The Kennet & Avon Canal - May 2002
The Kennet & Avon Canal connects the River Avon at Bath with the River Kennet at Reading.
Sim & I, (Hen) took a one week narrow boat holiday from the Marina at Bradford-on-Avon.
Unfortunately the weather was terrible - it rained nearly all the time, we got very tired doing all the locks around Devizes on our own and we both contracted some horrible bacterial food-poisoning type thing by the end of the week. Although the beginning of the week was great, my interest in narrow boat holidays had disappeared by the end - 'never again' I said!
H joined us for the first day and a half. We tootled from Bradford to Bath and back again. H is pictured here with Sim.
The Dundas Aqueduct. This is next to the beautifully entitled 'Brass Knocker Basin ' where The Somerset Coal Canal once forked from the main line. You can still explore the start of the fork on foot, but don't try to take your boat - the wet bit is very short and very full of moorings.
This is part of the Claverton Pumping Station. It is a water powered water pump!
At this point the Avon is very near to the canal but a long way below it. The river is diverted into a pound. From here it turns these huge water wheels, which in turn power two huge piston pumps to carry smaller volumes of river water up to the height of the canal to top it up. Well worth a visit or take a virtual tour!
Inside the pump room.
Bradford-on-Avon is an interesting place. This is the bridge over the river in the centre of the small town. It was built with a tiny chapel in the middle of it. This was used as the town gaol for some time!
The danger of driving into the garage without remembering to open the doors first.
You don't often get diversions on the canal. Bitter experience says don't go near the edge of these diversions - they don't have banks, but shallow, sloping, concrete skimmed sides!
The bottom of the Caen Hill flight of 16 locks at Devizes. Just after we took the photo the rain started again. This made the metal top gates very hazardous. No mooring allowed here! The small lower flight and this one must be done in one go!There are 29 locks in 2.25 miles - too tiring for the two of us in the rain! Maybe bringing a crew isn't such a bad idea after all.
Sim looking happy, as the rain has stopped!
How many people ran aground before this sign was erected? Yes we were tempted to see 'how shallow' but we restrained ourselves.
Hen, the submariner.
Just a silhouette of some farm buildings, but I like this one.
The chalk horse, near All Cannings. A copy of the one at Cherhill, made here in 1812 for some reason. This part of the canal is very peaceful. There are lush reeds and nettles everywhere.
The clouds, with a little extra contrast. Sim took this one - I'm impressed.
Typical of the peaceful waters to the West of Pewsey. Pewsey is a nice little town, and a worth a visit. The only problem is that the only public mooring there is 1 hour maximum stay. As it takes nearly half an hour to walk from the wharf down to the town, this seems a bit short-sighted. The town wasn't very busy - it's odd that they don't welcome boating visitors.
Look at this patchwork bridge just outside Devizes!
Back down the flight again! Luckily we had another boat we could go down with this time. More hands, less need for damn ropes and no climbing up onto the roof in the rain to get out of the lock.
The swans kept coming into the lock with us! It was difficult to get them out as they aren't easy to persuade!
It's very difficult to photograph the rain - but I had a bit of time to practise.
