Down the hill!

Friday evening Judy and Alison joined me on the boat at Devizes in preparation for the descent of the Caen Hill flight of locks.
Saturday morning, bright and early Mum & Heather joined us. Alison was eating her breakfast & I was on my way into Devizes to buy fresh bread & rolls for lunch. The idea behind the bread rolls is that it is easy to make up a roll and pass it out to one of the 'locking crew'. By the time we got to the bottom it was mid afternoon.

The view back up the Caen Hill Lock Flight on a dull afternoon.

The weather was a bit variable with the odd April Shower so we decided to go for a short walk and then stay on board for a meal. Heather, Mum and Alison went home leaving Judy and myself on board.
Sunday we went down the remaining six locks to Foxhangers.

Peering out through Foxhangers Lock to the place where the Fox Hire Boats live.

Then on though between the piers of the old railway and on to Sells Green.

To Devizes Wharf

Sunday morning started of lovely and sunny! One of the local swans came begging...

Then it was move on, under 'Ladies Bridge' and on to Honey Street for lunch. There must have been a hippy music festival going on last night, there were signs of packing up and hangovers. The Barge Inn appears to be open again though I did not partake.
There were more clouds in the sky and the wind was getting keener so I pushed on to All Cannings and stopped. There I took a walk to the village, looked at the shop and the pub. Interestingly the local telephone box (abandoned by BT) is the local lending library!
Moving on towards Devizes as it was getting colder and duller. By the time I arrived at Devizes Wharf it was very cold and slightly damp. I was pleased to get inside and warm up.

Good Bye Great Bedwyn

Friday - I used my Age Concession Bus Pass to make the journey from home to Great Bedwyn. This was so that I did not have a car to worry about as I moved westward. So, it was goodbye to my mooring above Church Lock...

Heading past Crofton...

And stopping for the night in a remote spot.

At dusk I was rewarded with a prolonged sighting of a Barn Owl swooping along the opposite bank hunting for a meal.
Saturday morning it was off down the Wootton Rivers flight and on towards Pewsey.

Just before Pewsey warnings of dredging!

And a dredger!

And proof of their endeavours, newly made up banks and towpath.

It was such a nice afternoon I stopped, walked into Pewsey and enjoyed a pint in 'The Waterfront'

'The Waterfront' at Pewsey Wharf.
My stop for the night was at Wilcot Wide Water, it was wonderfully peaceful...

 

Preparing for the 'Off'

Last minute preparations have now been made for the start of the journey westwards.
Domestic water - check!
Loos emptied - check!
Rubbish gone - -check!
Engine oil & water - check!
Engine start and run happily - check!
Everything safely stowed - check!
Ready to go...

A Weekend in London

Judy and I spent last weekend in London. London is somewhere we very rarely go, so it was a particular treat for us. The children had (for our birthdays and Christmas) bought vouchers for a West End Show and Sunday Lunch at the Ritz.
We visited St Pauls, Covent Garden and many other places.

Judy on the Easter Bunnies at Covent Garden Market

On Saturday evening we saw Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap'.

 



To the Ritz for Sunday Lunch!



We arrived for a One O' Clock Lunch - Canapés, Starter, Main Course, Sweet Course, Petit-Fours and Tea/Coffee. Wonderful as you would expect! We left about a quarter to four.

Judy with Vegetarian Gnocchi

Beautiful Roast Beef - carved at the table.

Chocolate Soufflé and Milk Ice-cream

 

Followed by Petit-fours

 

Washed down with tea and coffee

Whilst being entertained by a pianist...

 

...in beautifully opulent surroundings!

Thanks to David and Alison for the ideas and for paying for it!