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

Still at Newbury.

We decided to stay at Newbury for around a week, the weather forecast was not great and proved to be fairly accurate with heavy rain showers most days.

I have passed the time doing little jobs and painting in the breaks in the weather.

There is a Tesco within easy walking distance so I topped up again with all the non perishables, a Screwfix nearby so spent some money on a new palm sander  and some draught excluder, there is also a paint store so I spent a fortune on a small amount of paint, why is paint so expensive these days!

Anyway I have fitted the draught excluder to the bow doors and a bit along the back of the sliding roof hatch and finally completed the long project of painting the bow well area and deck, this began almost a year ago when I altered the wiring to the tunnel light and horn!

As there is not much else to say I thought I’d thrill you all with a picture or several of this area.

Before any work, wiring ran along the deck and was connected with a terminal block.

I painted the gas locker lid.

And altered the wiring to come out of the bulkhead and be unplug-able.

I painted 2 non slip panels on the locker lid and highlighted the 'rivets',
hinges and deck cleat in black.

Finished

We will probably move on Monday.

On to Newbury.

The weather was decidedly wet when I awoke today with constant rain, but it eased off ready for our departure from the 48 hour moorings at Thatcham at around 10:50am.

The day got off to a good start when we found an unofficial lock volunteer at the first lock of the day, Monkey Marsh lock (90), what a lovely name for this 6’ 8” deep turf sided lock, and as Karl and I chatted on our respective boats waiting for it to fill I completely forgot my camera.

It was another pleasant cruise,

What seems to be typical Kennet & Avon canal so far.

We missed most of the showers, the only problem we encountered was one of the swing bridges which Karl had a real struggle trying to open, so much so that in the end I tied to his boat and assisted him, it was really heavy with very little balance, and every time you eased off with pushing it moved back a bit, anyway we got it open in the end.

Leaving the offending swing bridge behind.

A slight wait at the last lock of the day.

Approaching Newbury it was nearly 2pm and we decided to take the first available mooring, so we have stopped just after Greenham lock (86) about a 5 minute walk from the town itself.

Having moored and got sorted I took a quick stroll into town to find an auto spares shop and purchased oil and filter ready for the next change, due in about 70 hours, while it was on my mind.

We are not far from various grocery superstores so tomorrow will be a ‘big’ shop to stock up, the wine is running low J and a look around the town, weather permitting.

Tonights mooring

Totals today: 3.5 miles : 5 locks : 2 swing bridges 

Pleasant enough......

...but not much to write about.

We decided to use yesterday as a rest day, the muggy weather makes for tiring work at the locks and although we haven’t had many long days a rest was called for.

Today again a very muggy start but we had stayed our 48hrs on the visitor moorings at Woolhampton so we set off around 9:45 for another short cruise to Thatcham.

At the first swing bridge Karl was leading and he opened the bridge, I had moved through and tied up to close it when the couple who had been moored behind me at Woolhampton appeared and so I left it open for them.

Heale’s lock (93) was next and Karl started preparing it, there was room on the lock landing so I tied up as well and went to assist, at 8’ 11” it’s quite a big lock and even with a good flow into it, took some time to fill, long enough for the couple behind to catch up and offer to close the gates as we left.

Next was swing bridge 35.

Karl closing up

Not a lot to photograph again, but this church was in the distance, quite a high zoom, and I’ve no idea where it actually was J

Next was Midgham lock (92) and I opened up and closed afterwards while Karl moved up to Colthrop lock (91), I hovered midstream at this one and then as we went through sent Karl on his way to find a mooring while I closed up.

So here we are at Thatcham, a very short uneventful cruise with not a lot to see or say, we will stay here tomorrow as well.

Tonights mooring

Totals today: 3 miles : 3 locks : 2 swing bridges

A short, hot trip.......

.....with an exciting finish.

At 9am Karl headed off towards Aldermaston Lift Bridge which is not operational in the rush hour, 8am -9am, while I called in to the chandlery and purchased a refill gas bottle (£26.25), meanwhile Karl set the lock and which is immediately after the bridge and when he spotted me approaching he opened the lift bridge and I went through and into the lock, Karl then went through the bridge and reversed back into position to close the bridge before entering the lock as well.

Karl leaving Aldermarston lock behind.

