To Pewsey and another late and full-filled night with fellow boaters!

The rain hadn't relented overnight and it looked particularly horrid outside, so once again I decided to stay indoors!  I'd thought of visiting Wilton Windmill about a mile's walk away, but it wouldn't be much fun in this weather - so we'll aim to visit on the return journey.  The problem is we're saying that about a lot of places so the chances are we won't get to them all, but as I said previously we can't do everything and we really need to have realistic expectations!

Barry paid a lonesome visit to Crofton Pumping Station - he was the only person in the place, aside from speaking to someone to pay the entrance fee he didn't see another soul, ah bless!

The boiler at Crofton Pump Station

Tools of the trade for a stoker

 

 

The beam of the Boulton and Watt steam engine has a stroke of 8 feet and with a bore of 30 inches draws a massive 1.25 tons of water on each stroke

 

 

No fancy Black & Decker power tools here

The highly polished, intricate workings of the cylinder head valves

Cross section of the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bristol to Reading - All 106 locks

We're meeting my friend Jenny who I worked with as a Practice Nurse in 1985 to 1987, and her partner John, somewhere near to Devizes on Sunday.  So we checked out the map and planned to get through the next 10 locks to Pewsey, from there on in it would be a lock-free 15 miles to Devizes.

The recommendation to them was to drive two cars to Devizes, park one up and both get in the other one and drive to Pewsey.  We weren't sure where they'd find to park at that stage.

Once Barry had had his fill of the Pumping Station, we waited for another boat to come by, and shared the 10 locks with Pete and Debs on 'Nb Lorna Doone'.  It was a delightful day with many laughs along the way, as we shared the workload between us.  At one stage Pete and I glided effortlessly into a lock side-by-side, but when I went to do the same thing with Debs some time later things went a little awry as there was a tree in the way and a small weir so I had to do a bit of nifty reversing to avert disaster - it wouldn't have been so bad had there not been three Greek tourists watching our entrance - ah well, it gave them some material for their photos!

Pete and Debs first in the lock getting tied up to give us some room - welly weather!

Little Northern Pride is dwarfed by 'NB Lorna Doone' - but we lead the way in Bruce Tunnel (502yds long with chains along the walls where they used to pull the boats through) as we have a big light!

Some very handsome old brick-built bridges along the canal

 

 

 

 

At the side of one of today's locks, was a tree with this fruit on - can anyone inform us what it may be?  Looks like blackberries but can't be!

 

 

 

 

 

Two crew on the boats and two on the towing path to work the locks

Sandra and Pete concentrate on gliding side-by-side into the lock 

As the day wore on the weather improved and the clothes started to come off!

What a pleasant scene - you can see why it's like living in a parallel universe can't you?

Gentle cruising - are those leaves looking a little autumnal?

After mooring for the night just before Pewsey Wharf, we then arranged to meet our companions of the day in one of the nearby pubs.  Initially we went to 'The Waterfront' but it was very quiet and they weren't there, so we walked across the bridge to 'The French Horn' (ran by an Aussie from Perth would you believe and serving kangaroo on the menu!) and they were there with their friend Toby who'd driven his car from Great Bedwyn to meet them for one drink - little did he know what he'd let himself in for!

Pewsey Wharf and 'The Waterfront Bar and Bistro'

Early evening on the canal, taken from the bridge at Pewsey Wharf

We stayed till after midnight in the pub, then Barry invited our new friends back to the boat for some home-brew - oh dear!  It was 0300hrs when I decided that Pete's eyes were beginning to cross and it was time to call it a night in case there was a mess on the floor!  I hadn't been drinking and there's not a lot worse than watching inebriated folks making a fool of themselves!  It was an entertaining night though, great to meet you all.

Pete and Debs, Toby and Sandra - a collection of empty bottles and glasses give the game away

A colourful window box in Pewsey

Self-imposed delays and darkening days

We had a late start on Friday.  Unusually Barry was the one who wasn't up bright and early - not emerging from bed until 0930hrs!  The weather wasn't too promising, but Barry wanted to explore Great Bedwyn on his bike, while I chose the safer option and stayed on board catching up with some hand-washing -  we've so many visitors coming from Sunday onwards that I need to be up to date!  It was certainly not the best drying weather, but needs must and we can always finish it off by putting the radiators on later.

