Friday 19th June 2009

We set off at 1100hrs for a much easier day - only two locks to go through. This was a sign on one of the boats that we passed which caught our attention.

There were some nice properties with gardens leading onto the canal, often with their own boat moored. This was one of the more unusual ones.

We passed through Uxbridge and when we reached Cowley, we nearly missed the turn to the Slough Arm as it was fairly concealed.

We had heard lots of conflicting opinions about this arm, but wanted to try it for ourselves. In the 1970's there was a proposal to extend it to meet the Thames at Windsor, but it was rejected by Slough council. As a result it now ends abruptly at Slough with a litter strewn winding hole.

The canal itself is fairly straight but is very choked with weed and an unbelievable amount of litter in the form of beer cans and plastic bags. The poor wildlife!

Each way took 2 hours, and half way along there was a marina with boats rafted up on the canal bank for a long stretch.

The end of the arm

We were lucky or unlucky enough to meet this huge barge on the way, but luckily before we came across the moored boats.

Our boat really struggled both ways with all the weeds and rubbish in the water, and at times we wondered if we would make it back as she was so sluggish.

When we came out of the arm it was gone 1700hrs and we moored up as soon as possible. Tom had a look in the weed hatch and we had all sorts of rubbish round the propeller, including weed, plastic and a belt with metal buckles on it.

It wasn't our best day on the canal but we are both pleased we did it, just won't be repeating it in a hurry.