Friday, October 29, 2010

Through the sound barrier

Somewhere near Waltham Abbey as you cruise north on the Lee,  you cross an invisible barrier.  You become aware that up until now you have been journeying through a polluted area.  Not water pollution, or air, but noise.  The noise of traffic, factories, fork lift trucks and vans, and building sites.  It reaches a crescendo as you float under the M25 north of Enfield, then half an hour later you suddenly realise that it is quiet.

The navigation leads a more lonesome route and the view, and the sky, seems to expand.  We are through the barrier and out to another side.

Last night we moored underneath a spreading chestnut tree at Broxbourne.  Tonight we are in the small park before the bridge in the one street village of Stanstead Abbots, and it is here, four and a half years ago that we first met Herbie.  It's nice to be back.  Along with the change of scene, we too are changing pace, cruising more slowly and for shorter days. 

Unwinding.

3 comments:

Jan said...

sounds wonderful...

Anonymous said...

Ah I'm so jealous - I was so looking forward to a more lengthy exploration - it is such a lovely waterway - quite the hidden gem once you've passed that sound barrier!

Enjoying your posts - it's so frustrating not to be able to cruise in this lovely autumn light.

Sue, Indigo Dream

Halfie said...

I'm looking forward to slowing down. In the summer we did the Lee and Stort in less than five days, overnighting only at Waltham Abbey, Hertford, Bishop's Stortford and Dobb's Weir. A bit of a rush!