Leaving Newbury behind.

On Sunday I had a lovely family visit to celebrate father’s day and we went to ‘The Newbury’ in the town centre and enjoyed a lovely meal, thanks everyone for making the effort, and for the gifts, it’s always nice to get visitors, especially this little one.

My lovely granddaughter.

The very wet Monday morning meant we stayed put another day at Newbury and set off yesterday instead, it’s been quite pleasant being just outside the popular mooring locations but with everything needed within walking distance.

Leaving our moorings.

What remains of West Mills Wharf

After the short run through the town we were greeted at Newbury lock (85) by a pair of volunteers and a pair of fundraisers from C&RT, you can guess which of those proved to be the more pleasant sight J

Approaching bridge 60 with Newbury lock just beyond.

I think the bottom gates need a bit of TLC to reduce water loss.

Spot the defect.

Leaving the lock behind (and the fundraisers) one of the volunteers walked ahead and opened the swing bridge for us as well, a nice bonus, and we were on our way again.

At Guyers lock (84) we had a large audience of gongoozlers standing on bridge 64 overlooking procedures, I had a real struggle closing one of the gates after both boats were in and later in the day received an email alert from C&RT to say the lock was closing for a day next week to effect a repair, I suppose until then everyone will just have to struggle!

Passing below the A34 with Higgs lock (83) just ahead.

We both needed diesel and were lucky to find fuel boat Ozzie was passing, so Karl waved him down and with nowhere to moor up a bit of ‘in-flight’ refuelling was performed. After Karl had his fill I moved alongside and the procedure was repeated for me.

All was going well cruising through pleasant landscapes.

But then at one of the locks disaster struck, one gate was open as we approached so Karl went in first, manoeuvred out of my way, and I followed through the same gate, I then went to shut the gate and found the reason it was left open, I could not budge it, but after a long hard struggle I managed to shift it but the price was high, I broke my braces!!!!, disaster, how would I keep my trousers up now! well the short term answer was to tie them to my trousers, and I will now be on the lookout for new ones as I only had the one set.......the price of being a boater operating faulty gates is sometimes too high J

Approaching Kintbury we met a rare sight these days, a horse drawn trip boat on the move, a slight change from normal procedure was necessary, normally we pass each other on the right, but with the rope in the way passing on the left was adopted.

After going through Kintbury lock (78) we stopped on the services to do the usual fill and empty and then moved onto the 48hr visitors moorings, only one space available so I brested alongside Karl, but this morning the boat ahead moved off and as we had decided to stay we repositioned.

Last nights mooring:

Totals yesterday:  5 miles : 7 locks : 1 swing bridge