Barry gets detained by Wadsworth Brewery, before a fabulous family afternoon

Tuesday 31 August

Spending time with Tyler, Ellie-May and their family from Southampton yesterday made me realise I should've contacted my sister Linda, who also lives there, to see if they're free to come and have a play on the boat.  So on Tuesday morning I gave her a call and, although they had some stuff to do (the usual last minute school uniform panic at the end of the summer holidays!), they decided that opportunities need to be grasped so put it all on the back boiler and her and Dave, my brother-in-law, drove up, parking one car to Devizes then both coming in the other one to meet us in Pewsey. 

In the meantime, Barry and Brian had arranged to visit Wadworth Brewery, for a tour of 'Northgate Brewery and Information Centre', a few minutes stroll from the boat, setting off just before 1100hrs.  Surprisingly, I wasn't terribly interested in seeing how beer is made, I see enough of it the process on the boat (lol!), so walked into town to have a look around and stock up on provisions for our guests. 

 Wadworth Brewery was founded in 1875, by Henry Wadworth, after he'd bought the original town brewery

We were guided through the whole history and brewing process

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The modern part of the brewery and the original 25HP steam engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alistair Simms, the most qualified cooper, and one of only five left in England making and repairing oak beer barrels

A selection of some of the beer-pull 'badges' (is that what they're called?) adorning Alistair's workshop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wadworth building, constructed in 1885

 

 

They have their own sign writing department servicing all the signage, etc for their 260 pubs  with everything painted by hand - no computer graphics here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barry reflected in the glossy finish of one of the signs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 6X horse drawn wagon still used for local pub deliveries

The five beers we got to sample - a third of a pint of each

I got back to the boat around 1230hrs, having lugged a few bags of groceries about a mile and started to get lunch ready to cook - Linda and Dave arrived just after 1400hrs.  However there was no sign of Barry, and as per usual he hadn't taken his phone with him so I had no means of contact.  I'd expected the tour to take about an hour, so was starting to get a little concerned and suggested Dave go and check out the pub from last night in case they'd lost their way and slipped in for a quick pint!  But they hadn't been seen there - thankfully around 1445hrs we spotted them sauntering nonchalantly down the towpath without a care in the world, apparently the advertised two hour tour had taken almost four hours!  I knew it wasn't like Barry to be so thoughtless - he obviously couldn't leave the tour halfway round and miss out on the free samples!  The challenge now was going to be eating a late lunch and getting to Pewsey with Linda and Dave (and their canine companions) before dusk ...

 

Leaving Devizes Wharf

We finally set off around 1530hrs, with a good 4 to 5 hours journey to our day's destination.  It's been typical British weather lately - cool and damp for most of the time the kids have been on holiday, whereas now they're going back to school it's suddenly turning summery! 

We had a most enjoyable day, with Linda and me at the stern initially, swapping with the boys after a while so we could chill and chat. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teidi and Alfie so excited to be travelling along the canal, but luckily managed to keep dry!

They've obviously been making hay while the sun was shining

A perfect reflection on a crystal clear day

At All Cannings we bumped into Sue and Vic on No Problem once more, so stopped for a brief chat.  It's unlikely that we'll meet up again this year, but who knows whether our paths will cross again at some point in the future - great to spend some time with you both.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue with her camera at the ready - see the photo on No Problem's 31 August post here

After soaking up the sun for a while, Linda and I jumped off the boat about half way through the journey and walked the dogs for a couple of miles. 

Sandra & Linda catching some rays on the roof!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't get too close or you'll pop me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave enjoyed his stint as captain taking to it like a duck to water

Pickled Hill by Pewsey looking picture-perfect

The sun begins to set and we're still not quite there

Sandra and Linda, two of the four Walsh sisters

We finally arrived in Pewsey after 2000hrs - luckily the sun hadn't quite set but it was certainly getting dark by then.  Poor Linda and Dave still had to drive back to Southampton, but first they gave us a lift to Pewsey Railway Station to collect our train tickets to get us to Exeter on Friday for a weekend with my younger sister Viv and her partner Ray.  It was a long day for them, but a very precious time as we don't get a chance to be together very often, and we'd not previously had chance to see Dave this year.

They dropped us off back at Pewsey Wharf, and as it was so late I was feeling lazy and we popped into the Bistro there thinking we may get something cheap and cheerful to eat for tea - no such luck!  Their meagre menu came with extortionate prices - £9.95 for fish and chips for example - well I may pay that is a swanky restaurant but not in a pokey place run by a couple of young girls - we wondered how they survive, and can't believe boaters pay that sort of money for a basic meal.  Reluctantly we returned to the boat and I cooked up some Wiltshire Pork sausages, mash, fresh peas and onion gravy - it was delicious and so much cheaper, courtesy of Mr Sainsbury's!

Our aim now is to get to Hungerford by Thursday evening and find a mooring, so we can get the train back to Pewsey Friday lunchtime, then Exeter (it was cheaper for a return from Pewsey and a separate ticket from Hungerford - seems bizarre but that's how it goes!).

Many magic moments before, during and after Caen Hill

Monday 30 August 

I woke up unusually early on almost the last day of the British summer, around 0645hrs, and peeking through the curtains saw a glorious light and mist on the canal so had no choice but to give Barry a shake and suggest he took a look.  He groaned, knowing there was no way that he could resist putting some clothes on and jumping off the boat to capture the surreal scene ...

