Decided that the best idea with regards to finding mooring spots and to dodge the rain is to start and finish early so it was 9am yesterday morning when we upped-sticks.
The locks on the Kennet and Avon are still coming thick and fast and George is still walking the towpath to set them for me. The scenery is lovely, so green past Hamstead Park and lock.
Just entered Copse Lock - looking back as George is struggling with the heavy gates ...
... and there's the copse in the sunlight ...
... taken over the bottom gates of Copse Lock - the natural course of the River Kennet joins the canal from under the bridge on the left and although it looks like the proverbial mill pond the undercurrent was quite strong - it would be quite a hazard when the river is in spate after heavy rain.
Rising through Dreweat's Lock ...
... and looking over the countryside ...
... old style paddle weir as I pull over to the landing stage so that George can get onto the stern - a little bit of respite for him as it's over a mile now to the next lock ... his knee is playing him up a bit this morning ...
... even the water looks green ...
... as we pass under Shepherd's Bridge ...
... the water is really low and all the rain we've had over the weekend doesn't seem to have made much difference!
Kintbury - Dundas Arms on the left, the lock just to the right of centre, Rock n Roll waiting and beyond the trees on the right is the railway station ...
Kennet Horse Boat Company run horse drawn boat trips in the area - I've checked the timetable and there doesn't appear to be anything today so the plants on the roof of RnR should be safe.
Peaceful indeed ...
... this cheeky madam ...
... wants to get onto the boat - not sure what Molly would think about that!
We'll pull over there for water and to empty the toilet tank ... what a surprise that the pump-out isn't working ... never mind there's one at Hungerford just 3 miles away.
We tied up on the 48-hour visitor moorings above the lock at 12:15, the weather is set to be wet again this afternoon and most of tomorrow - hopefully Wednesday will be fine for us
10 minutes to 2 - an unscheduled trip - I rushed to the bow to try to get the stuff off the roof when I heard a voice shout 'Can I get up?' 'Yes do it' says me and before I could open the flap and step out he was up, lifted the ropes over the post and other paraphernalia and got off again - the helmsman though was very relaxed and happy in his work
The horse has has stopped and the chap who is managing the line between the horse and the boat is guiding the trip boat onto the lock landing ready to descend ...
A delightful scene.
Absolutely absorbing,really interesting pictures and I am very envious of you both and your cruise along the K AND A. I was at Bathampton over the weekend number two Son and his family have moved there from Bath several weeks back. I can't actually believe my wife,in about one or two years time, would sell up and move from Bushey Herts.Her criteria would be that she can window shop (that's all she is allowed to do) :) :)in Bath and she can do this by walking the towpath into Bath and getting the tour boat back from Pulteney Bridge and disembarking at the Bathford Mill on the river Avon,about half a mile outside the village of Bathampton... Once again thank you for your terrifically informative blog... Eric Tucker ertuck@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteThank you Eric for your very kind remarks, I'm glad that you find it interesting. I have to say that I agree entirely with your wife - I hope she does her best to persuade you that it's the right thing to do!
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