We had a second cross over day with boat crew, this time at Crofton Top Locks. Cathy, Jims sister, and her friends Pastsy and Leanne arrived straight from Heathrow airport early in the morning and jumped right into boat life.
The Crofton Pumping Station is where we waited overnight to pick up Cathy, Patsy and Leanne. It was closed but we got a sneak look. As we were planning this trip I had a slight niggling worry at the back of my mind. Each end of the canal is a river, at the east end the Kennet and at the west end, the Avon. The canal rises between the two rivers, hence the Caen flight of locks at Devizes. To ensure that there is enough water to allow the canal to function there is pumping station at the top of the rise to bring water up to the highest point.
When I went through this area in 2019 I was oblivious to a possible stoppage of boats because of lack of water, and do remember that the canal was quite low and we scrapped bottom a few times. This time however that niggle was for naught. The heavy spring rain that had turned us back at Newbury supplied plenty of water for this part of our trip. But other adventures awaited.
Patsy jumping in
Leanne having a go. The boat was 69 feet long and you steer from the back!
We had to say goodbye to Sue, Leslie and Pam at the end of the day, but not before having lunch in a 400 year old pub.
Everyone got to go back through the Bruce Tunnel
Coming out of a tunnel or bridge is always a thrill, watching the new view emerge.
We lazed our way back towards Bradford-on Avon, retracing our route with our new crew.
We re-passed the Pewsey White Horse cut into the chalk this is under the grass. They have to be maintained or grass will reclaim them
And visited one of the three The Barge Inns on this canal.
This Barge Inn is where the crop circles were planned, and they have a whole room dedicated to the intricate designs they used.
Back down the locks at Devizes, handled beautifully by our new crew, while Sally and I went to book a birth Caen Hill Marina for the night. Land showers and washing machines were needed.
Post flight
We had a little rain, but we also had a lovely rainbow
Sally, enjoying Patsy’s must have breakfast, scones with jam and Devon cream.
We arrived back in Bradford on Avon with enough time to have a good look around and have dinner in an excellent Italian restaurant, Ravello, before we had to say goodbye to Cathy, Leanne and Patsy
They were picked up bright an early by a cab to take them on to Bath and the rest of their adventure
I thought this was going to be my last blog for this trip, but there were too many pictures I wanted to use. So one more to come.
As soon as Cathy, Leanne and Patsy were on the way to the rest of their holiday in England it has all hands on deck to change beds, tidy and clean ready for the final crew for the boat. Ed and Laura, their two kids Ruben and Olive, and close friends Jaimie, Helen and Robin. Along with Jim, Karen, Sally and me we were a full boat.
The adventure began straight away. Helen, Jaimie and Robin arrived on time, brought by Jaimie’s mom, Suzy. Then we found out that Ed’s car would not start. The ignition switch had broken beyond repair. So off went Suzy to get Laura and the kids, while Ed stayed at home to wait for the repair man. So out the window went the hope of getting to Bath to have dinner with Cathy and friends as planned.
But the weather was fair and spirits were good. We began going west towards the Avoncliff and then Dundas aqueduct. All the while checking in with Ed on the car repairs. A plan had been developed with a few moving parts. We, with permission, made sure the boat yard gate was openable for Ed to park his car when it was fixed, the bike from the boat was locked up in the marina and the key hidden. Laura took a video of the location of the bike and the key and sent it to him.
The arrival time of the repair man was moved later and later, and we moved further and further up the canal, to passed at least one of the aqueducts and finally we tied up.
This week Sally and I were off duty in the kitchen. Both Laura and Helen are excellent cooks and had prepared the food for the trip. That night it was a barbecue. Jane, our sister, who was visiting Lucien, her other son both came for dinner which was lovely.
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