The railway line follows the canal, both of which run parallel with Great Bedwyn village 

 

   

          The village centre with the Crossed Keys pub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We should be allowed to choose the individual panel colours of cars - would be much more fun!

The birth place of Thomas Willis founder of Neurology (1621-1675)

There's an abundance of stunning thatched cottages here

A Thatcher's paradise

One of the two stores in the village - a pint of milk, a loaf of bread and a tombstone please!

 

 

 

A charming old bakery - probably looks no different to a hundred years ago or more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The 12th-13th Century flint stone church at Great Bedwyn

Opposite the church - houses with unusual brickwork designs - delightful

  Possibly built by an ancestor of the person who designed the car above

Barry can't resist these shots of picture-perfect houses

Real chocolate box cottages

  Today's flower shot comes from this attractive garden

 

Although we've been experiencing a bit of rain recently, something happened to the level of water where we were moored up. If you look back at yesterday's photograph of the boat moored up in front of us, and then the photo (left) taken this morning, you'll see what I mean!   Oo-er!

 

 

We eventually moved off about 500yds to the pump out and water point - luckily BW have fixed the pump out, as Sue from NB No Problem had informed us it was recently out of order.  Although our tank wasn't full, we thought it best to grasp the opportunity while we had it - wouldn't do to be full up without anywhere to pump out with visitors on board!  We then casually topped up with water too, cheekily having a spot of lunch at the service point before tackling the five locks of the day to Crofton Pumping Station almost at the summit of the Kennet & Avon. 

Just as we were getting ready to move, Rebecca and crew emerged from the tunnel to their mooring which was right next to us - we were easily swayed to hang around for a while longer chatting with them. What lovely people, we're so pleased we met you, don't work too hard back at the grindstone on Monday! They flatteringly said that meeting us was the highlight of their week's holiday - bless them!  Could be because Barry plied them with his home brew and shared some of his alchemy secrets with Glen ...

We set off in the sunshine with an ominous sky ahead

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the church - then it's off through the locks again, though only five today

 

Approaching the Crofton Pumping Station

An old working boat sits sadly at the side of the canal

The main east - west/south-west railway line passing the pumping station

We had another six locks to reach the summit when I saw the ever darkening sky and the next moorings near the Pumping Station, after lock 60, were in the bank again.  I so didn't want the same messy moorings as the last couple of nights, the boat is getting filthy from all the mud, so I swiftly suggested to Barry we moor at the concreted moorings right next to the Pumping Station and rest up for the night and luckily (for Barry!) he agreed and backed up to a neat little mooring spot.  Just as we were tying up the sky emptied itself of gallons of water - we'd managed to moor just in the nick of time!

The time was 1630hrs, and once the rain stopped, Barry took a walk to Pump Station but it closed at 1700hrs, opening on Saturday at 1030hrs so Barry will go then.  Amazingly (!) looking at steam engines is not really my cup of tea, but we'd seen a good write up about the Station in Canal Boat.  Someone must be looking after us as there's also the Kennet and Avon pull out guide in this month and last month's magazine which are coming in very handy!  I suspect a subscription will be in order to keep us up to date on canal news once we're back in the southern hemisphere.

Sandra working the last lock for today

Another view of the Pumping Station, housing two 19th century steam engines - more tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 

Makes you dizzy doesn't it?!

 

 

 

 

 

A plaque on the chimney

Impressive brickwork and symmetrically placed windows 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Couldn't choose between the above sunset shots so put all three in - sorry!

The sluice paddles on Wilton Water where the water is pumped up from

Brilliant watching the trains flashing by at breakneck speed - we're the third boat back

We had another quiet night in, I did my cross stitch (a bit sad I know, but wonderful to have the time to do it and I started it last year and only have the outside to complete - I may never get the chance again!) while Barry did some work on the blog - we're making the most of them as next week Barry's friends from Brighton are coming from Monday evening until Friday, then Jamie (Barry's daughter) arrives Friday evening until Monday afternoon, so quiet nights in with just the two of us will be a thing of the past for while ...

A pretty purple flower from Great Bedwyn - looks geranium-like but didn't know you could get them in this colour?  Must get some for our NZ garden if they do!