This picture, of our bow in the reeds was taken unintentionally last night so let's not waste it.
(Oh no it was not unintentional, said Christine when she read the blog. It was taken intentionally but unintentionally on the wrong camera!)
We set off in good time this morning - not sure how and why but there was no newspaper trip to do. The day was generally overcast but as warm as it has been. Our aim was to reach the bottom of the main Caen Hill flight, leaving the Sixteen for another day.
The canal was not quite as busy as yesterday and no canoe rentals around but plenty of hire boats with, in many cases, still inexperienced crew.
There were, however, few stories to tell and we had a steady run through the locks and swing bridges.
Photo is of the bridge over the entrance to Hilperton Marina - just liked the picture!
We stopped at Hilperton Wharf to fill with diesel, purchase another mooring line like the one we bought on the way down as well as a tin of stern tube grease. (Late last night Mike remembered that he planned to re-fill the greaser which was almost empty and to adjust the stern gland. This emptied the tin we already had in our locker)
First came the two Semington Locks which we did in the company of a hire boat that had just started last night.
When we came down and crossed the new aqueduct across the A350, we misunderstood the one-way sign and erroneously cast aspersions on the maintenance of the channels. It was now apparent that the intention is to direct boats either side of the centre structure in a contra-flow way. Sorry, CRT!
Then came the three swing bridges, the middle one of which is notoriously unwilling to move but, as luck(?) had it, we again sailed through. Successive swing bridges in company are usually done alternately but the other boat was delayed at one point and so did not appear in time for the third swing bridge. It was already open for two boats coming the other way and so they then shut it after letting us through.
Having had a scone for late elevenses, we were not ready for lunch when we arrived at the start of the Seend flight of five locks and so carried on. It was around 2:30 when we finished the flight and passed through the next swing bridge and found somewhere to pull in.
Lunch over, we set off once more with just one more swing bridge before arriving at Foxhangers and the start of the Caen Hill flight. For a whole we now had blue skies but the cloud returned by the time we had moored.
There are seven separate locks to begin with, followed by the famous Sixteen and then more locks above that. We expected to moor either just below the main flight (if lucky) or one pound down.
In the event, there was nobody moored on the 24 Visitor Mooring. Just as we were tying up, Andrew arrived, planning to stay for roast dinner but doing a milk delivery as well. He also brought a large quantity of ripe cherries, courtesy of Devizes market!
9.0 miles - 14 locks
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