Bradford on Avon again!

Thurs 10th July we left Bristol hoping to get to Bitton where we know there were good moorings. The swing bridge out of the harbour looked so low on a big river we just got under brushing our flowers,don't think our old T V Ariel would have made it!

There was just the one spot at Bitton so we breasted up with nb  S & W on the bank side so the dogs could get off. Watched loads of teenagers climb up the buttresses of the railway bridge and sit on the struts, the folly of youth! Then more youngsters along with Mum and Dad all came down for a swim. I guess the river is a lot cleaner than the canals.

Friday 11th July moored up at the bottom of Bath as Faye and family spent the weekend with us. There are only 48 hours moorings, so we could moved up to the top on Sunday.

Lovely eve chatting to nb Yesdear who have home moorings at Etruria near Stoke, and had a fab lamb roast from Waitrose.

Sat 12th July  Faye, Ryan, Chayse and Zelda all arrived about 1pm had lunch then walked into town. Watched a great street act then back to boat for a curry. Again care of Waitrose!

Whilst having breakfast we watched a Heron catching and eating a whole fish.

Sunday we chugged up to top of Bath and had a lovely day walking back into town to the Royal Cresent. Faye found Anthrapology, a shop she lovedi in New York. Spent a good hour looking at all the things we do not need! Weather was hot again so found a pub The Pig and Fiddle for a pint and live Sunday pm music.

Back to the boat  Chayse enjoys the old game of plastic beads in a mosaic board we have kept. 

Had Pizza and fresh fruit before we watched the final of the World Cup. We had a sweep stake running with S & W involved, Chayse was the only one to have Argentina to win. Well I won the dosh!

Monday 14th went into town for supplies. Fridge empty and Pete & Dizzy coming Thursday. Had coffee in town centre, got back and had a tidy up.

Tuesday left Bath and had a glorious morning chugging to Dundas Aquaduct. Went for an afternoon stroll for a nice cream, after painting the chimney collar.

Wednesday 16th back at Bradford on Avon. After the second attempt have got great moorings for a couple of nights. It is such a shame there are so many rubbish boats moored along the canal on this section, no wonder the K & A always features in The Towpath when it comes to 'Continuous Moorers'.where RCT have allocated Permit or Long Term Mooring it seems the Derge boats do not want to pay for anything.

 

Bristol

Monday 7th July 

Bit of a grey day so decided to go on the SS Great Britain. Had a wonderful time it was so interesting and well done to all who restored her a fantastic job.

Brunell had such vision,fancy building a huge ship out of iron! And the enormous prop with the rudder positioned yards up on the shaft so the water flowed in both directions making it easier to turn the wheel.

The decks have all been lovingly restored, dining room laid out. You could always climb the rigging but we chickened out

Justine arrived soon after 4pm and after a cuppa went back to their house for tea. Lovely to see them all the girls are so grown up now.

Tuesday walked into the Town Centre huge shopping area called the Cabot Centre brought some new Crocs,flip flops as mine are now sooo thin. Stopped at The V Shed good old Wetherspoons and had a very late lunch. Enjoyed a bottle of the red stuff with Heather & Mick in the eve.

Wednesday caught the bus up to the Clifton suspension bridge walked over and back again, then walked through Clifton village back to Bristol Catherdral. Then home for a cuppa.

This is the glass globe outside the Aquarium

Leaving Bristol tomorrow so spent the eve using as much electric as possible. Heh Mick, got the Hoover out!

Leaving Bath to Bristol

Friday 4th July. Had a lovely day in town. Went to The Abbey and a wander round the Indoor Market, and other shops. Brought some bits in Waitrose/John Lewis, fab store. Back to boat for a late lunch,made some sausage rolls as Cathy and Martin coming round tonight for drinks and nibbles.

Had a very enjoyable eve played cards and chatted lots.

Sat 5th started out after FaceTiming with Mick & Elly in Australia. Great to keep in touch, keeping up with all the gossip. 

Was a little drizzly at first but cleared up by the time we had done a couple of locks.

Joined the river Avon,always seem so big going on rivers compared to the canals.

Moored up at Bitton,walked up to the village to the Avon Valley Steam Engine railway station, had tea and cake.  

With just 2 more locks to go before we get to Bristol. that will be 107 Locks from Reading. Then we turn round and go all the way back!

Sunday July 6th left Bitten about 8.45 to get to Bristol so the lads could watch the Gran Prix! So much wider on the river,plenty of wide beams moored all over the place.saw a couple of Kingfishers whizing from branch to branch. Never have my camera handy enough to capture them.

Checked in at lock 1 Hanham Lock to let the Harbour Master know we are on our way and entering the Bristol Channel waters.  Then stopped at Netham stop lock to pay our passage. We did a deal £48 for 5 nights bargain! Should be £27 per night. He told us quite quiet this week as festival starts Friday so plenty of places to moor.

