Friday 22nd July - after reversing for water we're off once again - we're looking for a mooring for the night between Hungerford and Great Bedwyn.
Looking back to Hungerford Bridge from lock 74 ... George has found a windlass perhaps belonging to the K&A charity boat that left before us - we'll return it if we catch them up.
... and as I rise in the lock I can see a boat that has become unhitched from the towpath - George is going to sort it out - it was apparently chained to some piling and the chain had broken - probably by a passing boat going far too fast.
Approaching Hungerford Marsh Lock with it's swing bridge across the middle ...
... after a while when the lock was about 2/3 full, we realised that the lock was not going to fill completely; the gates were not closing together properly and no amount of 'jiggling' by George and a couple of passing walkers would remedy the problem. George closed the top paddles and opened the bottom ones again to empty it, repositioned the gates and started again. This time the fill was fine but alas George managed to drop his windlass (lock key) into the canal!
Morecombe and Wise ...?
Cobblers Lock with it's access bridge to ...
... this lock cottage which is advertised for sale by auction.
Approaching a footbridge and the railway bridge on which there are 'men- at-work' ...
... and into Picketfield Lock where the top gates are extremely leaky!
A very rare one of me being nosey! (picture not rare being nosey!)
Woven willow keeps the reeds in order along here ...
... where the water is still very low.
A boat has just left Froxfield Bottom Lock and the crew is leaving the lock empty ready for us - great!
Inside the lock the walls really are in need of repair ...
... the rod which lifts one of the gate paddle has been bent and ...
... repaired with an extension piece rather than the whole thing replaced - good idea!
Through Froxfield Middle Lock I spy this lovely red breast! ...
... and this huge junk widebeam boat ...
... and this unusual combination of hedge - short cyprus planted with Silver Birch growing through it - very nice.
Passing through Oakhill Down Lock we arrive at Little Bedwyn Lock where a family are giving Grand-dad a taste of canal holiday - hope he enjoys it.
Rough pasture ...
... and rolling fields abound.
We've done 8 locks so far (9 including the one we did twice) as well as Little Bedwyn Lock and found nowhere to pull in onto the bank - all the likely places have been taken by what appears to be 'local' boats ...
After passing through Potters Lock we arrive at Burnt Mill Lock - that's Great Bedwyn in the distance - yet another boat moored just above the landing there - we really don't want to go any further as it's nearly 5pm and we'd set off at 9:15 this morning.
We eventually pull into the bank behind a line of boats before the visitor moorings - put in the pins, get out the plank and that's it for today - as I said, a long not uneventful day!
Hi Carol/George
ReplyDeleteHope you are both well. How i wish i was on any of the UK boats. Jaq and I so miss the canals.
I`ll just have to make do with blog following from far away.