Trowbridge to Devizes

Thu 6th Jul    Trowbridge to Seend

We were grateful for a little cloud cover this morning as it was still hot.

Some cloud cover

Purple loosestrife

We were on our own through the swing bridges and locks at Semington and Seend, and we stopped in the pound between locks 18 and 19, opposite the Barge Inn. We were the first boat there and we emptied our rubbish, used the elsan point and filled up with water, before mooring on rings.

Opposite the Barge Inn, Seend

Hugo framing himself

We walked to the Brewery Inn, about a quarter of a mile away, via a path through a field, and up a hot country lane. The conversation in the pub was all about farming. They had Wacky Cider on tap by Cheddar Valley – a pleasant drop.

Back on the boat it was very hot and humid, with no shade. By the end of the day there were seven boats in the pound. Six boats had come up and only one had come down, so the level dropped a bit. Later it had dropped a lot, so that the boat was on the bottom, and we couldn’t close our side doors. James went to look at the lower lock and found that the last boat through had left a paddle up, so he lowered it. There was a lot of leakage through the top gates and the water had been running away. He went to the higher lock and emptied it to restore the levels a little.  The top gates on that lock were also leaking badly, and the lock soon filled again.  James emptied it once more, and we managed to float enough to push the boat away from the edge and close the side doors.

It was quite a noisy mooring with the pub garden full of people chatting, but it quietened down when the pub closed.

Seven boats in the pound

Sunset

4 locks, 3 miles, 3 swing bridges

Fri 7th Jul    Seend to foot of Caen Hill

We wanted to ensure we had a mooring at the foot of the Caen Hill Locks, so we set off early.

An early start from Seend

We found ourselves following two boats and they were going very slowly.  Eventually we found that they were hire boats from Foxhangers, and today was a changeover day. They both pulled in to the boatyard, and we were free to tackle the seven locks from there to Caen Hill.

Changeover day at Foxhangers

We went through the first two locks on our own, and then we discovered there was a boat in front, and they waited for us to join them. It was Narrow Escape, from the Somerset Coal Canal. 

With Narrow Escape

We stopped at foot of the sixteen Caen Hill Locks, and Narrow Escape continued. There was a shady spot just in front of the boat, where we set up our chairs.  We met Judy Raymont, a Christian writer from Cambridge, who spotted our Canal Ministries logos and stopped for a chat.

A few boats came down the locks, and later a fisherman arrived and was casting his line very accurately right across the side pond, hoping for some carp. He left around 4pm.

Caen Hill Locks

Later still BCF boat Interlock came down, with Dave at the helm with his son Steve.  They gave us ice cream with was much appreciated on a hot day.

Dave on Interlock

In the evening two more fishermen arrived and stayed until it was dark.  We had some very welcome clouds, and tomorrow was forecast a little cooler.

Welcome clouds

10 locks, 3 miles, 1 swing bridge

Sat 8th Jul    Foot of Caen Hill to Devizes

Dawn over Caen Hill

All the locks had been set in our favour, with one bottom paddle up to keep them empty.  James went to set the first four by opening a gate and closing the paddle. When the man from CRT arrived to unpadlock the gates on the first lock we were ready to go and we set off at 0800.

Setting off for the flight

Teasel

A little cloud cover

There were no other boats on the flight, either going up or coming down. After we had done ten locks, two volunteers arrived and one of them helped us.  Due to their health and safety rules, he was not allowed to cross the top lock gates, and he insisted on opening two gates instead of just one. However, it was helpful when he went to open the gate on the lock above so we could go straight in.  We completed the 16 locks in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Volunteers near the top

Historic lock

Caen Hill Top Lock

We moored up and were the first into the cafe when it opened at 10am.

After some refreshment we continued our journey, and started on the remaining six locks to take us into Devizes. After two more locks we saw a couple with an autistic young man who was very excited at seeing the boat.  We offered them a short boat trip, and they were delighted. Kathy and Matthew sat with Hazel in the stern, and Stan helped James on windlass duty.

Guests on board

Boat trip over

We took them through the top lock, where they left us, and we moored up on the towpath that was still closed for repairs.  Narrow Escape was also there.

We discovered missed calls on our phones, and when we rang back it was Paul Standley, who was back at the cafe we had left, with Sue, and Rod and Chris Price, Canal Ministries trustees. They said they would come and find us. It was lovely to see them.

Rod and Chris Price

Paul and Sue Standley

More visitors

We phoned Amanda and arranged for her and James (the other one) to come to visit us for a meal tomorrow evening. We then went into the town for a tour of the shops and restaurants.  We had a very late lunch at Pizza Express.

When we returned to the boat we found Graham on Dawn Run had moored nose on to us. It was good to see him, although it was only brief, as he was going back to Bournemouth for a few nights.

22 locks, 2 miles

Sun 9th Jul  Devizes

We had selected Rock Community Church at 1030 as our venue for Sunday morning worship. It was in an old Chapel originally called Salem Chapel (1838). We were warmly welcomed.  The worship was led by Pastor Dave on the keyboard, accompanied by a lady with a guitar. The songs were in a bit of a time warp, mostly written in the seventies and eighties, but the singing was enthusiastic.  After 30 minutes, people were invited forward for prayer, and the Holy Spirit was evidently moving in many ways.  The lady with the guitar was doing a good job of continuing the music, although she had no microphone.   The talk was based on what we usually call the Ten Commandments, although they were referred to as Instructions for Christian Living, the same title as our reading yesterday from Ephesians Chapter 3.  At the end we shared communion together. The service ended at 1230.

Rock Community Church

As we were eating out this evening, we didn’t have our habitual Sunday Roast, but instead had a light lunch at Brogans, a cafe in the Brittox.  We bought some cat food from Morrison’s before returning to the boat.

In the evening we had agreed to meet Amanda and James at an Indian restaurant called 1Spice. We were there 15 minutes early so we popped into the Three Crowns opposite and had a drink while we waited. Old Rosie Cider for James, plus a cider and perry mix for Hazel.

The Indian meal was very good. It was the first time we had come across Ostrich Naga. Back to the boat for coffees, before Amanda and James started the 90 minute drive back to Poole.

No boating today

Mon 10th Jul  Devizes

Moored in Devizes

We had some errands today. Firstly a visit to the launderette to wash our carpet runners.

James had a haircut at Mikey's, and was pleased with the result. The barber recommended a tea chop situated in the Ginnel, where you could get a wide range of proper loose leaf teas.  While the washing was happening, we both tried the tea place and it was lovely. We came away with some raspberry and earl grey jam.

We also bought a pie from a Pie shop before returning to the boat for lunch on board

A man came round doing a silly survey. He didn’t even know what it was for, until we pointed it out on his literature. It was commissioned by CRT, and was intended for people using the towpath, and not for boaters. It was very difficult to answer the questions as we weren’t the right people to ask (How long do you spend on the towpath?  How frequently do you come to this part of the towpath?)

Hazel went shopping in Morrison’s, stocking up the cupboards and fridge.

We had a meal in the Three Crowns before going to the Lamb for Devizes Folk Club.  Sadly Gill Berry was not there as she was unwell. We were looking forward to hearing her again.  We sang four songs, including The Man Who Calmed The Sea.  Graham had come back from Bournemouth, and came also as a guest.

Devizes Folk Club

No boating today

Next:

Continuing East towards Hungerford