A good day ascending the Caen Hill Flight.

Today started normally, I had a loose plan, get up 26 of the 29 locks before exhaustion caused my demise. I set off around 8am and stopped immediately on the water point to fill up. The cruise to the start of the flight was quiet and uneventful.

Approaching Caen Hill Marina

Lift Bridge entrance to the marina.

Passing the marina and the first of the seven Foxhanger locks is just around the next bend,

First lock of the day, Foxhanger 22.

I went up the seven Foxhanger locks alone and whilst waiting for the last one to fill it was obvious there was a water problem, the level was down about 24" (60cm), a volounteer came along and told me someone had left some paddles up overnight and drained the pounds ahead and further up the flight, they were working on rectifying it. He asked me to keep to the centre of the pound and go straight into the next lock which he would set for me, When I got into the next lock I asked if they wanted me to wait for a boat I thought was following behind me and share, so the lockie checked and agreed, the boat following was not told to keep to the centre of the low pound and never noticed the low water and grounded himself but with help from 3 volounteers they got him moving. From here on things improved dramatically. I was joined by a family of 10, on a 70 footer, so with plenty of crew I only had to assist by organising, sort of, and raising the odd paddle!, lovely jubbly. A very nice family and we went all the way to The Black Horse between locks 47 and 48 together where I left them to it and moored outside the pub, which had been my intention. It had taken around 5.5 to 6 hours overall but was far less work for me than going down the flight!

Crossing boats, one moves to the side,my locking buddy goes in, the other
 boat replaces him in my lock, I then replace him in the other lock and
the boat on the side moves into replace me, easy! and one of many
methods.

Half way up, looking back.

and looking ahead.

Tonight's mooring

Totals today: 3 miles : 26 locks

In the evening a knock on the boat and I found Karl had come along to see me, so we had a drink and a catch up in the pub, a pleasant end to a pleasant day.