Wilcot, Devizes, Caen Hill Locks and onto Bradford-on-Avon

This is one of those unusual days for the K&A.  Travelling from Wilcot to Devizes there are 3 swing bridges, but guess what? there are no locks,  for 11 miles the K&A is lock free. We arrived at Devizes Wharf just after mid-day and were lucky enough to find a mooring behind Noel & Carol on Willy Nilly.

 Devizes proved to be worth a visit. We toured the streets, as one does, and then spent some time in The Pelican, a pub in the town square.  The landlady had been in situ for 45 years having taken on the role from her parents.  It’s a very “locals” pub,  friendly, and with an  interest in 60/70s music which was constantly played on the juke box.

 The aim was to leave before 8am next day (Friday,) as we had 30 locks to pass through ,which included the Caen Hill flight of 19 locks one above another.

 

 We were lucky, on reaching the top of the flight we met Joe and Fe (nb Broadleaf) who joined us for the run to the bottom.

Joe’s super fit and was running from lock to lock, backwards and forwards and, according to Fe, loving every minute. It certainly made life easier for Flo, though she tried really hard to keep up with him.  Thanks Joe.  Top lock to bottom lock, Devizes to Sells Green,  with a break for a drink, five & half hours.  Not bad.

Saturday saw us reach Bradford-on-Avon.  We moored 10 mins walk from the Cross Guns pub by the Avoncliff aqueduct.  If you’ve never been to B on A do stop, you won’t be disappointed: the Barton Grange Farm; which includes a magnificient tithe barn, the lock-up on the town bridge; the Saxon church and the award winning Victorian tea rooms, are all worth a try, followed by a stroll along the River Avon. Which all took place in sunshine and warm temperature, that in itself a great novelty.

One thing of interest, to us at least, was on the wall of a building that in its day was a brewery store, a figurehead of Bacchus.

Monday saw us move on towards Bath, still with sunshine, crossing the Dundas Aqueduct and mooring at Bathampton just before it rained.  Back to normal then.

Journey to Wilcot

Sunday morning left Woolhampton for Newbury.  Along the way paired up with Carol & Noel on board Willy Nilly.  As all the locks on the K&A are doubles it helps to share the load and also speeds up the journey.  I’ve inserted a pic of Monkey Marsh lock – one of only two turf side locks now in existence, as you can see the lock does not have sides above the high water mark and the water washes onto the side sloping bank.  Very strange, and not easy to manage. 

We were looking forward to Newbury as we hoped to surprise friends Mike & Emma, two Aussies that have lived in the UK for about 10 years.  We arrived early afternoon and after failing to raise them by phone we decided to visit their home and leave a note to say we tried to contact them.  The route to their house was one we had never used before and incredibly we met them cycling to their local.  How lucky were we?  A quick visit to show them Bacchus (see pic), we then retired to the Lock, Stock and Barrel next to Newbury Bridge.  A few drinks,  bite to eat, good company and plans to meet again on our return journed.  A very pleasant evening.

 The journey from Newbury to Kintbury on Monday was straight forward; we were lucky enough to double up with Malcolm & Linda aboard Canality J’Aime (see pic). 

Evening visitor

Tuesday was a long day.  Eighteen locks and 10 miles without seeing anyone else going our way.  Passing through Hungerford, Little & Great Bedwyn before finding an excellent mooring at Crofton Pumping Station and discovering Willy Nilly (Carol & Noel) in the next mooring.  Agreed to pair up next day and travel together to Pewsey.

Wednesday saw us leaving Crofton in tandem with Carol and Noel.  Talk about slow and interesting journey.  Firstly a boat adrift across the canal, hire boat moored up for the night in the lock layby  and still there, another having breakfast in the next lock, all locks slow filling and leaking like a sieve and the icing on the cake it poured with rain.  The picture shows Noel’s attemp at plugging the gap in the lock gate!! 

We wanted to moor at Knowle, but due to all the visitor moorings being in use, and not, I believe, by visitors, we moved on to Wilcot. Tomorrow Devizes.

Oliver Cromwell

Just after uploading today's blog the steam train Oliver Cromwell passed by on its return journey.  The pic was taken from the stern of Bacchus as the train flashed by. Enjoy.

Kennet & Avon

In the four days since we last blogged we’ve chugged from Wallingford, on the Thames to Woolhampton, on the Kennet & Avon Canal.  It’s now Saturday and we’ve decided to stay at Woolhampton for the day as heavy rain is forecast.

