Thursday 27 September.
The final day! Returned with the car and proceeded to unload, then clean and service the boat. Finally moved off and moored between Lower Foxhangers marina and Foxhangers marina on the towpath side. Made here secure and left. Returned later with the owners to hand over. BUT the new Canal Trust had been along cutting all the verge. What a mess the towpath side of the boat was. Nevertheless, boat handed bake after a marvelous 5/6 weeks. Would do it again, but not this year.
Wednesday 3 October 2012
Wednesday 26 September.
Slow start this morning as we awaited our helpers for the journey down the flight. Diane from Guides and Roy from the Bruce Trust had "offered" to help us. All started well and we then joined up with another boat, but whilst we wer 4 they were 2, and a pretty ineffective 1 locker was he. After 2 locks, their wives returned from shopping in Devizes. Not dressed for the canal, more like a night out to the theatre. Anyway after unloading the shopping and standing on the bank for a couple of minutes they disappeared inside for "a cup of coffee". Well, after 2 locks of this we said, "No more". We stopped and had lunch in a lock and left them to keep going alone. (There were no boats either going up ahead, or coming down from behind, so no problem with stopping.) Except that by the time we re-started the weather had changed and we were back in pouring rain and squally winds. However with Diane and Roy to help we made it down the flight, where they left to return home. We continued to Lower Foxhangers where Russ had given me permission to moor overnight on his wharf. We de-biked and rode home collecting a puncture in Chris' rear tyre some mile from home. (A nice walk.) Home to a nice bath and a full-on shower. Wonderful.
Slow start this morning as we awaited our helpers for the journey down the flight. Diane from Guides and Roy from the Bruce Trust had "offered" to help us. All started well and we then joined up with another boat, but whilst we wer 4 they were 2, and a pretty ineffective 1 locker was he. After 2 locks, their wives returned from shopping in Devizes. Not dressed for the canal, more like a night out to the theatre. Anyway after unloading the shopping and standing on the bank for a couple of minutes they disappeared inside for "a cup of coffee". Well, after 2 locks of this we said, "No more". We stopped and had lunch in a lock and left them to keep going alone. (There were no boats either going up ahead, or coming down from behind, so no problem with stopping.) Except that by the time we re-started the weather had changed and we were back in pouring rain and squally winds. However with Diane and Roy to help we made it down the flight, where they left to return home. We continued to Lower Foxhangers where Russ had given me permission to moor overnight on his wharf. We de-biked and rode home collecting a puncture in Chris' rear tyre some mile from home. (A nice walk.) Home to a nice bath and a full-on shower. Wonderful.
Tuesday 25 September.
Set out with the aim of reaching Devizes wharf to meet with Jason, Rachel, Lauren and Jack for a short cruise through 4 locks to the Black Horse for a drink and dinner on board. Passed through Wilcot wide water and through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey. Arrived at the wharf in good time for a small shop and walk around. Managed to find the first free Wifi for days so caught up with lots of e-mails. Forgot to do the Blog. The second tribe arrived just before 5, so we were in time to enter the flight, which closes at 5, and make our way down to the Black Horse. A few drinks in the pub, followed by dinner on board. Then, after all had departed, I went back in to chat with the landlord. Still the same one from years back when I first started playing Skittles with the Sailing Club.
Set out with the aim of reaching Devizes wharf to meet with Jason, Rachel, Lauren and Jack for a short cruise through 4 locks to the Black Horse for a drink and dinner on board. Passed through Wilcot wide water and through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey. Arrived at the wharf in good time for a small shop and walk around. Managed to find the first free Wifi for days so caught up with lots of e-mails. Forgot to do the Blog. The second tribe arrived just before 5, so we were in time to enter the flight, which closes at 5, and make our way down to the Black Horse. A few drinks in the pub, followed by dinner on board. Then, after all had departed, I went back in to chat with the landlord. Still the same one from years back when I first started playing Skittles with the Sailing Club.
Monday 24 September
Very overcast and squally, but by 9 we were ready to roll. Lucky for us another boat was just pulling away so we joined them for the Crofton flight. However, they were needing water so we waited at the second lock for them to catch up with us. Then able to jointly use the locks to Wootton Rivers where they stopped. I did suggest that we did the same, but the aim was to make Pewsey for the night. Managed the essentials at Pewsey, but there was nowhere to moor. (Parts of the canal bank looked like a slum with old and dying boats moored.) Moved on to Wilcot for the night.
