“You got a partner for passage up the flight? No; well you have now!” The direct approach from Dave on NB Drift as we pause at Sells Green waiting for the 27th and the passage up to Devizes. Next afternoon we move the mile to Foxhanger wharf to the bottom of the 29 lock flight. More drizzle at the end of the day as we hope the forecast of sunny intervals materialises. As it turned out the weather was reasonable but a delay with a drained pound by Foxhanger Cottage in the bottom seven made for our slowest ever passage up the hill (six hours and a smashed porthole window to boot). At the end of the winter works the pound below the middle sixteen had been drained. With pressure of water released the piling on the canal bank below the lock collapsed; as we edge past it a protruding baulk of timber made contact with a sickening crunch. Held together with selotape another little job to be seen to.
A pleasant weekend in Devizes with Monday spent at the laundrette, stocking up supplies and we head off towards Great Bedwyn which we make by Wednesday,pausing of course at
Honey Street and the Barge in for a pint and cheesy chips; a delight himself refuses to forego. Herself on the other hand could not resist a visit to the saw mill for a small bag of logs to see out the remainder of the winter , “I like a wood fire!”. Rain showers persist as does towpath mud and the fire never dies.Great Bedwyn? Well nice place to stay for a while, good rail service to Paddington and herself is off to satisfy another ambition and join with friends from on a bare boat sailing holiday in Turkey. Himself enjoys some peace and quiet; renews acquaintance with the local ringers and once the rain stops and the mud begins to dry a start on touching up the paintwork. After a while himself decides a five day break is fine but ten is maybe a little long. She is missed. As for herself......sailing????? Fantastic !!! And the Turkish Bath.....awesome “They should install one at the new Bath Spa!”.
So fourteen days later we set off again, ringing at Hungerford. Finest ring of 8 on the K&A according to herself; always a great practice too, ringing everything from Bob doubles to Surprise major and always learning something new. Pauses at Newbury, Woolhampton, Frobney and Reading and we are back on the Thames, this time turning right and new water as we head downstream towards our nation's capital. The weather has improved with the changing of the clocks. Spring really is here, Celandine and Blackthorn in flower,leaves bursting from buds and the surest sign of spring to helself is her first sight of the pale lilac of Ladies Smock. The Kennet as always at this time of year is lively, the wide Thames flows much more gently. Big locks manned by lock keepers to pass us through, magnificent waterside mansions and pastoral vistas, magnificent herself declares.
Now, you will not be surprised to know that this is not necessarily the view of all on board NB Avon Rose. We are not talking here of himself but a certain small hairy canine. For him boating is all about leaping off at locks with his man, indulging in the local olfactory delights and where locks are close together treading the towpath in the wake of the man. Large mechanised with lock-keepers means a dog is confined to the boat and has to wait nervously inside, unable to see much of what is going on. Needless to say, any carelessness on the part of the big people in closing the the back doors is immediately seized upon with a dash for freedom. Something else occurs in some places which we have not encountered before; mooring fees!
Even himself has to admit that the Lower Thames does have its delights.
Henley, already preparing for the regatta, is a very pleasant mooring with easy access to the town. Approaching Windsor by river you get the best view of the castle. Pleasant Meadowside mooring at the Brocas (owned by Eton College – overnight mooring £6) and we take the opportunity to go into town to see the changing of the guard and visit the castle. It being Saint Georges tide the town is full of Souts and Scouters at the weekend annual Queen's Scouts parade. Her Majesty is at home but she declines to give us an audience; not that we asked. A refusal would have been too embarrassing. A pause at Shepperton and a visit from friends We set off to give them a little river trip only to be hailed by a moored narrowboat at Church Square. Busted starter motor. Can we give him a tow back to the River Wey? Breast-up and off we go, its only a mile away. Breast up? Lash the boats side by side and drive as one. Upstream, so glad of the power of the Issuzu 42. Never had to work so hard. Well that's our good deed for the day.
On down the river to moor outside Hampton Court and another day spent visiting the gardens and the palace, facilities much improved since last we came. Cherry and apple blossom magnificent; daffodils coming to an end.
And so today finds us sitting above Teddington Lock waiting for the tide. This is the upper limit of the tidal Thames and narrowboats, bound for the junction with the Grand Union Canal at Brentford, travel down just before high tide so as not to have to thrash against the surging currents. Herself passes the time with a bit of painting. Himself obviously by finishing the blog he now realises was started long ago. Must be having too much fun .
