Newbury to Hungerford

Due to the rubbish weather yet much needed rain we stayed in Newbury for an extra day.  

Then as we made to move I found a split in the hose connecting the gearbox oil cooler and the radiator.  Tried to get a replacement but the yard didnt recognise it so they could order it.

In the end I did a Fred on it and cut up a tyre inner tube and glued it on and hoped for the best.

It looks a bit like the the boot cover on the drive to the wheels on a car.  Anyone got an idea for a replacement? :-)

Before leaving I took the opportunity to top up with derv.  Only managed to put in 50lt so did rather well since the last fill up.

Just around the corner and the start of the city centre and a nice new bridge with the Kennet and Avon Trust shop on the left hand side.

 

Its not very far but there is a lot of weaving about as the river comes down through Newbury.

Last couple of bends before the lock.  The little stone bridge is the only point at which the river flows and is it fast.

At the lock there are a couple of black metal items and a warning that if you insist on taking your horse across the street then a fine is in the offing.

Above each metal item is the explanation for it being there.

This is still Newbury and a lovely little street with a swing bridge on the end of it.  Bit of a pain as the barriers have to be exactly down and in the right place before the bridge will operate.

Some delightful bridges out in the country.

The sun is out and its a pleasure trundling along.

Looks as though its back to the woods for the canal.

The mooring for the night.  There are not many around and this one is onto the bank with the gangplank out.

First thing in the morning and all along the towpath are half a dozen or so groups of army personnel.  After half an hour they vanish in the same direction as they appeared.

The end of the warning area.  Lock 80 is the last one after Reading where care needs to be taken due to the water flow.

The field comes right down to the canal.  It does look a bit odd.

Stopped at Kintbury to pick up water and waited for a ukhireboat to top up first.  It seems there are a lot of disgruntled customers out there as many of their hire-boats are going out without a full tank and the hirers are having to top up after a day.  There is also an issue with full toilet tanks I have been told.

As we sit there the horse-drawn canal boat comes along.  The horse-handler has just stopped leaping about over the roofs of some narrowboats to ensure that the rope doesn't fowl. At this point he drops the tow rope

and the boat glides serenely on to the lock whilst

the horse ignores it all and wanders down to the lock on its own and gets on with a nibble on the grass.

What a nice house.

Bet its the local MP :-)

The first hint of Hungerford in the distance.

The centre of the town is here somewhere.

Rather a nice footbridge that is the access to the house from the road crossing the bridge.

The other side of the bridge and old houses lining the canal.

Tonights mooring.  A lovely town and we will be off to admire it tomorrow.

Dosser end of Newbury

Spent the night just before the lock.  Plenty of room for other boats but no many around at the mo.  Weather iffy again.  Some very heavy showers with bits of sunshine.

One of the few canalside shops.

Manatees caught up with us.  James is off to his mooring at the marina a couple of locks from here.  There are plenty of locks.  Around one every mile and a swing bridge in-between.  If Oxford is Lift bridge country then this is the land of the swing bridge and they aren't left open for you either.

More trees.  There seems to be a lot of tree surgeon work to be done alone the canal.  Several very large trees along the towpath with a ditch on the other side.  Just ready for a good blow to push them over.

Stopped (after getting absolutely soaked) between the swing bridge and the lock at Woolhampton. The speed of the water is astonishing. You need to open the bridge before leaving the dead water at the lock to be on the safe side.

There are some nice new moorings just above the lock

Stayed the night here as not sure of the next mooring.

Another load of stakes going up stream ready to tart up the bank somewhere. 

Yet another bank being repaired.

Out in the open.  Rather a nice day and it makes a change to be away from trees for a short time.

Loads of holes in the ground that are full of water in the area.  This is the reason - gravel extraction.  At the other end of the working I think they are backfilling and returning the land to some other use.

Another turf lock.  I think this is the one I read about being a listed item.  Not sure if the others are as well.

Suns out and the black clouds are only minutes away.  Been soaked several times and dried when the sun arrives.

Some lovely clumps of flowers on the bank.

If you are "The man with the long hair" then I would steer clear of this bit of the canal. The rest of it reads "I'm gonna kill you" Friendly around here.

The canal goes on and off the river very regularly and so there are weirs at short intervals.

Getting to the outskirts of Newbury.  Evidence in the reeds.  Plastic bottles by the dozen and the usual burger wrappings.

Time to start looking for moorings.

Right outside Tesco and we just fit in.

In the middle of the night 2am in fact the local scum come out and decide to try and pinch a bike of the roof.  Its locked up so they can't but why do these scrotes think they can help themselves to anything that is not nailed down.  If they are out earlier and stolen a pair of pincers they would steal the nails as well.  God help any I catch on board.

Moved up the canal a little.  Last night must have been the dosser end of Newbury. Half a mile and its a much better place to moor.