Very overcast and squally, but by 9 we were ready to roll. Lucky for us another boat was just pulling away so we joined them for the Crofton flight. However, they were needing water so we waited at the second lock for them to catch up with us. Then able to jointly use the locks to Wootton Rivers where they stopped. I did suggest that we did the same, but the aim was to make Pewsey for the night. Managed the essentials at Pewsey, but there was nowhere to moor. (Parts of the canal bank looked like a slum with old and dying boats moored.) Moved on to Wilcot for the night.
Sunday 23 September.
Heaving with rain, strong winds. What a lovely day to receive guests. Took our time, but collected the Sunday papers and some milk. The tribe arrived around 12.30, (expected around 13.30 so I was caught out with jobs to do. "I told you so" came from the boss!) Still raining so we set off anyway. Rachel and Chris doing the locks with Harry, Matt, Lottie and I steering. That was fun. However, Lottie soon got bored and Harry after stading in the heavy rain for 15 minutes decided that he was cold and would go inside. Whatever, I wish I could have gone inside. We made the Pound, and while Matt and I walked back to retrieve the car, Chris and Rachel finished the preparations for dinner. Very nice it was too. Soon time for the little ones to return home. (In the rain of course!) Very poor TV reception. No Downton! Hell to pay.
Heaving with rain, strong winds. What a lovely day to receive guests. Took our time, but collected the Sunday papers and some milk. The tribe arrived around 12.30, (expected around 13.30 so I was caught out with jobs to do. "I told you so" came from the boss!) Still raining so we set off anyway. Rachel and Chris doing the locks with Harry, Matt, Lottie and I steering. That was fun. However, Lottie soon got bored and Harry after stading in the heavy rain for 15 minutes decided that he was cold and would go inside. Whatever, I wish I could have gone inside. We made the Pound, and while Matt and I walked back to retrieve the car, Chris and Rachel finished the preparations for dinner. Very nice it was too. Soon time for the little ones to return home. (In the rain of course!) Very poor TV reception. No Downton! Hell to pay.
Saturday 22 September.
What a lot of noise this morning. Bruce Trust volunteers starting up engines and commencing the cleaning and engineering tasks. We decided to help with the cleaning of one of the boats and Chris went shopping for the delicious local Lardy Cake. Managed to get a partial TV signal so were able to watch the Grand Prix practice. However a nice sunny day so we walked our next route to see how we could accommodate Rachel, Matthew, Harry and Lottie on a short cruise, tomorrow. Decided that we could make Crofton Pound and then walk back for the car. Went to the Cross Keys, nice menu, no Wifi, but we had already prepared dinner on board. Thus to bed.
What a lot of noise this morning. Bruce Trust volunteers starting up engines and commencing the cleaning and engineering tasks. We decided to help with the cleaning of one of the boats and Chris went shopping for the delicious local Lardy Cake. Managed to get a partial TV signal so were able to watch the Grand Prix practice. However a nice sunny day so we walked our next route to see how we could accommodate Rachel, Matthew, Harry and Lottie on a short cruise, tomorrow. Decided that we could make Crofton Pound and then walk back for the car. Went to the Cross Keys, nice menu, no Wifi, but we had already prepared dinner on board. Thus to bed.
Friday 21 September 2012
Actually managed an early start, with news from other boaters that the Bruce Trust boat was 10 minutes ahead. Next set of boaters said that she was an hour ahead. Hurried onwards to try and catch her in time for the return celebrations. However, stopped for essentials in Hungerford which is probably why we never caught up with her. Arrived at Gt Bedwyn about 1 hour after Paralympic boat got back. So engrossed in discussions about our journey and the Paralympics that we missed the cream tea and drink! Moored overnight on the Bruce Trust wharf. Went to the Three Tuns for evening meal. No free Wifi in Gt Bedwyn. No Blog.
Actually managed an early start, with news from other boaters that the Bruce Trust boat was 10 minutes ahead. Next set of boaters said that she was an hour ahead. Hurried onwards to try and catch her in time for the return celebrations. However, stopped for essentials in Hungerford which is probably why we never caught up with her. Arrived at Gt Bedwyn about 1 hour after Paralympic boat got back. So engrossed in discussions about our journey and the Paralympics that we missed the cream tea and drink! Moored overnight on the Bruce Trust wharf. Went to the Three Tuns for evening meal. No free Wifi in Gt Bedwyn. No Blog.
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