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

How many locks is enough.....

.......29, more than enough.

So today was the day, one of the ‘7 Wonders’ of the canal network, the Caen Hill flight of locks. The actual Caen Hill flight is 16 locks, but when going down you first have to tackle the 7 Devizes locks and after the 16 ‘Hill’ another 6 Foxhangers locks so the total if you do it one go is 29 locks, there are limited possibilities to moor up before and after the actual ‘Hill’ 16, but the emphasis is on limited, today it looked pretty full. You cannot moor anywhere in the 16, they padlock the top and bottom locks between 8pm and 8am and you have to be out! the last allowable entry is 5pm. The total rise (or fall for me today) is 237 feet in just over two miles.

I had heard differing views on the best approach timewise, setting off early gives you plenty of time but going down all the locks would be set against you until you met someone coming up, leaving later it may be busy, or it may not be, so all the locks could still be against you, I decided to leave early.

At 8:15 I set off for the first lock, I was content in the belief that I was going to do the whole 29 in one go, solo and without anyone sharing the locks with me, maybe a volounteer would materialise!

But as I moved off from my mooring a boat a couple of hundred yards back also moved off, I had company!, arriving at the first lock (50) there was a boat partly on the landing, not a great start but room for me to squeeze in on an angle.

First Lock of the day.

I set the lock and opened both gates to allow the following boat in as well, once in we discussed tactics, Steve and Kim on N.b. Bloddery Dorn also Caen Hill virgins, Steve was all for letting me go ahead as a single, but I gently persuaded him the best option was to tie the two boats together with him steering, freeing me up to work the locks with Kim. He was a bit concerned but agreed, so we roped them together, more on that later!

We soon worked out a little system and things were going well, when we arrived at lock 44 the first of the 16 flight, I could see a wide beam in the next lock coming up, it was a hotel boat and fully crewed, this gave Steve reason to wonder on the sanity of my suggested method as he now had to pass the other boat in the short pound, we were just under 14’ wide and they were 12’-ish but he did admirably, pulling over to the side as he left the lock and waiting until there was just enough room before moving into the next lock and out of their way.

The flight is an awesome piece of engineering and looking down from the first lock you can appreciate the skill that went in to the original build, all of the locks are the same size and the same depth at 8’ 2”.

Now then, in the pound between lock 40 and 39 was a nice big C&RT workboat, why one wonders? but it was there, it made the task for Steve to get out of 40 and into 39 exceedingly difficult because of the limited room, and here is when we discovered an error in our roping up, we had tied bow to bow in line, but my boat was longer so we had and overhang behind of 5 or 6 feet, Steve had suggested tying to my brass footstep, and I agreed, I suggested tying my centre line to his roof handrail but it was made from wood, so I checked Steve was happy and he said “yes, that’s solid as rock”. Well as Steve struggled to turn the boats and applied some power the screwheads on my brass footstep sheared off and his wooden hand rail snapped in two, we should have untied and re-tied later!

We went through the next couple of locks as singles but then I suggested another go but this time tying bow to bow in line and tying stern to stern across the angle, hindsight is 100% J No further problems were encountered. Amazingly we only met one other boat coming up and that was at the end of the 16 and despite me waving frantically at them they closed the gates of the lock they were leaving, there is none as blind as those that don’t LOOK!

A couple of mid flight pictures:-

Steve working hard on the tiller

Kim working hard on the paddle

And of course the iconic looking back up the Caen Hill fight of 16 as Steve was leaving lock 29.

We finished the 29 in 5 hours, including minor problems and lack of assistance from either volounteers or boats coming up, not a bad effort.

I moored up on the visitor moorings at Sells Green fortunate to find the only space and then as I was tying up the boat behind moved off so I hurried forward and told Steve and Kim who were struggling trying to get to the side and they reversed back and moored behind me, a lovely end to a hard day, we have agreed to meet in the pub later and remind ourselves of how well we all did, that’s if I can walk J

No'Tonights mooring' pictures, the internet is too slow and there is a pint with my name on it in 'The Three Pidgeons'.

Totals today: 3 miles : 29 locks

By the way, for those interested the 7 Wonders are explained here I've now completed 2 of the 7.

Devizes.

I set off at 10:15 for an assumed 1 hr run into Devizes in dull overcast weather, where is the sunshine?, my thought process being if I arrive by 11:15ish those moving on will have gone and those coming up the Caen Hill flight of locks won’t have arrived yet, so there should be spaces on the 72 hour moorings.

It was a straightforward no lock cruise passing first Devizes Marina Village with its wharf facilities.

 And ‘The Hourglass’ pub.

The water had what appeared to be algae covering most of it and was more or less completely across it after bridge 136 but it makes no difference to the cruising, it just looks odd, carpet-like.

Entering Devizes proper you are met with this quaint but slightly out of focus model of a narrow boat and log plaque with the date 1802 on it, I wondered how they made them out of focus, some new fangled technique no doubt J.

Looking ahead through bridge 140 I could see the visitor moorings and it looked busy, I began to think there might be a flaw in my earlier logic, and passing the winding hole I realised they were full and there was indeed a flaw, I had arrived 3 minutes too early, for stood on the back of a moored boat was a candidate for casting off, I asked if he was going and he confirmed he was so I hovered just past him and once he had left I reversed into the gap, lovely, 72 hr mooring and a chance to get a few chores done before moving on.

Current Mooring:

Total today: 3 miles

First on the agenda was a trip to the launderette, washing is not a problem as I have a machine, but drying in this weather is hopeless, so I asked Mr Google and walked the 7 minutes to get a load done, maybe another load tomorrow. 

On my return to the boat I saw that a brand new wide beam was about to be craned off its low-loader into the water at Devizes Wharf, almost opposite my mooring, so washing put away first and then I recorded the goings on.

