Jet propelled to Hungerford.. once I found the keys!!

Yesterday and today – Wootton Rivers to Hungerford, Kennet & Avon Canal, 10 miles 23 locks

With the gear lever now fixed and Paul Balmer (NB Waterway Routes) fast approaching on his magical bike from Pewsey Train Station, it was time to think about pulling the pins to make our way towards the Thames.

Vic is still suffering very badly with his back, having damaged that last week when showing young Jamie how to swing a sledge hammer.. so he was not going to be able to do much at all let alone working through locks, so Paul offered to give us a hand for a couple of days before he is off himself with his narrowboat from Fenny Compton to his new moorings at Birmingham.

But I could not locate the keys for No Problem!!

Too many keys I have at the moment that is the trouble.. so I had to really, really think what I had done the previous evening once we had moored up.. then I remembered, I was dying for the loo.. and dived in the one on No Problem.. teehee, yep there they were on the shelf in the loo!!

Just the 4 locks at Wootton Rivers, all uphill ones, and I took No Problem while Vic steered Tara.. Paul lock wheeled and made ready, and we climbed quite quickly to the summit level of the K&A… Then Bruce Tunnel.. EEK!  I had forgotten the tunnel, and here I was on a new narrowboat for me with nobody aboard by myself.. Paul was on Tara (NP1), and so was Vic and Lucy!!  My heart fluttered a bit, but was reassured once I got the angle right and could see right to the end..

Out the other side just as two narrowboats were coming in.. and so then almost bumped into NB Crofton from Reading Marine, onboard blog readers Larry, Donna, Jim and Jan from America .. I do hope that is right.. they caught me at the right moment coming out of a tunnel, but was nice to shout out a quick hello.. have a great holiday you guys and might catch you again on your way back from Bath if we are not beyond Aldermaston.

Soon Crofton loomed up, and then it was downhill which is much easier as I can get off and help with working the  lock once inside .. downhill now all the way to the Thames

No pics yesterday, every single battery had run out.. too much going on!  Paul and I swapped and he took No Problem down a few locks while I reminded myself how to ride a bike.. I wobbled a bit at first and suddenly realised it has been over 2 years since I have been on one.. Lucy is now totally confused.. two boats a bike.. nothing is normal for her!

Settled between Great and Little Bedwyn last night on a nice quiet mooring in the middle of nowhere.. in fact no phones.. reception was nil with both Orange and T Mobile… so no internet connection either.

Pins pulled fairly early this morning and away..

Bit colder today, but we worked down through the locks from there to Hungerford in about 3 and half hours which wasn't bad really.  Here Paul lock wheeling and Vic steering Tara close to Froxfield Lock..

Oh yes, at one lock a butcher parked his van close by and came and helped Paul with the lock.. even winding up the paddles.. It was the most amazing sight, he had his long butchers apron on!  I said to Paul.. “Paul I never seen a butcher do a lock before!”.. “Sue, he said that in 63 years of living close by, he had never helped with a lock before”.. Said Paul..  Well I never!!

Passing one of my favourite moorings at Picketsfield Lock, some goslings were exploring under the guidance of their very vocal Mum and Dad..

And so to Hungerford, and plenty of mooring space today.  I was surprised we had done so much in two days considering Vic was not able to do anything.. so a big huge thanks to Paul for helping us along.. Lunch then for all before Paul said his farewells to catch his train back to the Bristol area and back to reality!.. We really did enjoy your company Paul for a couple of days.. and of course many thanks!..

Relaxed this afternoon before going into the town for bread and milk and good ‘ol fish and chips.. I know, I know I am on a diet, but I promised myself that if we got to Hungerford by today I would defo have fish and chips this evening.. corrrrr they were yummy too.. Ah well back to the diet tomorrow!