 Wallingford (see previous blog) was an excellent stop and Flo wanted to stay for an extra day and relax on the bank, taking in the sun.  The problem was that the long term weather forecast was grim, we were planning each day the night before, and unfortuately there was only one reasonable day left before the rain came back.  So, on Wednesday we set off heading for the K&A.

 The journey was straight forward all the way to Reading, stopping at the Tesco moorings to stock up, before turning right onto the K&A.  If you’re wondering why we didn’t stop anywhere on the way it was because we’d done the Thames last year and stopped at most of the recommemded places, such as Goring, etc.

 This is our first time on this canal and turning into Reading is not an impressive start, and certainly does not encourage you to stop.  Passing through the old and eventually reaching the newer shopping complex it’s obvious that Reading is not interested in inviting boaters to visit the town.  The first lock on on K&A is a little strange in so much as the lock mechanism is operated by what can only be described as a metal ships wheel.  No key or other locking required so you can imagine the fun kids must have emptying and filling the lock (see pic).  There is an interesting set of canal traffic lights that you need to activate before you can proceed through the Brewery Cut,  the canal is very narrow, the flow is strong, and each way is ‘one way traffic’.

 

 We had met a guy early in the day on the Thames that told us that he had nearly been sunk at Fobney Lock due to the pressure of water when filling the lock.  He warned us to open the paddles very slowly, only a couple of clicks.  The problem seems to be that the locks on the first section of the K&A only have gate paddles, resulting in an extremely strong a dangerous surge of water if opened to fully, too quickly.  He was so right, Flo opened one paddle 2 clicks only and the water spout shot 5 feet into the air.  Any boat’s bow near the front of the lock would have been filled in seconds.  White water boating was to be the order of all the following locks.  They also leak like buggery and even though gallons of water spurt in it still takes forever to fill, seems longer when you are trying to hold the boat still.  Moored for the night just passed the lock.

 Before moving off on Thursday we spent some time trying to source a spare Thetfored cassette waste water tank.  The idea was to order from a chandlery down stream and pick up on passing.  It sounded easy, but after ringing numerous marina/chandlers we were not achieving anything so decided to chugg on after the rain had stopped.  We reached Garston Lock, the only remaining turf sided chamber on the system, where we met a guy called Mick Hammond who is travelling with his wife to Brinklow on the Oxford.  Flo asked him if he new of a likely chandlery to find a tank.  We couldn’t have met a more helpful person, it transpired that Mick is the manager of Frouds Bridge Marina, less than a day’s travel away, and he grabbed his mobile, rang his marina and had one ordered for delivery by lunch next day.  Many thanks Mick.

 The railway is a constant companion on this part of the canal and we were lucky enough to see the steam train ‘Oliver Cromwell ’ pass pulling around 8 original carriages.  We came across our first scalloped-sided lock yesterday, one of two so far.  They are really quite pretty, if one can have a pretty lock. (see pic). 

 

 It’s now Saturday, moored at Woolhampton before racing the rain to Newbury tomorrow.   We cannot have had all our summer sunshine, it must come back soon!!!

Wallingford

The day was planned, but like all good plans sometimes they don’t always run smoothly.  The first stop was Clifton Hampden, the idea was to walk round the village and then have lunch at The Plough, before chugging to Dorchester and mooring for the night.  The village was small, full of thatched cottages, very picturesque, but guess what?  It was Monday and The Plough (which has a Chinese restaurant)  just happened to close on Monday lunchtimes.  So we settled for a hot sausage roll from the local post office. 

The next stop was Dorchester where we wanted to stay the night and complete a circular walk next day.  We couldn’t find a suitable mooring anywhere, so that plan  was also ditched and we decided to continue until something interesting showed its face.

And something did.  Wallingford was reached, and though the town moorings above the bridge were taken we found an excellent bank pitch (see pics) after the bridge and opposite the rowing club house.  Bonus also being free of mooring charges. 

If you have never been to Wallingford it is well worth a stop to investigate,  its small enough to walk round, at least 4 pubs, one hotel, selection of eating establishments, and plenty of  interesting old buildings and to cap it all only minutes from the river.  Waitrose sits easily in town and handy enough for carrying bags back to the boat.

The  morning was spent strolling round town followed by lunch in a riverside pub then a casual afternoon enjoying the sun on the riverbank.  We had company on the bank that kept rubbing their noses on the mooring spikes.  They were so friendly that when they ambled by you could touch them quite easily.  Did wonder whether Murray should be worried next week.

