To Thatcham and beyond

After spending the Bank Holiday weekend in and around Newbury we have now moved on, first to Thatcham and now beyond into the open countryside.
This meant we had to go through 'Monkey Marsh Lock', which is different - it does not have brick or stone side walls, they are turf.
The lock is longer and appears to be wider than others with a steel framework down the middle to keep the boats in place.

'Constance' waiting in Monkey Marsh Lock

Going down, revealing the vegetation

Now you can see the retaining boards at the bottom

And a nice empty mooring at Thatcham

Weekend in Newbury

From Kintbury we moved on and stopped for a few days at Marsh Benham, here approaching Copse Lock 71.

 



Which is where the main body of the River Kennet first joins the canal (from the right under the footbridge). There is now a variable rate of flow to consider.





Guyers Lock was leaking well, there must have been some debris caught in the right hand paddle. It took a long time to empty!

 As we enter Newbury we meet our first electrically operated swing bridge.

 Judy at the ready as she lowers the road barriers and operates the electric swing bridge

 Now open...

And ready for the lock...





Now we are at Newbury Lock. Thankfully there are no onlookers at the Lock Stock & Barrel to watch our white knuckle ride on to the fast flowing Kennet.

And very quickly we were under the Town Bridge and out the other side.