Rough mooring again on the K and A Canal

Saturday, 11 June 2011 09:22

After our night at Hungerford our next stop was planned!

Hungerford Lock negotiated, we had another seven locks to do .....

Because of a planned BW stoppage at Aldermaston lift bridge we are working to a "deadline" - not our favourite way of cruising. However once within reach we can have a day or so to relax, hopefully!

Passing Hungerford wharf and all the geese and ducks we spotted this. So this is where they have hidden it!

Ark Royal in boat house

Hungerford Station Road Bridge still has an elsan and water, but no longer rubbish disposal - supposedly because of the difficulty of access for the bin men, not boaters.

Dun Mill, Wire and Brunsden Locks made four locks down - three to go! The only interesting thing worth noting was this sign on one of the lock beams. I defy any boat to achieve this speed on the K and A, apart from in the river sections.

4mph sign

We found a definite optimum rev count for Epiphany to chug along at - any more and we were wasting diesel pushing against the water flow and digging into the shallow canal below us! (PS. for those who are interested we draw 31 inches at the stern). I suppose our speed was about 2.5 to 3mph on average.

We did not stop at Kintbury - but disposed of the rubbish as we went through the lock. It was "goodbye" to Del and Al too - they were moored above the lock.

Here is a puzzle for you. Have a good look at these notices, posted at Dreweats Lock.

Dreweats Lock notices

Surely, if you leave a bottom paddle open, the lock will leak badly, yet the sign says, "Please close top gates - Lock leaks badly"?!

At Copse Lock, the heavens opened (again). John worked his "favourite lock" and the river entering below was pretty benign, despite the heavy showers.

River Kennet enters below Copse Lock

So now we opened the throttle up a bit, just for a short while, as the river leaves again before the cut to the next lock, Hamstead.

On the river briefly!

Hamstead Park rises to the south; to the north is open water meadows. However, we knew that just around the corner was a good "rough mooring", as we had moored there on our way up. Sure enough, just above Benham Lock we pulled in and moored - the plank was needed again though! The sun shone for an hour or so and I was able to sit in the bows for a bit. We were looking forward to a good night to set us up for another heavily locked section the next day...

Kennet and Avon Canal, Hungerford to Benham Lock
4 hours 29 minutes, 6.51 miles, 8 locks