It was an uneventful cruise although very nice and bendy in the vicinity of Frouds Bridge Marina but not much worthy of a picture.

Shortly after we reached Woolhampton swing bridge and lock which is supposed to be the most difficult on the Kennet when water levels are high. The swing bridge is adjacent to the Rowbarge pub, so plenty of onlookers during opening hours but we were early. After the swing bridge and just before the lock entrance the river Kennet joins the canal and it is here that the fun can be had! I walked ahead to survey the situation and found a widebeam was coming down the lock, so when he was ready I opened the bridge and bought Quinquireme through and tied up, Karl followed passing the widebeam who had left the lock and went straight into the lock, well as straight as you can when the river is pushing you away from it!, I then closed the bridge after the widebeam had passed and went in to the lock myself, yes the current although calm had quite an effect and it was hard throttle and tiller over to avoid bashing the right hand side of the lock entrance,quite exciting, but I made it in ok......just !

Judging by the tyres along this permanently mooored boat it must get
side swiped quite regularly.

Leaving Woolhampton lock, happy.

The Rowbarge pub taken from the swing bridge.

After the lock we moored for a cuppa and decided to stay put, it was lovely and hot and I had a load of washing to get dry so that went on to the bow well deck J. I then went for a walk into Woolhampton village for some milk and squash. A nice little village but too hot to wander far here’s a few snaps.

Every village needs two pubs! The Angel 2minutes walk from the Rowbarge

On returning to the boat this little launch was moored behind me.

Totals today : 2 miles : 2 locks : 1 lift bridge : 1 swing bridge

A long hot day, and a good deed.

We set off around 10:15 in very muggy conditions. The Kennet is very rural at the moment mostly lined with trees one side or other and fairly high vegetation on the other.

We passed through Burfield lock (103) at 7 feet deep without any problem as the water levels are low and calm currently the weirs aren’t too much problem either.

 Passing beneath the busy M4.

Garston lock was the first turf sided lock I’ve tackled and although not a problem in itself the ladder placement and lack of lock side to walk along meant a couple of trips up and down the ladder until I was happy with my position and ready to fill the lock. no photos as I was busy!

Sheffield lock was a lovely little lock with scalloped sides and at 2’ 2” deep a pleasant distraction from the heat which was now beginning to build, without too much effort.

Karl sliding gracefully into Sheffield Lock

We then moved on through Sulhamstead lock (100) and various swing bridges, stopping at the service point before the swing  bridge and lock at Tyle Mill. After the usual fill and empty we worked out a plan for dealing with these two features which are close together and on a fairly busy road, I went ahead and set the lock then opened the swing bridge, Karl moved through the bridge and entered the lock while I returned to my boat, I then bought my boat through the swing bridge while Karl went and closed the bridge after me, we then dealt with the lock in the usual manner.

Then the little bit of excitement and the rescue, a walker on the towpath called out to me that someone had gone the wrong way, and as the stricken boat came into view I could see lots of smoke from her engine and realised  what had happened, the lady steerer had begun to go towards the weir before realising her mistake and getting herself wedged across the weir entrance, that was probably lucky for had she gone further she might have been in real trouble and out of view, any way I offered assistance which was gratefully accepted and with Karl videoing proceedings eventually got her out.

Wedged across the mouth of the backwater to the weir.

Dragging her out so she can head off the right way, on the right!

Karl did have to take evasive action as she headed towards him in reverse, but her engine was so smoky and noisy she never heard me telling her to put it in neutral J it all worked out though and she went on her way relieved and happy.

We stopped briefly on the lock landing at Towney lock (97) for a bite to eat, the heat and the longer than expected cruise was taking its toll and we needed fuel for our bodies! 

At 9’ 8” deep, big and wide with paddles half way up the gates this lock has a potential for problems, the flow is tremendous but with both of us watching boats carefully and diligent use of the paddles we got through safely.

By the time we had got through the next lock, Padworth (96) we were both ready to stop, it was hot and muggy and we were tired, we paid to moor overnight at Aldermaston Wharf stopping around 4pm and then had a cooling beer on a wooden bench in the shade! A lovely end to a lovely but hard hot day, of course it would not be England with rain, so we had a heavy shower for an hour cooling the temperature.

Totals today : 6 miles : 7 locks : 5 swing bridges