16th September
We were a little hurriedly forced off our nice mooring this morning by a very large trip boat (the Bruce Trust) which was attempting to turn around just before the swing bridge where there was no winding hole and, as they soon found out, very little width. They hit our bow whereupon a "not very happy about it" Pete told them he would move back so they could get more swing round. The innocent smiling folk in their bow only inches from me as I undid the bow rope apologised which was ok but then one congratulated me on managing to pull in our rope (not a difficult task) which was patronising to say the least. Another boater told Pete this same boat had hit them too - what on earth is the driver doing in charge of a trip boat?! Hey ho.
The weather warm weather brightened to a hot day again as we pressed on to Newbury, through some 8 locks - Pete operating most. We went through another turf-sided one, Old Monkey Marsh Lock, only one of two left on the canal, listed as an ancient monument by English Heritage, but not a very majestic one, the banks being full of canal mud slimed nettles and weeds! Tricky to hold in with a rope as there are only steps to secure it. And it seemed to be even slower to fill. Very tired by the end of the day as these locks and swing bridges take it out of you, but there is plenty of pretty landscape to make up for it. We moored by Greenham Bridge, as, hooray, there's a launderette here up the road over the bridge and we need our sheets and towels washed. What an exciting piece of news that is for the blog!! Bet Sid and Jenny will appreciate the knowledge though!
Greenham Bridge
Newbury Bridge
We were a little hurriedly forced off our nice mooring this morning by a very large trip boat (the Bruce Trust) which was attempting to turn around just before the swing bridge where there was no winding hole and, as they soon found out, very little width. They hit our bow whereupon a "not very happy about it" Pete told them he would move back so they could get more swing round. The innocent smiling folk in their bow only inches from me as I undid the bow rope apologised which was ok but then one congratulated me on managing to pull in our rope (not a difficult task) which was patronising to say the least. Another boater told Pete this same boat had hit them too - what on earth is the driver doing in charge of a trip boat?! Hey ho.
The weather warm weather brightened to a hot day again as we pressed on to Newbury, through some 8 locks - Pete operating most. We went through another turf-sided one, Old Monkey Marsh Lock, only one of two left on the canal, listed as an ancient monument by English Heritage, but not a very majestic one, the banks being full of canal mud slimed nettles and weeds! Tricky to hold in with a rope as there are only steps to secure it. And it seemed to be even slower to fill. Very tired by the end of the day as these locks and swing bridges take it out of you, but there is plenty of pretty landscape to make up for it. We moored by Greenham Bridge, as, hooray, there's a launderette here up the road over the bridge and we need our sheets and towels washed. What an exciting piece of news that is for the blog!! Bet Sid and Jenny will appreciate the knowledge though!
Greenham Bridge
Newbury Bridge
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