From Newbury to peace and quiet on the K and A

Thursday, 19 May 2011 14:00

After our Newbury experiences we needed somewhere to restore our calm and equanimity.

As there has not been any real rain for weeks, the strong flow on the first part of our journey was not evident. Narrowboats have been known to broadside under the bridge in front of our mooring.

Cut to Newbury Bridge

It was time to brave Newbury Bridge and the cross flow of the River Kennet entering from the north beside the Lock Stock and Barrel pub .........

There is no towpath under Newbury Bridge (Northbrook Road) so John dropped me off before the bridge. The only way to Newbury Lock is up beside the Bridge and over the road (now pedestrianised, since we were last here, I think). A sign points the way to the lock under a short tunnel and onto the lock landing. John then "hung around", waiting for me to prepare Newbury Lock.

Newbury Bridge, with the lock beyond

Newbury Bridge from west - note the bridge protectors, a clue to the possibility of "trouble ahead"!

To the south below the lock is another section of the River Kennet with the church of St Nicholas, built by Jack O'Newbury and his son. The lock was the first to be built on the new canal in 1794 and by 1796 the canal was open to Hungerford.

River Kennet to the south

The Lock has leaky gates and was half empty. The paddle gear is so easy I could raise it with one hand, rather than the two I normally need to turn the windlass. I was fortunate to have a willing helper to open the gates so I did not have to climb over the top gates. It is best to open both gates to make a safe fast arrival if the cross flow below is strong.

In Newbury Lock

Above the lock are moorings and the winding hole, before West Mills swing bridge. This bridge requires a windlass to close the barriers and a BW key to get into the green cabinet where the controls are to open the bridge. (BW, if you read this, it could do with a sign on the cabinet!)

After passing through the bridge, I was accosted by a man - "is this your toy or your home?". "Our home". "Ahh you are just the people I want to speak to". At this point I was expecting the usual questions about living aboard and continuous cruising, but no, he went on to say "I can save you thousands of pounds". I was beginning to get suspicious, but let him carry on. "I have some solar panels" he continued. At this point, wise to salesmen and knowing the tricks from my days of selling, I stopped him by saying that we had thought about them but had no plans to install them at the moment. He tried to continue but I got back on the boat as John arrived, so we left!

I wondered if he lies in wait for boaters or if he was just chancing his luck - anyway beware of friendly men at this bridge! He had walked away by the time I took this photo looking back

West Mills swing bridge from the west

Once West Mills would have been a hive of activity - lots of boats loading and off-loading flour and salt for the Hovis factory here. Now the narrow building houses rather nice flats with a lovely view.

The old Hovis factory taken in the setting sun on our cruise in March 2008

Soon we were out in the countryside again and the three locks ahead of us were familiar - Guyers, Higgs and Benham Locks. It is a popular towpath walk from Newbury to these locks so there were plenty of gongoozlers and children to wave to! John had help from some lads at Higgs Lock and we were photographed again and again as we worked through.

We were on the lookout for a mooring and found a "rough" one above Benham Lock - only the trains to disturb us! They are something that boaters on the K and A have to get used to, as the railway runs parallel to the canal most of its length. There are places where river, canal, rail and road all run together through the countryside. These clever canal engineers knew that following contours and valleys were the easiest way to construct their legacy.

Kennet and Avon Canal, Newbury to above Benham Lock
2 hours 7 minutes, 2.34 miles, 4 locks