve such that at times the canal flowed in the opposite direction to what it should due to the amount of water being lost).
It was interesting to see and appreciate signs of work-in-progress to restore the canal bed and where, at Little Tring, it will eventually be reconnected to the navigable section joining it to the Grand Union Canal.
23rd May 2011, 19:42
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Photo: (l-r) Ginny, Martin and Brenda.
We had the pleasure of Martin and Brenda's company for Sunday lunch yesterday and then just whiled away the afternoon in idle conversation. A beautiful day too despite the blustery conditions and odd spot of rain.
23rd May 2011, 18:18
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