Can't let all this surrender-monkey talk about the K&A go unremarked. We have
set off on our annual fact-finding expedition across southern England. We left
Bradford-on-Avon Marina today at about 13:30 when we thought the worst of the
rain had passed and had a blissfully unencumbered run to Semington. Waited in
the Top Lock for another boat to join us and we proceeded in an orderly fashion
through various degrees of rain and, frankly, very little shine, to the Barge
Inn at Seend. Eschewing its charms, however, and noticing a little hazy sun
behind us, we pushed on to Foxhangers and then succumbed to the temptation of
an empty lock to start the lower 7 of the Devizes flight. Soon found the rest
of the locks against us and caught up a couple on a Sally hire boat who had
come from Okinawa for their holiday on the K&A. [note to BW - that's good
foreign exchange being earned there]. We shared water to the pound just below
'the Thick' where we tied to the lock moorings at about 19:55, safe in the
knowledge that we are legitimately queuing for the opening of the main part of
the flight at 08:00 tomorrow.
Since our boating w/ends are normally constrained to the length between
Semington and Bath, I am pleased to report that we have worked as many locks
today as we have done in the last 11 months. I am even more pleased to report
that, so far, we have found structures and mechanisms along the waterway to be
in fine fettle. However, there's a way to go yet.
Distance: 9m 1f; Locks; 14; Swing bridges: 6; Engine Hours: 6.54.