We entered passing under several grand bridges hoping to moor overlooking the SS. Great Britain. Well with a cross wind nb Smile & Wave squeezed into one space, the sailing boat next to them offered to move over so we brilliantly reversed onto the jetty next to them. Spectators applauded a rather anxious Baz! 

All took longer than we expected but the Gran Prix was delayed so all good.

The view from here is great we can see the SS Great Britain, and in a nice sun trap of a inlet. Tesco 2 mins up the road,water and electric on the pontoon. Heaven!

Went for a walk to end of harbour had a beer in The Pump House.

Justine phoned so seeing her family tomorrow.

Bath

Tuesday 1st July we arrived in Bradford on Avon, after stopping at Hipperton for fuel, only 80p per litre,and how strange we had used the exact amount of fuel as we put in at Lower Heyford on The Oxford, 108.65 litres 

Got good moorings again, our own little wooden platform! Lots more hire boats about now so it seems CRT have accomadated for this.

Lovely town but the traffic is awful. Just to get over the bridge into the The Canal Pub was risky. But we made it!

 Wednesday spent the morning in town on a wander. Had my hair cut, nice guy went to Roehampton Uni, same as Kate so plenty to chat about. Then hit Sainsbugs in the afternoon and decided to try the Indian in the eve. Have not had a curry in ages and Heather and Mick joined us as they had received an offer on their old boat which has been up for sale for a while,so a good excuse to celebrate.

Thursday 3rd July moved on first thing, Elly you would be impressed away by 8.30!

Went through some beautiful countryside,at one point we thought we where going down hill! Pulled a boat out from the side bank he had got totally stuck,only picked up the boat 2 days ago. Stopped at Dundas Aquaduct for water just lovely there.

Passed nb Moriarty at Bathampton,but no one in, left a text. Moored up on again fab moorings over looking Bath at Sydney Gardens. Just finished lunch and Cathy &  Martin appeared from nb Moriarty. Lovely to catch up, they had come down the G U to London and along The Thames,onto the K & A at Reading. In typical boaters style always ends up talking electrics!

Walked into town through park and Museum,only 15 mins or so.

 Piece of Artwork to challenge Baz!

 Had a wander,brought 2 Portmereon dinner plates in TKMax, such a random shop!

Great Bedwyn

Have had 3 wonderful days chugging from Newbury. We are travelling with nb Smile &  Wave,Heather and Mick, makes the double locks so much easier with 2 going up. We stayed at Kintbury where my very dear friend Alice, who lives in Basingstoke came to visit. She brought her Grandson, Jaydon.a typical 9year old who wanted to know everything! Had lunch and went for a wander to the Pub, Dundas Arms,very expensive meals. But had a drink in there garden and I picked up my prescription which Kate had posted there for me.

Whilst we wher saying our Goodbyes a horse drawn boat appeared and a young lad had to walk along the top of all the moored boats to avoid a riles,pots,laders and chimneys etc. 

From Kintbury to Hungerford again the weather is just fab. Very lovely town with a big Tesco. So shopped for England as we have Faye, Ryan & Chayse coming Fri/Sat and Gill & Mick Sat/Sun and no mor decent shops till Devises. Baz watched the England game and was very disappointed. What with that and the Cricket not doing too well. Polished the boat after dinner and it all looks good.

Hungerford to Great Bedwyn made good time. We had a Swing bridge over a lock,very interesting. As well as that there was a herd of young cows surrounding the lock. But with gentle persuasion they all moved! After watch Andy Murry win his game,and a little nap! I walked onto the village 1 shop, a Stonemasonry workshop, 2 pubs and a Bakery and an assortment of lovely thatched houses. 

Baz wanted to try his new electric Buffer on the brass mushroom feet on top of boat. They have come up really well. So after an Ice cream I had brought back settled back for a well earned beer and chat!

Today heading off to Wooton Rivers, if Baz ever wakes up! Hi Mick & Elly we started at 8. 30 yesterday!

Smile and Wave have 2 dogs on board little and large!

Arrived on Thursday 26th June again good moorings but there is not many of them! Spent a pleasent afternoon and believe it or not Mick, Baz decided it was time to have a go at putting a new TV Ariel up. We had brought it at Crick Boat Show, and has been sitting under the seats for months!. All went well but he could not find a female connector. So after all holes drilled and we had dinner we walked up to The Royal Oak for a pint. Very pretty village with loads of thatched roof houses. Pretty price too.

Friday moved on to Honey Street, as The Barge pub looked a better venue to meet up with Faye and family.

