An eventful mixed day.

I cast off this morning at around 9am, it was dull and breezy as I headed for the first swing bridge, so far most of these bridges on the K&A have been easy, with landings on the non-towpath side which is a massive help to the single hander, this one looked no different as I approached. Having tied up and walked up to the bridge I realised it was right by a winding (turning) hole and the result of that meant there was no landing area on the other side of it, there was an area about 4’ by 4’ that I could reverse my stern against but nothing to tie to. No problem, I thought, so having opened the bridge and gone through I attempted to reverse to the desired spot, with the wind blowing me out of position it took about eight attempts but I got there eventually and just as I had closed it and put the lock back a woman appeared with a windlass, what did I say the other day, there’s none as blind as those that don’t LOOK, my excuse was she definitely wasn’t in sight when I started trying to get on point, and my frustration with the wind prevented me noticing her arrival later!

Arriving at the first lock I thought it only polite to wait for them to arrive, so I waited, when they got close the steerer took the boat to the landing, ‘what is he doing?’ thinks I, both lock gates were open and I was clearly waiting for him, anyway same woman walks up and tells me they are travelling with a single hander, who was two boats back, but I should pair up with the next boat, ok, so I waited some more, it all sorted itself out J

Waiting in the lock, I did pull the boat to one side when someone finally joined me.

Here they come, but the boat who eventually joined me was still one behind :-)

I went through the next two locks with the very nice couple and when we arrived at the service point opposite ‘The Barge Inn’ we both stopped to fill and empty.

The Barge Inn

There were 24hr visitor moorings there and the other boat decided to stay put, but while filling my tank a young lady from the boat in front asked me if she could share the locks ahead with me, so we did that, after two locks only she decided to moor up and stay as well, I began to wonder if it was me!

My second lock buddy of the day moors at the end of the line.

There were 3 swing bridges before the next lock, The first was no trouble at all, but the second one (156) defeated me, push as hard as I may I could not swing it, it shifted a few inches and that was all, I resigned  myself to waiting for assistance and fortunately with ten minutes help arrived in the form of another single hander going the opposite direction, between us we opened it as a boat arrived going my way, so we waved then through then we swopped landings and closed it together.

My nemesis.

At the next swing bridge the other boat waved me through and I then waited for them at the next lock (16) but not before passing over the aqueduct that has a traffic island on it.

We shared the next two Semington locks passing Semington Dock in between them,

there were four aboard and lovely helpful people, and at the second lock one chap was busy explaining lock procedure to some new hirers who were very slightly confused and watched us with intent.

We then parted company as my third lock buddies of the day they moored up as well.

The new hirers heading in, both lock gates wide open, should be fine!

This caused me to look twice, and the steerer was looking lots of times as there was no way he could see straight ahead but we passed each other at this defunct bridge hole without incident.

I was through Hilperton without finding a suitable mooring and a passing boater had told me Bradford on Avon was very busy when I had inquired, there was a gap just before the visitor moorings (big enough for just two boats, a joke really) so I moved into that, I could not get the stern closer than about three feet from the bank, but I am close enough, and the new gangplank was christened.

Tonight’s mooring:

Totals today: 8 miles : 7 locks : 4 swing bridges