.......and good timing.
I’d looked at the weather forecast and it was difficult to decide what
time to leave to try and avoid the rain showers, in the end I opted for an
early start so I put a load of washing on in the machine and cast off around
8:15, I had a destination in mind.
First passing the linear residential moorings on the offside
before Bridgewater Boats.
And then into Cassiobury Bridge lock (78) the first of the
day, some of my pictures today are a bit blurry, not sure why but maybe I
rushed them.
The lock was in my favour so I was soon exiting and passing
through Cassiobury Park again.
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| Leaving the lock and heading for Cassiobury Park. |
A couple of interesting boats along this stretch.
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| Nice. |
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| What a great name! |
And then into the next lock (77) which was against me so I had to turn
it, but no rush, the showers were nowhere in sight and it was pleasant
cruising.
Leaving Iron Bridge
lock (77), at 9’ 4” deep this one was the deepest today.
The two Cassiobury Park locks were next and both bottom
gates were open on the first one, as this one has to be left empty it wasn’t an
issue and two walkers kindly waited for me to go into the lock before closing
the gates for me, very nice, I had a quick chat with the lady who told me she
was jealous, she’d been down the Kennet and Avon last year and loved it, I
probably passed her somewhere! As this lock has to be left empty it means
walking back to raise a paddle when you leave going uphill as I now am.
The second lock was against me with both top gates open, so
I had a mental moan about lazy wide beams but having gone through and closed
the left gate the right gate opened, so I pushed the boat across and closed
that one as well, then when I looked back having gone about 50 feet they were
both open again, note to self, don’t always blame lazy boaters, some gates
refuse to stay shut!
The next section of canal is lovely, it turns sharp left passing
Grove Mill then right through the beautiful bridge (164) that gives
access to the manor building then passing the golf course with The Grove, an 18th century mansion, in the distance, another sharp left just through a turnover
bridge to arrive at the next lock, I do enjoy it each time I pass by.
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| Sharp left turn behind me now |
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| Grove Mill now converted to flats. |
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| and a lovely house |
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| Bridge 164 |
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| Golf course, the mansion is hidden from view up on the hill. |
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| Bridge 162c with the M25 above. |
At the first of the two Hunton Bridge locks a chap was
fishing, not a problem where he was stood, he was pulling out a fish every two
minutes but they were tiny, not worth the effort, but he diligently placed them
all in his keep net, the lock was in my favour with a bottom gate open so I was straight in, he never
acknowledged me at all.
At the second of the two locks (72) there are cottages on
each side, the actual lock keepers cottage and a new “Lock Cottage”.
And this is where the post title comes in, I wanted to moor
about ½ mile past the lock but as I was working through the lock the rain came,
a fairly heavy continuous shower, out came the brolly, I cruised very slowly
hoping it would stop before I had to moor up, but no, it stopped just as I
finished mooring! Bad timing, then the good timing, I had just switched off the
engine and was about to text Pete from fuel boat Hyperion, who I knew was
passing through today, when he came around the bend, good timing! So I took 30ltrs of diesel and said goodbye to him for this year, probably.
Current mooring:
I wanted to moor here (where it is quiet) to test out my new whirligig clothes line
which I bought on my Surrey visit along with a ‘Brolly Mate’ which connects to
the tiller to hold either a brolly, whirligig or a Parasol type sunshade, but it’s
been too showery, so inside drying of washing again.
And the young lad turned up and collected his iPhone, he was very grateful.
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