Newbury for the day

Wednesday, 03 September 2008 19:59

We decided to stay put today. I wanted to wash the port side, as we were moored conveniently for this. I washed the starboard at Great Bedwyn so now we have a cleaner boat - for a while!

John kindly wet swept the floor inside - the advantage of not having carpets is that this can be done very quickly and effectively and the dirt does not build up.

We also wanted to watch a boat go under the low bridge after Newbury lock to check our headroom with the chimney up. We helped a single hander through and watched him do so.


The river coming in from the left was not very fast and so his passage was easy, with plenty of room as the water levels are still low.

By the lock is the stone sculpture "Ebb and Flow", created by Peter Randall-Page, an internationally renowned artist. it is made of granite and weighs 7 tons. The water in it goes up and down according to the water level in the lock.


We wandered down the towpath to the next lock - Ham lock (87). This lies at the end of Newbury Boat company marina, which has a rather swish dry dock.


On our way back we crossed the canal on the road bridge and went on to the old wharf, which was the site of Newbury Castle before the canal was built. Much of its stone was used to build the wharf buildings and this area became a large transhipment area in the hey day of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Unfortunately the renowned museum there, housed in the old granary building is closed for renovation so we were disappointed not to be able to visit it. However buying a real Cornish pasty from the West Cornwall pasty shop, just by Town Bridge went a long way to making up for this

Back at the boat we had a bit of a rest and then returned to the town for some retail therapy, M & S, Milletts for a back pack and then Tesco for some bits and pieces.

This evening we watched the K & A vidoe we have on board to remind ourselves where we have been and what is to come!

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