What a difference a day makes

Sat until 9pm with all the doors and windows open on Saturday and slept with only a sheet over us. Woke up Sunday morning and hastily replaced the duvet. We were chilly!

Sky overcast and a bit of a breeze to boot.

As planned, we set off through Newbury and stopped 1/2 mile further on to visit B&Q.

Now then, what better way to spend Sunday morning than sitting in the B&Q car park having a tea and a coffee and iced Danish pastries with scaffold board there for all to admire?

Naturally, the captain was the first to walk the plank.

Followed by Smee who bounced up and down a few times for quality control purposes, of course.

But then he has to go and spoil it all by being silly. He should remember that quality control is a serious matter.

Should have remembered, never feed the swans. They have long necks and snappy beaks, as Brigid found out.

That's a shame! It's a picture of a red kite. It looked really big in real life but you might just be able to spot it to the right of the top of the left hand tree in the centre of the picture - looks as if it's going to land on the branch that's sticking out. I really ought to get the big camera and take a proper picture. In real life it's fantastic.

Have stopped at Midgham Lock at a quiet spot after 7 locks & 2 swing bridges. We've probably travelled just over 5 miles. Still, no rush, is there?

PS sun came out after lunch and it was a good afternoon. We even managed to share 3 locks with another boat. Things are looking up.

Hot, hot, hot!

The hottest day of the year and what do we do? We go into Newbury.

The reasoning behind this decision was that 1) I needed some sandals and 2) we need to get a new gangplank. Did I say earlier that when we used it on the Thames, I laid it down, stepped on it and it promptly cracked and started to fall to pieces. I've looked online and B&Q have scaffold boards just the right size. Also, much cheaper than 'real' gangplanks. Not that I begrudge spending money on the boat but it is, after all, a bit of wood to get from boat to shore.

This is us going under the A34. I waited as long as I could for a lorry to cross but suddenly they all stopped for a tea break.

Have stopped just short of Newbury and here's Mr Smee clearing some nettles with a double-sided carving knife on the end of a walking stick. (It came with the boat).

Went into Newbury for lunch in the Hog & Hedge, found some sandals but then kept going into different shops with air-conditioning and felt we had to buy something while we were there.

So, on the hottest day of the year we were in Newbury, keeping cool.

Round about

Last night (Thursday) we walked up to the Blue Ball for a couple of pizzas. We hadn't realised beforehand that there was a special offer going on and all the pizzas were only £6. The staff were very friendly and although we were offered a table in the garden, we decided to sit inside out of the sun. Makes a change to sheltering from the rain.

A lovely summer's evening looking towards our mooring.

Friday morning and time to turn round and head back the way we came.

Found a splendid winding hole opposite the old rectory. Of course, the wind was no help at all! But we managed OK.

Back through the bridge we were standing on last night.

Here's Brigid taking a breather while the lock fills.

Brigid asked me to take a photo of the helpful step on the side of the lock beam.
Helpful that is if you have long legs, which she hasn't, and can see the step when you're trying to get down off the beam, which she can't. When I am on the boat and her leg is reaching down I'll call out 'left a bit, right a bit' until she gets her foot in the stirrup.

We've travelled all of 2 miles today to Hamstead Lock and found a mooring right in the reeds.

In the bathroom it looks like an invasion of Triffids.

Since we weren't boating we went for a walk round Hamstead Park.

The red object in the distance is an ornamental bridge seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

Our little walk turned out to be just over 4 miles. I don't think the captain was too impressed.

A note for the ornithologists, we saw a grey wagtail - how do you know it's grey? Because it's yellow!

A nice peaceful mooring but no Internet. Bliss.

Stop Press

It looks like we're going to have to turn back and forego the pain of working the Caen Hill Flight. For some time now the pumps at the canal summit have not been working properly and boats have been stranded in a completely dry pound. No. 1 pump has been lifted and sent away for repair and there is thought to be a blockage in No. 2 pump. So they will be lifting that one to have a look.

Neither the captain nor I relish the thought of working our way up to the summit just to find that we can't go further. Or, getting through and finding we can't get back.

Therefore an executive decision has been made and we are going to Stratford instead. Well, that's the plan for today.

Watch this space.

No SBs in sight

Yesterday evening we took a short walk round Newbury.

Newbury Lock has ground paddles similar to those on the Leeds & Liverpool although the lock keeper didn't use them when we came through.

This little bridge is on the way to one of the canal side pubs.

Nearly missed this little alleyway as we were striding along.

Didn't miss this! Would have loved to wait till opening time just to get a haircut in that chair.