Off the lorry and moving out.

Out further and starting to swing around to straighten up.

Almost there.

Commence lowering.

All going to plan.

Splashdown, well no splash to speak of, but you know what I mean!

I zoomed in for a pic of the figurehead thing, with the goggles on,
no doubt when the boat is named the reason for this will be obvious
some sort of Indian, it looked permanent.

It all went smoothly and no doubt the owners will be taking charge of it soon and I hope they keep all the shiny paint for at least a few days!

I then took a stroll around the town, it is a bit rambling and like most larger towns didn’t inspire me at all, but it seemed quite nice, a mandatory couple of pictures of the large church.

And one of the waterside buildings housing the Kennet and Avon museum, head quarters, gift shop and tea rooms.

And one of the moorings taken from bridge 140.

As it turned out........

.......another short cruise to another pub.

My time was up at All Cannings this morning and the weather was dry and warm, so it was into short sleeves at last and after my normal Sunday fry-up breakfast I set off around 9:45 with my routine type of cruising plan in mind, that is set a final destination, with a couple of ‘maybe’ mooring stops if they look ok and there is space.

The final destination for this cruise was to be Devizes, but first I had a couple of swing bridges to deal with, the first being bridge number 129, with no-one either ahead or behind it was down to me to open and close it, on the K&A most of these are easy with landing points on the non-towpath control side, so I was soon through that one.

I then passed this little mushroom boat..........there’s not mushroom inside......boom boom, so sorry, some things have to be said J but it was a little cutie.

As I mentioned before, in some places along this pound the reeds encroach on the canal a fair way making it narrow, and because of their height difficult to see approaching boats on bends, so of course it was in one of these areas that I came bow to bow with a wide beam, I guessed it was his right of way, as he was bigger than me, and I had to reverse about four boat lengths to find a wider section to allow us to pass each other without plowing through the reeds, no time for pictures when these situations arise.

I could see a boat in the distance ahead and I was gaining on them and coming around the bend to swing bridge 133 he was just starting to go through, unfortunately his lady did not look back at all and closed the bridge after him, she was walking back across it as I approached the landing area but still did not see me at all, or if she did, chose to ignore me. After stopping to re-open it, I went through as a boat approached in the other direction so I was able to leave it open for him, so not all bad!

 I arrived at the visitor moorings at Horton outside ‘The Bridge Inn’ to find room for me so I decided to take advantage and stop there overnight, there was an obstruction somewhere under the water where I pulled in and as I was tying up the chap on the boat behind me came to apologise for not seeing me at the swing bridge, they had stopped for a drink, I told him it was ok but as I could not get my stern in to the edge I asked him if he would mind moving  back a bit, he didn't mind and moved for me, making amends for the earlier treatment, all was well with the world again!

Tonight's mooring:

Totals today: 3.5 miles : 2 swing bridges

Trouble behind.

This morning I was just fiddling about in my battery compartment when a boat came around the bend behind me in reverse,  reversing these boats is not easy and he was using his pole to fend him away from the trees and a friend was helping to keep him away from the moored boats and as he slowly drew alongside me he told me there was a tree down blocking the canal, I thought it had been quiet, there are now about three boats waiting but the first chap must have reversed all the way to the nearest winding (turning) hole and gone back the way he came.

Now here’s something I’ve not seen for a while.

Yes, blue sky and white clouds, we had a few very brief light showers earlier but now it is lovely for a change, so nice in fact that I took myself off to the village of All Cannings, about a 10 minute walk away.

It is another good example of a small peaceful hamlet, no traffic to speak of; just the sound of the breeze in the trees and birdsong, beautiful, and it cements my dislike of major towns and cities.

Take a look; this is the view as you walk along the byway leading to the village, it certainly beats the busy dual carriageway running alongside the flat I used live in!

And as you enter the village within a few hundred yards this chocolate box lid cottage, the first of many properties with thatched roofs.

At the far end of ‘The Street’ is ‘All Saints’ church dating from the 13^th century, obviously there have been a few changes to the original which probably looked nothing like the current church, which is looking in need of some restoration in certain parts.

This is the church end of ‘The Street’ which is the central road in the village.

 And this is the other end, fancy having that great big hill obstructing your view J , I believe it is Clifford’s Hill, and this was the route back to the canal.

But before I returned to the boat I had a look at “The King’s Arms” tucked down Pub Lane, wonderful J, I didn’t venture in or take a picture because there was what looked to be a warm-up party for a wedding milling around.

I then visited the Community Store, run by the community for the community, although they did let me buy some milk, I think I got dispensation as a boater J. Surprising well stocked with local and national produce and I would imagine they would order in any requirements of the villagers that were not stocked.

A couple more views that took my fancy on the return walk.

And then it was back on board for a cup of tea and to ponder what life would be like if I lived there instead of just passing through, no, I’ll stick to my Quinquireme for now thank you, I could not afford it anyway!

Slowly onwards.

My overnight at Honeystreet was very pleasant, I was a bit concerned that being as close as I was to the Barge Inn it may have been noisy, but it wasn’t and it was a shame that it was only a 24hr mooring which meant moving on again today.

A very short run to All Cannings it only took about 45minutes but I was pleased to find a 48hr visitor mooring in what looks quite a pleasant setting and I will no doubt stay the 48hrs.

Just a couple of pictures of the ‘trip’.

I thought someone was barbecuing breakfast, but it was the engine.

A little overgrown in places, needs a trim!

Tonights mooring:

A nice wide towpath and the grass was mown just before I arrived, shame the sun isn't out or I'd be sitting out there with a beer and a book!

The internet signal is ok as is mobile phone, TV signal is good if there was anything worth watching, at least there is Formula 1 qualifying tomorrow J

View from side hatch

Total today about 1.5 miles.