An eerie light embraces the water

   Northern Pride in the distance as the sun creeps higher into the sky

We commenced our big day around 1000hrs, which is terribly prompt for us to begin - seeing a boat ahead starting out we thought we'd untie quickly, hoping to share some (or all) of the day's 34 locks with them.  We passed through three swingbridges together, overtaking each other as we went, but when they arrived first at Seend Bottom Lock, there was another boat there waiting to go up - dash it!  So we lost our temporary partner and waited the obligatory 20 minutes for another boat (to save water), and then began the first of our locks alone.  Fortuitously at the next lock another boat emerged from a mooring heading to Foxhangers to return their boat, so we were able to share a couple with them ...

Weaving in and out of the swing bridges ...

A busy waterway, with another boat approaching - you can get stuck for a while!

Arriving at the lock and another boat nicked our 'partner' boat!

A magnificent sunny day for an August Bank Holiday Monday - wicked!

Passing 'The Barge Inn' again - very picturesque but apparently a restaurant chain place rather than a 'proper' pub

   We managed to share a couple of locks with a family on their last day of a week's holiday hire

 

 

 

The dogs were having a great day on the towpath!

 

 

 

Before you get to the main Caen Hill flight, there's seven locks in quick succession to negotiate, and these we did alone.  So we weren't confident of having anyone with us for the long haul - then I noticed 'NB The Cat's Whiskers' coming down one of  the locks - Jill had posted a lovely comment on our blog a couple of weeks before and said we may cross paths.  They were returning to their mooring after a holiday - great to meet you Jill!  She said that they'd just passed a single boat going up, and if we were quick we may catch up with them ...

Locks as far as the eye can see - but still not at Caen Hill yet ...

  Two out, sadly only one to go in

 

 

 

Jill and Sandra (with a silly smile on her face) ...

 

 

 

 

 

and John from NB The Cat's Whiskers

 

 

 

 

Arriving shortly afterwards at the Caen Hill Flight, there was no sign of the single boat, but when we reached the third lock up, NB The Maid of the Mist was waiting for us - how lovely of them!  Unfortunately I didn't introduce myself properly, despite chatting to the man in charge for a few locks before handing over to Barry, but we did have a very interesting conversation about his website 'Canal Cuttings'.  It's a type of on-line canal magazine, but with a vast range of associated pages giving information on holidays here and abroad, where you can go for free in places around the UK, boats and canal cottages for sale, etc.  From the Google ads on their pages, it provides them with a modest income to supplement their retirement - good on you both, fabulous to meet you and thank you for waiting for us.

  Wow!  Caen Hill flight in all her glory - 16 locks to ascend 

Well at least the first lock's in our favour! 

It was another gorgeous blue sky day, starting out cool at first but then the temperature rose considerably - as you can see I had to keep changing clothes!  We'd worried that it may be busy on the flight on a Bank Holiday Monday, but there weren't too many boats, just lots of gongoozlers enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Once again we picked up a couple of children on the way, this time it was Ellie-May and Tyler's turn for a treat - and boy they got their money's worth bless them.  There was also Ruby the dog and their lovely parents, but sadly once again we didn't get their names - sorry!  They'd come up from Southampton for the day and ascended most of the locks with Barry, while I watched nervously from the side-lines, and their dad helped with the locks. 

Towards the top of the flight, both kids helped to steer the boats - in fact the lovely man from 'Maid of the Mist' suggested that as Tyler was twice as old as Ellie-May, he should be twice as good, but felt that really she was the best - not that he was at all biased!  What fun they had, it was awesome to see them enjoying the waterways and we suspect they'll be badgering their parents for a canal holiday at some point in the future.

    Sandra did some of the driving and chatting                        A soulful swan along the way

A synchronised entrance to the lock - no worries!

Tyler and Ellie-May having a ball ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 At the top of the flight there were two boats coming down - a magnificent changeover occurred with no bumping at all - marvellous! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Tyler and Ellie-May for all your hard work and most enjoyable company up the flight - we had such a fun time.

Half way up I got chatting to a man who asked if we were hoping to refresh ourselves at the top of the locks - of course I knew he meant The Black Horse pub where Dick and Sandra had got off the bus a couple of week sago.  He told me that sadly the pub had burnt down last Saturday and was in ruins.  What a pity, it was packed with people on our way up, and appeared to be a very vibrant place, I hope they were well insured.

The burnt out remains of 'The Black Horse'

At almost our final lock of the day I was sitting happily resting on the lock gate when I heard a familiar voice - it was Sue from NB No Problem!  I'd emailed her a couple of days ago to say we were on our way up and hadn't heard back, but she'd been waiting for us. 

We moored up in Devizes, shortly after the final lock, behind Maid of the Mist.  Who should be up ahead but Brian and crew on NB Nancy-Ann!  Sue invited us aboard, but much as we'd have loved to have a night on board No Problem, we also wanted to catch up with Brian and crew so Barry suggested a night at the pub as it'd be rather congested with at least seven people on any narrowboat.  We invited our companions of the afternoon on Maid of the Mist, but they understandably declined being exhausted after such a long day.

We tottered over to a pub across the road called 'The Artichoke', recommended by Sue and Vic, and it was indeed a most friendly hostelry.  After a very chatty and laughter-filled few hours, we returned to the canal around 2230hrs - Brian was the only one brave enough to come back to the boat for a spot of Barry's infamous home brew.  Luckily it didn't turn into a big session though, but it was a delightful evening, cheers everyone!

What a fantastic day on the waterway, we're so incredibly lucky - magic moments galore.

Rosie, Heather, Brian, Barry, Sue, Sandra and Vic