After Mr Tesco kindly did our shopping and delivered it to our boat we upped sticks at 11am yesterday morning
After passing through Woolhampton Swing-bridge I enter our first lock of the day, George (hubby) has opened the sluice one click only and just look at the force of the water coming into the lock chamber!
Lucky at lock number 2 Old Heale's I had to wait for a few minutes for these two boats to come out ...
... then it was my turn - it's a deep one 8'11" and my stern rope is not long enough to come back to me!
... in the very near distance there you can see swing bridge number 3 of the day.
I'm on my own steering RnR today as the swing-bridges and locks come every quarter/half mile or so, that's a fallen tree across half of the channel so slowly does it ...
... as George is walking all the way to set the locks etc., in readiness - this is Midgham Lock and bridge.We stick our bow into the bank just past the lock, throw the ropes and tie up for lunch; it's now 1pm and we've only done 2 miles, 3 locks and 3 swing-bridges, albeit against the river flow and against the blustery wind ... slow going indeed.
Along this stretch of the K&A are lots of lakes formed from gravel pits and here is another one in the making ...
... on the other side is lovely rolling countryside.
Molly our small Patterdale Terrier doesn't care a jot - so long as she's in sight of me!
And yet another lake to be on my left ...
... and a host of Buddleia on the right - it almost glows!
Lovely ...
Just around the corner I can see the next lock but no sign of my crew - I pass through Thatcham Bridge and there he is waving for me to pull in onto the 48-hour moorings, this will do us for today.
As soon as my washing is out to dry we set off for a walk; apparently Greenham Common is just up the hill from here. We approach Monkey Marsh Lock ...
.. another turf sided lock - at least there are decent places to tie up when in there.
Up the hill after crossing the canal ...
... past some pretty farm buildings ...
Not a lot to see, all the buildings have been demolished and the runway has been taken up and rubble etc., put down to make the flat area unusable for aircraft to land; it is now common land. This is the only bit left - an underground fuel store.
A sports stadium is on the perimeter - the Americans were based here and they would have had all the facilities at their disposal whilst posted here in the UK.
Now cattle ...
... breed ...
... and chew the cud on the land.
On our way back down the hill - there's Molly checking out any messages left by other canines ...
... back to Thatcham moorings and the Swan family ...
... Cheers!
I cycled the K&A soon after it was reopened, a while back now! Most enjoyable experience - Batheaston (I think it was called, canal-side pub) to Wilton (again, I think, pub lunch in decentish bar in village) then on to Arundel, West Sussex. Ironically, I didn't see a single NB on the move the whole time. Lots moored at Bradford, but - sadly - not a sign of one at the Caen flight. Almost killed me going up by that time. I could have doe with a lift from an NB there, I can tell you!
ReplyDeleteYou certainly get about Iain!
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