Autumn on the K&A

Thursday 17 Sept Something in the air!

Up to a sunny morning after a night of rain, we slept like logs after the 23 locks yesterday. John opened the bottom gate of the Devizes six and checked that Anthony and Rebecca on Selwood were coming with us. A disgruntled lady on a wide beam appeared, and grumbled that we took our time! Then as we emerged from this lock, we saw that they had closed the bottom gates after the widebeam exited, and were filling it! John honked his horn, and had a word with them after mooring, but the people were unrepentant, saying they didn't see us, despite the widebeam lady telling them! Then we found two boats coming down the locks singly, after one refused to share the lock with the other. Liana decided that there must be something in the air today!
After completing the six locks,  we said goodbye and thank you to Anthony and Rebecca and their folks, after a record of 32 locks shared from Bradford on Avon to Devizes! After a pleasant trip into Devizes to shops and market, we car ride on Eastwards towards Pewsey.

An unusual sight on a quiet morning

The White Horse at Alton Priors near Honeystreet

Autumnal shades

Dutch Barge at Wootton Rivers

Liana relaxing in the sun

Burbage Wharf near Wootton Rivers

The cutting leading to Bruce Tunnel

Wed 16 Sept A sharing experience!

After torrential rain overnight, we set off to the five Seend locks in the sunshine. At Seend we joined Selwood and her friendly crew of Aussies, Anthony, Rebecca, Maureen and Denis, plus their friends Aidan and his lovely wife. What teamwork developed as we continued onto the Devizes Caen Hill flight! Caen Hill really is a wonder of the canal world.

Annie entering the bottom lock of the Caen Hill 'thick' of 16 very close locks

Rebecca on Selwood with Annie on Caen Hill

The US Army helped us out at one point!

Rebecca and Anthony, family and friends

 on Selwood partnered us through all of Caen Hill locks

Rain appeared for the last six locks, so we were pretty lucky, really. After a few drinks on Selwood, we had a quite evening before sleeping well!

Tue 15 Sept Heading East

Today we travelled to the boat. After lunch, we set off from Bradford on Avon, sharing with a boat of beginners, who were grateful for advice. Liana took the car to Hilperton marina and rejoined Annie as we continued past Semington, mooring above the locks.