Crofton

Although we had planned only to visit the paper shop before setting off, Christine had a little list, so Mike and Andrew went over to Tesco to stock up on the few items required to keep us going.

On the outskirts of Hungerford, the parish church is alongside the canal - said to be the furthest east church built from Bath stone - looks in better condition that those parts of Truro cathedral affected by the salt air.

After the previous largely river sections, to be on 'proper' canal seemed quite a relief - the scenery was slightly different as well. At one lock, a swing bridge is built across the lock chamber itself. At least one other we saw later was built in the same way but in that case the bridge had been removed apart from its support base.

We stopped at Great Bedwyn for the full range of usual services. The church alongside the canal is a striking cruciform shape with a stocky, ornate tower.

A little later we were at the bottom of the Crofton flight. Since boaters are not supposed to moor in the flight, we were looking for a bank-side mooring just before the bottom lock but it was all very shallow. In the end we gave in and moored up on the lock landing - after all, we had seen only one other moving boat all day.

After tea and hot cross buns, Mike and Andrew decided to take a closer look at the pumping station that keeps the summit pound full - there are no reservoirs on this canal. By now it was beginning to drizzle - the first rain we have had since we set off! As luck would have it, another boat came along to go up the flight and pointed out that there were official 48 hr moorings in the next (short) pound! Even more to our surprise there was a further boat coming down the flight.

The pumping station was closed until Easter and the footpath access under the railway was closed so we walked on to the next bridge and around by the road, coming back to the boat over Crofton Crossing (over the railway).