The forecast is for rain on Thursday and the following 2 days, so tomorrow it's down to Reading and onto the Kennet & Avon.

Clear Run to Oxford

 Left 214 early for Oxford to give ourselves a  chance of finding a reasonable mooring.  Run down was uneventful; only rained once, just as we were approaching Thrupp services.  As most boaters will know there are many lift bridges from here down to Isis Lock, some heavier than others, and to make things even more interesting BW has now placed locking devices on some which holds them in the closed position.  A BW key is required and connot be removed until the bridge is re-closed.  A real pain.

 Arrived in Oxford early PM and found an excellent mooring just after Osney Bridge (the lowest bridge span on the Thames) and only 10 mins from the town centre.

 Spent Friday in Oxford,  moving down to Abingdon on Saturday.  Moored next to Abingdon Bridge (see pic, Bacchus is closest to the arch).  The met office have forecast rain all day tomorrow, at least 7 hours, so we have decided to “ride out the storm,” as they say, complete with a book and a bottle of wine, and depart Monday.

Plan for Monday is to visit the village of  Clifton Hampden and then moor close to Day’s Lock.  Our intention is to spend Tuesday walking and visiting Dorchester.

Days of Strong Winds & Rain

 Strong winds all the way to Cropedy, arrived early and were lucky to find the last mooring near the bridge.  Stayed overnight and left early for Banbury. 
 
Passing this way last year one of my (Ken) caps came off and we had to find a dentist in Banbury to fix it – well guess what?  the same cap came off during our stay in Cropedy and we needed to book with the same dentist.

Tuesday morning all shopping completed and tooth restuck we decided to move on, even though the forecast was for rain on and off all day.  Passed through Aynho and made it as far as Chisnell lift bridge, number 193, and stopped for the night.  Good mooring.  Lucky enough to see a pair of sedge warblers flying in and out of the long grasses on the bank to feed their young.

Rain showers seem to be forecast for the rest of the week so we need to be prepared for the worst and just get on with it.  Today is Wednesday, we chugged passed Upper & Lower Heyford and stopped for the night just close to bridge 214.  Nice mooring, enough room for 2 boats, we used it last year on the way back from the Thames. 

The plan is to leave early tomorrow for Oxford to give us a good chance of finding a mooring.

Total Frustation

Saturday 4th June - still no signal

The pump was not delivered to the chandlery on Thursday due to a communication blip as a result of  a lost mobile message.  Phil, from Wharf House Chandlery, saved the day by ordering a pump to arrive on Friday by  special delivery. It arrived on cue and was  fitted by Justin of JG Marine Services. 

 Saturday, after 3 frustating days we then left the Nelson pound at Braunston and headed south.  Guess what? On reaching Napton on the Hill bottom lock the new pump started to play up and we thought “what a balls up,” we  rang Justin for advise and requested  a quick visit to sort us out.  It turned out that Justin was in Stafford for the weekend and wasn’t available until Monday lunchtime.  He suggested we try increasing the pressure in the  accumulator by a few pounds at a time until it  worked.  Though there is a delay when water is requested it now seems to work and  we have decided to test it over the next 24 hours.

 Presently moored above a very windy Napton top lock – aiming for Cropedy tomorrow.

Start of the Journey

Stayed at Crick for 4 nights during the show before starting off for our summer chug to Bristol.  The show seems to have been more  successful than last year, with many of the exhibitors happy having done more business in the first 2 days than they did in 3 days last year.   More exhibition boats on show with William  Piper Boats winning “best in show.”  Of course being Crick the weather had to play its part and Monday showed us how it could rain, so that kept the numbers down.  Still it was good fun catching up with friends and sinking a few bottles of wine. 

We’re having some trouble with the water pump which we are unable to solve and have decided to stop at the Wharfe Chandlery at the bottom lock at Braunston.  Spoke to them on the phone and explained the problem; they have agreed to order the spares for delivery on Thursday. 

Tuesday saw us feeling a bit stir crazy,  Flo suggested we leave and slowly proceed to Braunston.  Arrived at the Watford locks around 3.30pm, passed through at 7.30pm and moored for the night.  Next day (Wednesday),  chugged to Braunston and stopped in the pound next to the Nelson where we hope the engineer will meet us tomorrow to fix the pump.