Onwards towards Devizes – but only as far as Hungerford !!!
After spending a week at Reading Marine while they fitted a Radiator, manufactured a new Chimney for the Bubble Strove and did various other minor modifications to Xilion Rose, we left Aldermaston Wharf and headed towards Newbury (again). On the way we had to pass through “Monkey Marsh Lock”, one of only two Turf Locks to be found on the UK Canal network. On arriving at Newbury, we found that the mooring we had intended to use was taken up by about 50 Narrow Boats, decorated in a Pirates Theme, It turns out that it was the weekend of the Newbury Canal Festival, and the boats were moored up to 5 deep alongside Victoria Park, the site of the actual Festival. Undeterred, we carried on through Newbury and found a perfect mooring just the other side of the Town Centre lock. Our Grand Daughter arrived on the Sunday, and entered in to the sprit of the Festival by dressing up as a “Pirate Princess”.
On the Monday Morning, we set off for Devizes and the infamous Caen Flight with a total of 29 locks, 16 of which are of the “Staircase” type, But, and there is always a “but”, we had only been cruising for about 3 hours when we were informed that one of the lock gates at Hungerford had failed, and the lock would be closed to through traffic until Thursday, this meant that we had to moor-up for at least 3 days, and possibly up to 4 days. No problem if you have enough water, and there are facilities to empty the toilet cassette’s, luckily we were able to find a great mooring at Kintbury Lock, with all the required services easily at hand.
At 7.30.am on the Tuesday, One of the crew members (Annie) together with the crew dog (Daisy) were dispatched to find out if all the horror tales we had heard were actually true, after walking the 4 miles to Hungerford and checking out the lock gate, they returned with confirmation that things were as bad as we had been told, in addition, there are loads of boats marooned either side of the Hungerford lock, and it looks like we will not be able to clear the Hungerford area until Friday, therefore we will probably arrive at the Caen Flight on the Sunday or Monday
We will update the blog as soon as we are motoring again.
The Pirates of the Newbury Canal FestivalMonkey Marsh Lock, One of only Two Turf Locks in the UK
The Damaged Lock Hinge at HungerfordAfter the repair, add at least one day for the Concrete to set
Monkey Marsh Lock, One of only Two Turf Locks in the UK
The Lock Hinge will take three days to repair
Hi Annie and Malcolm
Good to know you are up and running again, although it seems a bit of a stop and go situation at the moment! Perhaps the weather will have improved when it is time to get going again. We have just come back from a two week cruise and it seemed to rain every day, usually when I was working the locks! Not suprised you fitted an extra rad, that was on our “to do” list if we had kept Xilion Rose.
By the way Devizes is spelt with a Z. Know this ’cause my family lived there!
So when r we getting the next instalment please?? We wait with baited breath…….
How did u manage those Devizes locks etc? How is Daisy?
Mi