Now this is a welcome sight, all the makings for a good cup of tea.

Thought you might like to see the bedroom with our 4 poster bed. In reality only 1 post but, who's counting?

Look at that, a clear blue sky.

And some fantastic views.

We were lucky to pass the horse-drawn boat operated by the Kennet Horse Boat Co.

The boat was full of passengers enjoying a peaceful day out in the sun.

Tonight we are stopping at Kintbury - the above is the old mill.

And look what we found. A Roundhead Bitter from the Two Cocks Brewery - and yes, that is a real feather on the label.

And for the captain, Dab Hand cider. Should be a good afternoon.

And as for the title? Correct, no swing bridges all day. Phew!

9 locks and 5 bridges

Aaargh! Not another swing bridge! It's all stop, go today. This morning we only covered just over a mile in one hour. But in that mile we had 1 lock and 2 swing bridges and the bridges take almost as long as working a lock. Firstly, the captain has to be dropped off before the bridge. Next she either unscrews a holding chain or puts a key in a lock. Then, heave ho me hearties and swing the bridge open. Or, press buttons and sirens wail, gates come down, bridge lifts slightly and then sedately swings round. Having gone that far, wait for boat to go through and then do it all again but in the reverse order.

I can tell you that we shall be glad to see the back of the swing bridges. Oh dear, ghastly thought, I haven't told the captain that we've got to do them all again on the way back.

Still, she gets a bit of a rest while I steer the boat through.

We're in Monkey Marsh Lock, the 2nd turf lock on the system. This one is prettier with more flowers growing both sides.

At times you look forward and think 'where's the channel?'

The reeds have narrowed the canal considerably.

Ah, look, a signpost! Trouble is that the reeds are so tall that you can only just see the top. I'm sure that if it's important they'd make sure you could see it.

A lovely old mill or warehouse with a signboard that can be seen this time.

Now this one is important, it says Danger Sluice Keep Left. Good advice, believe me.

Now entering Newbury and it is very pretty alongside the canal.

This is the oldest bridge on the canal which originally stopped here before the link was made through to Bristol.

We were fortunate to have a lock keeper on duty in the centre of town. As you approach the lock there are cross currents from both sides. Luckily, the gates were ready and open as we slalomed through the eddies.

Last swing bridge of the day.

Here are some very desirable properties facing the canal.

And opposite, renovated and converted warehouses, now apartments.

And this is us, sitting in the sun at the end of a busy day.

Should have said earlier that we stopped to see Ozzie. Who's Ozzie, you say? Ozzie is a fuel barge that trades between here and Reading. We topped up with diesel and replaced an empty gas bottle, so now we're set for the next few weeks. We've got petrol, gas and diesel, food in the pantry and water in the tank. All's well.

A long day today

What an amazing invention, the mobile phone. As you know, we bought a small generator at the start of the holiday but it needs feeding with petrol. Now, on the canal everybody uses diesel and you need to find a garage for petrol - and most of these are nowhere near the canal.

There I was, idly tapping away on the phone, when Mrs Google tells me that 0.7 miles away is a garage. What??? I thought we'd moored in the middle of nowhere. So, off we set, the captain and I, we cut across a field and there we were on the A4 - scary - lorries hurtling past - please, take me away from all this, take me back to the canal. But we pressed on 100 yards into the garage, filled the can and then retreated rapidly back to the peace and quiet of the cut.

Had a restorative cuppa and then set off.

Our first port of call was Aldermaston and we are looking back at a boater who was very helpful when we were coming through.

We had been warned earlier about the strong flow of water when paddles are opened in the locks but he helped make sure that all was OK.

Just about to pass Aldermaston Wharf, being extra careful not to nudge the boat ahead which is going slowly because the reverse gear has gone.

Luckily he had a friend with a car helping with locks and bridges, so we were able to follow through the open lift bridge.

No sooner closed than the traffic resumed its merry course.

The signboard gives information on the restoration of the lock which once was turf sided.

I must admit that you never know what's around the corner when you're on the canal. Hanging from a branch of a tree in midstream was a yellow notice (wrong way round) saying 'obstruction 100 metres ahead'. Pop round the corner and there was a pontoon with generator, several diggers and evidence of serious work in progress.

Slow down, avoiding everything in the canal, and then off we go again.

By the way, no sign of any workmen, just lots of abandoned machinery.

Have stopped at Woolhampton, a day's journey of just under 3 miles. Well , we hadn't got anything out for supper and the pub here looks good. Sorry, that's not the pub, although it is a watering hole erected for Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

And here we are all shipshape & Bristol fashion.