BRISTOL TO DEVIZES

Wednesday, 21st/Thursday, 22nd/Friday, 23rd July
I did some last minute shopping, and Trev visited the SS Great Britain.

Click here to read about The SS Great Britain

Then we set off, back through Bristol Harbour and up the Avon.
We took two days to get back to Bath, and, before we went up Bath locks,
we went up the Avon for a couple of hundred yards to the Pulteney Weir,
and the end of the navigable Avon.



AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PULTENEY WEIR

We went back up through the six Bath locks, including the Deep lock,
which is actually a replacement for two locks which were there previously.
I couldn't shut the gate on the Deep lock and reluctantly had to call
on some illegal young fishermen to help me.
They were fishing right on the lock, where there are signs telling one not to fish.
We moored in the same spot in Bath as we had on the way down

We stayed in Bath for two nights, and I had a chance to return
to a patchwork shop I'd been to on the way down, to buy some materials.

The boat has had a list since Bristol.
I can't work out why.
We had a pump out on the way up from Bristol and it got worse.
I hate it when it has a list, it's a strange feeling.

Saturday, 24th July
We left Bath today and went on through the nine mile lock-free pound to Bradford-on-Avon.
We moored up at a pub which had a good write-up in the canal guide, but it was a disappointment.
Sadly, they often are.
Although our guide is quite a recent one, published in 2000, things change so rapidly.
In this case, we were told later that there are new landlords,
and it has "gone downhill" since.
We spent the night on a ledge on the side of the canal,
and were on an even bigger list than before!



THE TURF ROOFED BOAT
I promised you a picture on the way back.

Sunday, 25th July
We moved on about a mile down the canal and moored up at The Lock Cafe.
Trev had had a mega breakfast here on the way down, and he wanted another one!

I told you about the problem we had with the shopping trolley we bought from B&Q,
and which wouldn't go together properly.
Well, an enterprising boater in Bristol told me I should ring B&Q's customer service department,
and ask them to collect it!
So I did and they said they would arrange for the Trowbridge branch to come
and fetch it back.
So I contacted the Trowbridge B&Q and told them our whereabouts.
They said they would have to arrange for one of their personnel to come and fetch it.
So it was arranged that they would ring me when they had someone free.
End of story. We've heard nothing since.

The Kennet & Avon has become very busy.
We've seen more boats along here than anywhere else.
I suppose that now it is the main holiday season.

Monday 26th July
Today we moved in to pole position ready for the assault on the Caen Hill flight of locks.
We had a meal at The Barge pub, and, on the way back to the boat,
got talking to a couple on a lovely narrowboat called Ellisiana.
They were also intending to do the flight tomorrow,
so we arranged to meet at the bottom of the flight in the morning.

At 9 o'clock--a record early time for us!--we met and set off.
Ahead lay twenty-nine locks.
It took us over five hours.
I was lucky, as I steered most of the way.
The couple with whom we shared, Sheridan and Ron, took it in turns to steer or lock,
but Trev enjoys the exercise.......
When we got to the top of the flight,
we were lucky in that there was plenty of mooring.
We pulled in and our new friends invited us aboard for a drink.
This turned in to several drinks and, eventually
(when they could see we had no intention of moving----!)
supper too!
They were very good company and we had a good evening.

Home Page

Next Page

Previous Page

Click here to return to the Summer 2004 Page