Devizes to Semington

Devizes (Caen Hill) lock flight due to re-open on Saturday 10th July. We joined Contance at Coate Bridge on Friday eveing and took her to Devizes Wharf and joined the queue. Saturday morning we started off downhill.

After a couple of hours we had made it to the bottom of the main Caen Hill flight and paused for a moment to look back.

By evening we had arrived at Sells Green and stayed for the night.

Sunday morning we set off for Seend Cleeve, by the Barge Inn for water and Loo stop.

By mid afternoon it was almost unbearably hot so we pulled in to have 'Tea & Cake' and a rest. There was a boat ahead of us, similarly moored for refreshments. We recognised them as friends from our local village. The Bishop family had joined Jane on 'About Time' (normally moored near us at Great Bedwyn) for a day trip. It is a small world!

Rosie and Gordon, with windlasses, ready to set the next lock for 'About Time'

As the day cooled, we moved on and stopped at Semington, near where the Wilts & Berks canal used to be.

Great Bedwyn to Devizes

On the weekend of 3rd July we started our journey to Bath. The aim of the trip is to arrive in Bath on about the 3rd weekend in August. The Devizes (Caen Hill) lock flight was closed for a while due to urgent repairs being necessary because of a 'boat strike' at one of the lower locks. This is the first time we have played car and boat leapfrog.
Starting off about lunchtime on Saturday Judy and Alison moved towards the start of the Crofton Flight as I moved the car nearer. I helped with locks/steered etc., until the top of Crofton where we stopped for a well earned 'tea & cake'. I was about to walk back to the car to 'leapfrog' to Wootton Rivers, when the engine would not start. The starter motor would not kick in. After about an hour of tracing wiring, checking switches and relays I discovered the starter solenoid wire dangling below the starter. The vibrations had caused it to drop off. Repaired, boat started, we were each on our way in opposite directions.
I walked back to the car and drove to Wootton Rivers whilst Judy and Alison made their way along the canal to meet me. We eventually met at Wootton Rivers top lock, worked our way to the bottom, so that we were at the start of the Long Pound and stayed the night.
Sunday morning, bright and early, the womenfolk started towards Pewsey, we met again briefly, then leapfrog to Honey Street for lunch. Afternoon leapfrogs were to the two operational swing bridges. Eventually arriving at Coate Bridge in the evening.

Kennet & Avon 200 Year Anniversary Celebrations at Great Bedwyn

On Saturday June 5th Great Bedwyn haeld a celebration ceremony to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the canal. The 'Rose of Hungerford' arrived with various 'dignitaries', the K&A Trust were well represented and the canal users and villagers came of offer their support.
The celebration culminated with fellow canal enthusiasts Timothy West & Prunella Scales unveiling a celebratory plaque which will be mounted for all to see.

Timothy West giving his unveiling speech.

Prunella joining in with the applause.

And here is the plaque, now unveiled. All we now need is somewhere to permanently mount it, so that all can read and enjoy it. The information on the plaque is similar to other tourist information boards and shows local walks, items of interest around the canal at Great Bedwyn and shows some of the flora and fauna to look out for.

Ratty and friends

Wildlife is abundant along our wonderful canal system. We have enjoyed watching the little black bundles of fluff that are Moorhen chicks. We have watched mother duck herding her brood together and getting them to paddle in one direction with her continuous quiet chatter.

Kingfishers are an occasional treat. We can usually work out where their fishing perches are, so if a photographer wanted to 'stake-out' a kingfisher, I am sure we could help.
Water voles are stated to be our most endangered mammal and indeed we do not normally see them, so it came as a pleasant surprise that, whilst duck watching, we saw movement on the far bank immediately opposite our mooring. It was 'Ratty' & 'Mrs Ratty' busying themselves along the bank, through the vegetation, with occasional trips into the water. Regrettably too far away for a photograph.
Later in the evening we went for a walk around 'Freeman's Marsh' and were delighted to see another water vole sat on the abundant floating water weed. Three within an hour and within half a mile!

Spring Bank Holiday long weekend

It was great to get away for the long weekend, the weather was variable, some rain, drizzle and some sunshine. Typical Bank holiday weekend weather actually.
We left Great Bedwyn on Saturday morning and made our way towards Hungerford. In the end the rain beat us and we stopped before Froxfield bottom lock for the night. It continued to rain well into the night.
Sunday was a better day. We moved on to Hungerford and stopped just beyond the town. Alison & I went back to town for shopping, then we moved on to Kintbury. We moored along the visitor moorings and enjoyed a warm sunny evening. I went for a short walk around the village and along the canal.
The television decided it was time to die, just as 'Lewis' was about to start, so there would be no more televison this holiday.
Monday we moved on towards Hamstead. I wanted to see what effect there would be when the Kennet joined and left the canal. The river was very calm but the effect could be felt. At least we would know what to expect if the river was in spate. After Hamstead lock, we turned round and made our way back to Hungerford, stopping near the Church for the night.
Tuesday was wet again. It started with drizzle and did not really clear up all day. Upon leaving Hungerford, the first lock is Cobbler's Lock, we had just got through when Alison missed her footing and fell into the canal from the boat. Judy and I were finishing off the closing of gates/raising of paddles when Judy heard the cry for help.
Alison was stepping ashore with the mid line to hold the boat whilst we finished off, she mis-judged the distance and slid into the canal, still holding on to the rope. With the added weight of the water she was unable to climb aboard the boat that had drifted well out of our reach. She held on to the rope and eventually found enough of the length to throw the line to me. We pulled the boat towards the bank, with Alison still holding on to the rope. As soon as she was close enough, we were able to haul her out of the water. As there was nobody about, she took off most of her wet outer garments and went below. There was plenty of hot water to wash with and soon, in dry clothing we were on our way again.
We had a realtively uneventful journey to Great Bedwyn.
Wednesday, because we were going home, was a glorious day. We stayed as late as we could and enjoyed the sunshine.

Too hot to work...

The weekend 22nd/23rd May was extremely hot. I was trying to paint part of the top of the boat, the area normally covered by the hatch. I found rust patches and decided to clean them up and paint the area. The paint was virtually drying on the brush as I was applying it. Coupled with the fact that the pussy willow trees were disseminating their seed - it was like a snowstorm. The little seed thingys were sticking to the paint. It was a painting nightmare so I gave up. It was too hot to do much gardening - the bankside greenery was growing so well that it would not be long before we would not be able to see out of the windows. I trimmed some of the branches of the overhanging pussy willow so I could get my aerials up without them getting tangled, then had to settle down with a cool beer.
It was a case of build some form of sunshade and enjoy the relaxation.

I like the new LEDs!

Having read of the advantages of LED modules to replace the halogen lighting in the 'lounge', I decided to purchase three LED replacement MR11 units from a young lady pirate who advertises such items for sale.
Replacing the units themselves was easy, just remove the old ones and plug in the new and test them. I must say, the 'warm white' modules were at least as bright as our previously fitted 20W modules and at 2.4W each they represent a considerable saving on the leisure battery.
Time to look at replacing the fluorescent tubed modules methinks...