Photos

Happy Sunday afternoon with Janice,Dave,Emily and Oliver

Hunters Moon in a turf sided lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Newbury

Lucky!

D

'Dragons Teeth' - a WWII defence in case the Germans invaded.

Pill boxes and these defences on bridges abound along the canal.

'The way through the woods' near Crofton.

Crofton Pumping Station

Sadly, closed!

(Only open on special steaming days)

Wonderful Wilton Windmill! A five floor brick built tower mill-still working! (But not on the day we visited!)

It just came off in my hand!

Fairy lights on Hunters Moon through the Bruce Tunnel.

New thatch on The Royal Oak in Wootten Rivers.

Unusual clock face on St Andrews Church, Wootton Rivers

A step back in time at the Pewsey Railway Station Waiting Room

Bristol

Wow! After weeks of tranquility we emerged onto the Floating Harbour on a buzzing Saturday afternoon. The noise of young people enjoying a Saturday summers afternoon in and around the harbour was an enjoyable shock to the system. We are looking forward to seeing some of the sights that Bristol has to offer including the SS Great Britain.

Since we left Bradford on Avon we have enjoyed a BBQ on the banks at Claverton on a lovely balmy evening and we have got foot weary whilst exploring the delights of beautiful Bath.

Bradford-on-Avon

We have just spent a most enjoyable time with Jenny's brother Chris and his wife Pauline at this delightful little town.

Sid was also able to get his blood test done at the local Health Centre this afternoon. The staff at the health centre were so helpful and the appointments receptionist was also so understanding and very efficient. We have always been thoroughly satisfied with our surgery and hospital in Chi but this was efficiency above and beyond anything we are used to. The temporary patient form was issued and completed in about 5 minutes. The form then had to go to the admin office for Sids details to be put on their system which took less than5 mins. Sid was then able to go to theappointments desk where he was offered an appointment for the afternoon. When he arrived t the health centre he was seen bang on time and in less than 5 mins he had had his blood taken, tested and been given the results. We were both very impressed and of course it saved Sid spending Tuesday travelling to Chi and back. So onward toward Bath and Bristol tomorrow!

Semington

Well, we did it! The Caen Hill flight! We descended the 29 locks with Richard and Simon( not our Richard and Simon) on Clara Pay in just under 6 hours. They drop the canal 237 feet in just over 2 miles. It was a wonderful experience, if somewhat of an endurance test, and the sun shone with a stiff breeze at times, the company was good and we look forward to the return journey! At the top lock of the main flight we came across Bob, the real deal when it comes to CRT help. He gave us a few pointers and sent us on our way. The flight was suffering from too much water so we ha to be cautious of not trapping the boat in front of us in the lock by letting our water out too soon. The views and the sight of Hunters Moon and Clara Pay going into and out of locks side by side in perfect harmony is one that will live with me for years to come!

Having emerged from the last lock with legs and arms aching we moored at the nearest spot then relaxed in the glorious late afternoon sun and enjoyed a few drinks and a BBQ. We felt very pleased with ourselves!

Next day we decided to have a non boating day. We got the bikes out and cycled up the flight back to Devizes ( they are electric so the route uphill was a doddle for two oldies!). Our destination was the Wadsworth Brewery Tour. It was brilliant! DAC, our guide, was entertaining and informative and after the 2 hour tour then delighted us with a beer tasting session. We were in seventh heaven!

A brilliant couple of days!

Now at Semington after a short journey today under overcast skies.

Bradford-on-Avon next but maybe a visit to Lidl for Sid tomorrow!

Devizes

Well, here we are moored just a few yards from the first lock of the Caen Hill Flight, one of the wonders of the waterways.

It was a relief today to do a stretch of the canal with no locks. We'll be making up for it tomorrow  (or Friday).

Where has summer gone? For the past few days the weather has been more March than June!

Today, although we were optimistic and started out in shorts, we both ended up in long trousers, several layers and gloves. Some boaters even had woolly hats on. It was freezing! And the wind! Oh, the wind!

The countryside that we passed through today was really stunning. We saw a couple of the white horses that the area is renowned for and also passed an isolated camping field, which we parked our motorhome in when we were searching for a narrowboat.

Lots of locks ahead of us tomorrow so we are girding our loins for our journey downhill by having a pint in The Silk Mercer in Devizes.

Crofton

Sadly the pumping station is closed so we decided to walk to find the windmill at Wilton. However, before we got to the windmill we found a pub, The Swan so guess where we re now? A sleepy afternoon now ahead of us! The beer is straight from the cask and beautiful!!!

Still trying to add photos for previous posts. Sorry!

Hungerford

Jenny is amazed to get a signal on board! She is perched at the corner of the galley with fingers crossed that she can stay connected long enough to finish!

We remained in Thatcham an extra dày after an early phone call from Janice and Dave  who fancied a run out to find us! After an excellent Sunday Roast in the Swan we enjoyed a walk  followed by tea and cake on board. Oliver was a really good boy and Emily enjoyed feeding the ducks and eating fruit cake! Dave had a little shut eye and Janice oversaw events. It was so good to see them all.

We had a very long day on Monday. We began the day sharing locks with Andy and Richard in their boat Carpe Diem. It is always so much nicer to have some company and it definitely eases the load. We said goodbye at Newbury but our paths will no doubt cross again. We ventured on with the aim of getting to Hungerford. However, the wind grew all afternoon and the rain started so called it a day at Kintbury. Jenny was much relieved because the locks seemed to be getting harder and heavier as time went on. Tireness and weakness set in! Hope it's not a sign of getting old!!

We left early this morning in very blustery conditions to get to Hungerford for Sid to get his train back to Chi for his weekly blood tests.

The wind is due to ease and we are forecast to get a spell of summer over the next few days.