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Saturday 4 July 2015

Going over the top.

The thunder and lightening were spectacular in the night but it only lasted about an hour. Saved me watering the plants. I reckon about 1.75 inches fell in the night as I had the the blacking tin open and that was the level in it this morning. We said our goodbyes to the Free Spirit crew who were waiting for their visitors. Not before they told me about the Wessex Rose hotel boat that we saw pull in on the lock moorings astern of us. Apparently their prop fell off in the lock yesterday. They managed to recover it, but how to put it back on. Nearest dry dock is Newbury. I hope they know some scuba folk to assist. I really hope they get it sorted soon and there is minimal disruption for them.

Just to show you that the port side of the boat had been painted below the deck line a while ago.

The st'bd side done yesterday also looks quite good too now. Maybe not quite the same after 13 locks today.

There used to plenty of this type of crane along the Kennet and Avon but I think that is the last one at Burbage Wharf. We are now on the summit pound that is less than three miles long

The Bruce Tunnel is the only proper tunnel on the canal. It is two way and just as we approached A Foxhanger hire boat exited on their way back there after getting to Hungerford in the two week hire. Boats used to pull themselves through using chains on one side. many of them are still there. The modern chains are at water level. The old ones are at a 'man' height. 

Above the canal the plaque's inscription is I think this is a repeat of what it used to say on the plaque.

 We were soon at Crofton Pumping station. A wide beam had just left for the lock so we, that is 'Maggie May' and ourselves stopped for a bit of lunch to let them get ahead. We had paired up with them for a couple of locks. They had just retired and were on their way to Great Hayward to pick up their new boat and then they were off continuous cruising. I hope they enjoy every moment of it. They were very excited about their new life and we hope that we bump into them again as they decided to stop where they were. We traveled onwards.

On several of the bridges crossing the canal today where these tank obstacles to prevent passage of the enemy over. I expect that in the case of invasion the bridges would have been rigged with explosives.

We soon caught up the wide beam who turned out to be on her own. I helped down a couple of locks and she said she had taken her car Great Bedwyn and saw that there were no  moorings on the visitor bit so was going to moor up earlier. We followed her and moored up by Mill Bridge.


We walked into the village down the canal and just near the station were these beautiful cottages on Frog Lane near the wharf. The oldest part of them dates from 1650.

 This carved pineapple is a fountain and has a button to press to make it work. I forgot to press it to see if it actually did. The space was the site of Lloyds Stonemason's yard. They helped build the canal and the local school in 1835. They closed for business in 2009. Next door is the Post Office and there are lots of examples of their work on the walls. The religious frieze in the photo is good quality.

There is a Post Office, that was closed, a bakery (that seemed to be out of business) and a local shop too. They sell papers on Sunday so I will be making my way there in the morning. The thatcher we had been talking to recommended the Cross Keys pub but it was closed when we passed to we wandered up the hill to the other pub the Three Tuns. It was very nice if a bit pricey. We then walked back to the boat but when we passed the Cross Keys it was open so we popped in. Cheaper but there was no character to the place at all as everything seemed to have been ripped out.

It is lucky that we have a nice long gang plank as so long as I get ashore we can pretty well get moored up anywhere.

All day we have had young lads, around 14 to 18, walking down the tow path. I thought that it was some sponsored walk but at a walk I spoke to somebody who was checking them. It seems that it is a walk run by Beechen Cliff School in Bath. Since the 1960's they have run this annually. It seems that the have to leave their school at 1600 on Friday and walk to Devizes where they camp over night. They then have to walk to Hungerford along the canal towpath, touch the parish church doors and turn round and walk back to Devizes. They have to be there for 2230. They then set off again in the morning and have to get back to their school by 1600 on Sunday. For this they pay £35 and sign a disclaimer in case of problems. Why do they do this? Each of the lads raise sponsorship but they really complete the course for a tie! yes a tie. Apparently it is a badge of honour. The first three home get put on the role of honour. All who complete the 100 miles within the 48 hours can call them selves Legionnaires. The teacher told me that about a third complete the task each year. Looking at the lads that passed us on the way back after being to Hungerford looked just about all in. They said that most get back to Devizes today, but rousing themselves for the final 22 miles is the killer on Sunday. That is a tought call I would say. I have done the Lyke Wake Walk, 50 miles in 24 hours and that was a struggle. I mental battle as much as physical. I was full of admiration for all the young lads.

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