9th October
Whilst eating breakfast on our quiet mooring in Seend Cleeve this morning, we heard the mooing of cows very close by and a distinct thundering of hooves. Looking out we saw several cows hurtling along the narrow towpath, supposedly enjoying some free time but not quite knowing where to go with it. This was a first and we were amused until there was another clamour and a distressed mooing. I heard Pete talking to someone and saying he needed to get his shoes on first and when I looked out again saw a calf in the water wedged between our boat and the bank. Pete had hurriedly loosened the front rope to give it space and a man (presumably the farmer who owned the escaped herd) managed to get a harness around its neck to hold its head up above the water but the calf was panicking so badly it was hard to keep hold of him. Our neighbour had appeared by this time in her silk pyjamas and slippers hurriedly loosening her ropes too. The farmer managed to direct the calf to a shallower part of the canal where it tried to clamber out getting its front hooves onto the bank, but slipped back again and the harness fell off once more, whereupon alarmingly it swam to the opposite bank and into bushes. It became almost unbearable to watch and eventually the drama continued beyond the bridge where we couldn't see, which was a relief really.
When we left for our heavy day's travelling, we saw a CRT worker shovelling up cow pats on the tow path - the result of over excited cow activity I guess! He told us they were all safe again and that the calf had been rescued with a hoist. Phew, what a strange start to the day!
We slogged the 29 locks to Devizes. Poor Pete operated all the locks, the Caen Hill flight being more difficult going up as I had to lob the rope into the air from 8' below for Pete to catch and secure. Needless to say I wasn't much good at it until we decided to swop the rope for a longer one with a whipped end (therefore heavier) which was much easier. Yay, the 'Caen Hill Thrower' was born. Poor old boat got banged considerably today though, as my handling suffered with side winds buffeting me. Trying to get through a single lock gate is not easy. It pelted rain on and off too, so wet ropes added to the trial. This 7 hour day had us drooping at the end of it, especially Pete who virtually walked and laboured from Seend to Devizes. The weather effects things so much; this was a much easier day when we came down in still, sunny conditions.
Still there were highlights, cheery people, a helpful CRT volunteer, and the countryside to enjoy; in its changing colours, back-dropped by black rain clouds one minute and then blue sky and sunshine the next: it is beautiful. Our neighbours tonight had been ahead of us all the way up the flight in their wide beam boat and when we reached the top, they pointed out the last mooring for us in front of them, warning us not to go further as there were no others. We were glad they told us. It was very busy, we don't know why - you'd think it was the middle of summer!
Whilst eating breakfast on our quiet mooring in Seend Cleeve this morning, we heard the mooing of cows very close by and a distinct thundering of hooves. Looking out we saw several cows hurtling along the narrow towpath, supposedly enjoying some free time but not quite knowing where to go with it. This was a first and we were amused until there was another clamour and a distressed mooing. I heard Pete talking to someone and saying he needed to get his shoes on first and when I looked out again saw a calf in the water wedged between our boat and the bank. Pete had hurriedly loosened the front rope to give it space and a man (presumably the farmer who owned the escaped herd) managed to get a harness around its neck to hold its head up above the water but the calf was panicking so badly it was hard to keep hold of him. Our neighbour had appeared by this time in her silk pyjamas and slippers hurriedly loosening her ropes too. The farmer managed to direct the calf to a shallower part of the canal where it tried to clamber out getting its front hooves onto the bank, but slipped back again and the harness fell off once more, whereupon alarmingly it swam to the opposite bank and into bushes. It became almost unbearable to watch and eventually the drama continued beyond the bridge where we couldn't see, which was a relief really.
When we left for our heavy day's travelling, we saw a CRT worker shovelling up cow pats on the tow path - the result of over excited cow activity I guess! He told us they were all safe again and that the calf had been rescued with a hoist. Phew, what a strange start to the day!
We slogged the 29 locks to Devizes. Poor Pete operated all the locks, the Caen Hill flight being more difficult going up as I had to lob the rope into the air from 8' below for Pete to catch and secure. Needless to say I wasn't much good at it until we decided to swop the rope for a longer one with a whipped end (therefore heavier) which was much easier. Yay, the 'Caen Hill Thrower' was born. Poor old boat got banged considerably today though, as my handling suffered with side winds buffeting me. Trying to get through a single lock gate is not easy. It pelted rain on and off too, so wet ropes added to the trial. This 7 hour day had us drooping at the end of it, especially Pete who virtually walked and laboured from Seend to Devizes. The weather effects things so much; this was a much easier day when we came down in still, sunny conditions.
Still there were highlights, cheery people, a helpful CRT volunteer, and the countryside to enjoy; in its changing colours, back-dropped by black rain clouds one minute and then blue sky and sunshine the next: it is beautiful. Our neighbours tonight had been ahead of us all the way up the flight in their wide beam boat and when we reached the top, they pointed out the last mooring for us in front of them, warning us not to go further as there were no others. We were glad they told us. It was very busy, we don't know why - you'd think it was the middle of summer!
Location:Devizes
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