Newbury to Bradford
Upon Avon
Its been a busy week
since last report done. We are still in the company of Allan and
Annie Cox. He's a bad influence!! We were talked into going for a
pie and a pint at the local pub at lunch time.. the ale was excellent
but when we looked at the menu, it was so expensive (again) we passed
and returned to the boats to make our own lunch, £14.99 for a beef
burger..???….. no way!! ….that would have been nearly £60.00 for
the four of us.
The Ocado delivery
sent some quarter pounders on our last supplies order and they taste
wonderful. 10 minutes cooking time with onions, as they say the jobs
a 'gud un'.
Also we are better
off with the money in our pocket than theirs.
With the bosun
(Jenny) doing all the planning on a day to day basis, we know roughly
what to expect regarding locks and any obstacles, ie weirs etc. We
have two books that give the directions and tell you where the water
points, sewage disposal points and towns are.
We are, one week
later, still running with Allan and Annie. They are also going to
Bristol so it make sense running together, it makes so much
difference with the wide locks, half the work and not so much
bouncing about in the locks themselves. We are managing about 9 locks
a day and four hours cruising. There are 107 locks on the Kennet and
Avon. Next week we have a flight of 21 in one hit ..the Caen Hill
flight, lifting (or dropping dependant on which way you going) some
130 ft. Not for the faint hearted.
We can’t get over
how quiet the canal is. Not many people moving in either direction.
Its been a routine run with no real problems from Woolhampton down to
Pewsy. Monday last was May bank holiday and there was a raft race
being held over some few miles of canal. We debated whether to hold
off because of it or sail straight through..we sailed straight
through.. great laugh. . lots of youngsters enjoying themselves, some
boats sank, but it was a laugh. Shouting out too them as we passed.
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| Newbury Festival |
Annie and Allan are
like us and like to moor before the other people start to look for
places, normally about 2 pm, we have a routine sorted out. Tie off
bow and stern. Jenny takes the two dogs for a squat or leg-lift.. I
grease the stern gland (that’s where the propshaft goes though the
back into the water) it stops water entering the engine room. Remove
the tiller then tune in the TV..by that time I'm ready for my
afternoon kip. Then 5pm its G&T time or glass of beer and debrief
on one or others boat.
While talking the
other night the question of age came up. Jenny said her birthday is
in October..so’s mine said Annie … Jenny said the date..so’s mine
said Annie..and believe it or not they were born in the same year !! yes said both ..not
sure of the exact time but they are claiming to be twins separated at
birth. Yes !! they are as mad as we are ..in a nice way.
Sadly we saw a full
grown deer float past us in a part of the cut through some trees.
Must have fallen in during the night and was unable to get out. Being
a wide canal with wide locks there are a lot more wide beam boats on
here. Must be lovely to live on but very restricted to where you can
go. We love to move about.
Spanish Grand Prix
and afterwards onto Devizes for a couple of days rest before the 21
lock marathon.
We always said . .
if it rains….we stop...however when we started on our way on the
Monday it was a gentle drizzle. . we would be brave and just put up
with it.
By lunch time the
drizzle had stopped.. it turned to rain, followed by heavy rain !!
followed by thunder and lighting !! followed by HAIL !! ….doh !!
We were dressed in
welly’s, waterproof trousers and a good waterproof mac we were ok
.. Quick chorus of singing in the rain and good company made the day
go quite quickly and we had a few laughs.
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| Carly was not happy in the rain but wont go inside. |
When we moored up at
Devizes Wharf I dropped into the museum there. We have seen lots of
WW 2 pill boxes also big pointed concrete mounds (which we hadn’t a
clue what they are / were.)
In the second world
war as we were awaiting the German invasion a defence line of
pillboxes was placed in a line roughly from Bristol to Dover some
1000 plus were constructed. As a last defence.. manned by ‘dads
army’. ..The home guard.
The big piles of
concrete are what they call the ‘dragons teeth’ designed to stop
or overturn any enemy tanks. Some are now listed buildings and
covered by preservation orders. When on private land some are put to
use as garden sheds or storage.
The Kennet and Avon
canal is really a link of various rivers by man made trenches. When
we arrived at Pewsey Wharf, and old barge depot where grain, and lots
of other commodities were moved to and trans shipped to various
destinations. Allan went off too check out the old steam pump house
which moves water about on flight what goes down must come up, as
water doesn’t flow up hill, it needs assistance. What did I do? You
may ask..
I toddled off to
bed. I’m still struggling with energy levels, some days I'm OK,
others I need to sleep in the afternoon. In the evening we went for a
very pleasant meal in the converted barns and stabling areas. A good
‘real ale’ and very good company before the Caen Flight.
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| Steam pumping station |
The canal has to
rise some 130 feet to go over the peak. There are some 7 locks
leading up to the main flight and another few after but its a long
long day what ever way you look at it.
Jenny and Anne work
really well together, sharing locks is so good, not only conserving
water but conserving energy. Once the boats are in the lock, one of
the girls would go ahead and prep the next lock. If we are lucky we
meet another boat coming up the flight.
We did have a bit of
a scary moment in one of the locks. We got wedged.
Before we did the
flight we both topped up with water at the service area.
Normally when you
arrive at these places there is enough room to moor unless, you get a
selfish boater who moors there thus reducing the area.
I pull up first
because I was in front and Forget Me Not drew along side. Fenders
down and we laid together as we topped the tanks and disposed of the
waste and rubbish.
20 minutes saw us
back on our way again.
At the next lock,
Allan went in first, I slid in along side, the girls opened the locks
and we started to move. Not very far sadly.
All of a sudden the
boat started to tilt.. I shouted to the paddle operator to stop the
flow of water.!! . . . .we were wedged together.
Moving off quickly
we had forgotten to stow the fenders. These are six inch go cart
tyres.
As we moved, the
walls of the lock forced us together, normally a tight fit but, with
tyres down, an impossible fit.
Luckily enough, We
sussed it quickly and re floated the boats and an indecent was
avoided. Sadly a few inexperienced skippers don’t realise until its
to late, resulting in sunken boats in locks. There are quite a few
each year.
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| Caen flight |
The end of the day
resulted in a well earned few drinks on the last landing mooring at
the bottom of the Caen fight. The sun was out, so was the gin and
tonic. Chairs out and a lovely unwind. Early evening meal and an
early night. Next morning we decided to have a day off and fully
recover, however Allan and Annie needed to push on because of family
commitments meetings planned. Sadly we waved goodbye to our
companions of nearly 10 days.
We had a day off and
moved on the next day. We soon found another solo boaters and linked
up for a few locks.
The last few locks
on our own till we arrived at Bradford on Avon. Time for a big shop
at S’bugs,top up the bar and wine cellar. Also have a look around.
Its the Green Man festival here this weekend we have never seen so
many Morris Men / Dancers in one place.
Nearly every pub,
shopping area, village green had people dancing and performing.
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| Bradford Upon Avon Green Man Festival |
We left the dogs on
board because Jake doesn't do crowds or cars, Carly is OK, but as
Jakes getting older he’s a bit more temperamental. He, like me,
gets very tired, quickly.
The next place we
are off too is Bath for a few days and then plan how we tackle
Bristol. As it is a tidal area we need to increase our boat
insurance. Three days are planned then we are on our return trip. Its
gone quicker than I though it would. Great fun ...met some lovely
people, spent more money than planned, but that's life.
Over to Jenny for
some pictures and bits to be added ..
TTFN XXX
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