Kintbury

Todays Canal : Kennet and Avon

We made a good start this morning - the forecast was for short showers through most of the day. generally this was true but they lasted longer, and were heavier, than suggested. Nevertheless, it remained generally reasonably warm, enough for working a long series of broad locks! (At one point the sun emerged and it was almost over-warm!)

As we set off, Christine opted to take the footpath from the bridge by the first lock as she remembered a specially good cake and bread shop in Great Bedwyn. By the time we reached the wharf below the lock she had returned carrying plenty of goodies which we proceeded to demolish throughout the day, culminating in lardy cake with tea just as we moored for the night.

Great Bedwyn Wharf

We disposed of rubbish and emptied the elsan whilst we could and then set off once more. There are few pounds more than half a mile and a mile is about the longest. One or other of us walked most of the way.

At lock 65, fairly recent work had been done to the overflow weir and the coping stones between it and the lock. Sadly, the brickwork does not seem to have been strong enough to resist the efforts of boaters and may well need a further repair before long.

Little Bedwyn

At Little Bedwyn the rain by now was heavy at times . . .

Froxfield

but by Froxfield it was much pleasanter.

The bywash at Lock 71 has plenty of water coming down the system - something that we found all the way today.

Cobblers Lock Cottage

The cottage at Cobblers Lock is a sad sight, apparently abandoned. However, almost alongside below the lock is a brand new house so there must be good access and all the usual facilities. One wonders what the story behind this situation might be.

Hungerford Marsh Lock

The swing bridge across the lock at Freeman's Marsh heralds the imminent arrival of Hungerford, our planned lunch and shopping stop.

Hungerford Church

Hungerford Church , alongside the canal, is the first part of the town we encounter although it is not as far from the centre as it might seem. below the lock we moored and had lunch, including the soda bread from Christine's earlier shopping expedition.

After lunch we walked to the nearby shops - alas we had to resort to Tesco for everything this time. Whilst there is a number of small shops in the main street, no really good food shops other than a butcher.

By the time we were ready to set off once more, heavy rain had returned and we were rather damp!

The towpath changes sides at Dunmill Lock - this sign on the bridge looks as if it has indicated this for some time now. (There is a similar sign beside the road) The River Dun passes under a bridge just a few metres from the canal - after the recent rain it was flowing rather well, to be joined by an equally energetic River Kennet a short distance below.

River Dun

A large workboat almost blocked the canal - its gangplank only just stretching between it and the bank. The state of the towpath and bank shows why this work is needed.

Kintbury

By the time we reached Kintbury the rain had fled and we were left with blue skies and fluffy clouds for the rest of the day until we moored.

The sun streaming between the trees lining the banks made for some rather pretty scenes.

We then encountered the horse drawn trip boat (wide beam) returning to Kintbury after its afternoon excursion. The steerer seemed to have an inverted idea of the proper hand signals to indicate his path! The photographer, having pushed the wrong buttons on his camera, managed to fail to get any decent pictures, alas.

The information panel at Dreweatts Lock explains that the new tilting weir replaces the old Peg and Bar Sluice which originally was used by the lengthsman to control the level of water in the canal.

By now it was really pleasant.

All along the Kennet and Avon are the remains of the concrete guard posts that formed part of a defensive line in case there was an invasion. Since the canal, together with the Thames and the Avon, cross the country completely, this was a natural place to construct the defence. Whether it would have worked is another matter. Fortunately it was never tested.

Dark clouds were again making their presence felt so we opted to look for a mooring in a pleasant location, even if there was little prospect of a tv signal - but Saturday is never a good viewing night anyway!

17.6 miles - 18 locks