Got there just in time before it starred to rain,but it cleared up by afternoon and and we went for a walk calling into the Pub to have a nosey. Place to go to investigate Crop Circles. Bit of a Hippy place and a Camp site with Travellers etc. anyway, Baz had sorted the TV and I cleaned the boat through. Faye,Ryan,Chayse & Zelda all arrived about 7. Just after a big punch up outside the pub.

Had dinner and sat out on the back chatting. Chayse went to bed as good as gold ended the eve with Port & Brandy!

Decided to go on to Devizes Sat morn. As we had been awake since 5 got away after breakie about 8.30. ( all to much for Baz) moored up on lovely moorings in Devizes by the Wharf and Museum.  Gill and Mick where there to meet us,and Fleure and Andy arrived soon after. We had a wander around town,then the heavens opened so we popped into The Crown for a quickie.

The sun came out and we had a lovely BBQ on the towpath . Walked down to see the locks. Got caught in another downpour coming back.

Faye and family along with Andy & Fleur all headed home about 6 ish.

Gill and Mick stayed on till Sunday eve.

Went into town with Gill & Mick when we arrived at the Market Place there where 4 groups of Morris Dancers and a troup of Lady Cloggeres. Spent a pleasent hour watching. Then by chance chatted to a guy who had just renovated 4 lovely cottages that used to be a Glove factory. They where fab,right in town centre £170,000 want one!

Popped into Sainsbugs for supplies then back on boat for a cuppa. Then walked down to the Lock Cafe for an ice cream. After roast beef and Yorkshire pud, Gill & Mick headed home. Lovely weekend come back soon!

So Monday 30th June had a hard but enjoyable day going down Caen Hill Locks all 29,

Knocked when we got to Foxhanger ,lunch,shower and fell asleep.

Today 1st July headed off to Bradford on Avon,stopping at Seend Cleeve where Baz dumped our bestest Ariel ever! Yes Mick it's gone.

Newbury

Saturday 21st 

Caught the bus into town to check out the moorings in Newbury. They looked lovely on the park,unfortunately the Fair Ground had come to town Friday through to Monday so we guesses it would be a noisy one. Whilst in town we brought tickets to see The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers, playing at the Corn Exchange. Baz was not to keen but he really enjoyed it!

We decided to get the bus back to the boat then get the train in for the eve. How fortuitous as we had just finished lunch when Dot and Gordon our friends from Stone breasted up.

After a cuppa we went up to The Swan for a couple. Lovely surprise everyone looks so bronzed and well.

Got home about 11 ish after another fab eve. I just love live entertainment especially men in uniform!

Sunday got off by 9ish went up the lockes with nb Lakelady very knowledgable guy who takes a boat from Great Bedwyn to Thatcham regularly for disabled children on 5 day holidays. Brought back memories of hols with David Frost on the Norfolk Broads. Happy Days.

We had only done 1 lock and I decided to walk to the next swing bridge. Someone shouted 'Hi Carol '. Could not believe my eyes it was Tony Ranger (Baz Best Man at our wedding) Andy ( Ian Andrews) and 2 friends cycling the K &  A towpath. We stopped for a chat and they came in to check out our home!

What a fab surprise still can not believe it.

Moored up at Top Lock just out of town. Plenty of people for me to chat to! Heather and Michael nb Wave & Smile popped in for a cuppa.

Thatcham

Friday 20th.

We have been on the K & A now for a couple of days.  Wednesday stopped at The Cunning Man. Tackling the double locks on our own is hard work. Meet a couple coming down at one lock. The bottom gates where leaking so bad we had to empty and start again! Had lunch at the pub,and very nice it was too. Heard a Cuckoo in the afternoon, have not heard one for ages.

Thursday decided to do a long day to get to Woolhampton.

Was away by 9 ish. So many swing bridges, some electric but slow going. We stopped for water etc at  Sheffield locks and had lunch. Had to stop at Aldermaston Wharfe for gas. (£27.50) most we have ever paid. So got to Woolhampton about 3.30. All the good moorings gone so decided to try and get in at the end. No joy we kept grounding. Then on the boats shouted he was off so we backed up into his spot. Result.

Weather again turned into a lovely eve and we had good TV to watch the England game. Disappointing result losing 2/1 to Uruguay.

We have meet up with nb Smile and Wave.  They came up and said 'Hi Carol, we know you make a good Lasagne' they had been following Elly's blog. So we had a chat and both going to Bath/Bristol so will meet up again. They where off earlier than us today (Friday) as meeting family in Newbury. 

We have just come along to Thatcham. Right by the railway but good moorings. Walked into the town and did a little shop in Waitrose. Yummy food there. May go into Newbury on Bus tomorrow as moorings are apparently at a premium in town and have been advised not to moor at Victoria Park on a Friday/Sat night. So may go up on Sunday.