Wednesday 15th August, 2012 in Devizes.
An early start. Fortunately Angela's two cats were safely back on board nb "Red Geranium" so we lashed the two boats together and started off up the 16 locks of the Caen Hill Flight at exactly 8:00am just as the duty lock-keeper unlocked the bottom lock. By lashing the boats together, Angela was able to drive both boats at once and free up R & M to do the locks.
As anticipated, all the locks had been left empty overnight and so were in our favour. As Angela drove into each lock, R closed the gates and opened the paddles to fill the lock while M went ahead and opened the gates of the next lock.
We made very good time with this system and about half way up we were joined by a volunteer lock-keeper and later by another three volunteers. So M, who had as expected done a bit more than she should have done with her fractured ribs, was able to take it a bit easier.
The higher we got, the heavier the rain became but once we had started we had to continue (bit like "Mastermind"!). Angela did a splendid job of steering the two boats. We almost made it to the top without meeting another boat, but at the last lock there was a pair coming down, so we had to separate our two boats to manoeuvre round the two boats coming down.
There is a well known cafe beside the top lock, generally regarded as a reward for having struggled up the flight, and it opens at 10:30. We moored up at the top of the flight and the three of us arrived at the cafe just as it opened! We had a very welcome coffee and toasted tea cakes.
Then it was decision time! To go ahead through the next six locks to the centre of Devizes, or to stay put? As the rain seemed to be easing off and as we needed to get to Honeystreet by Friday morning, we decided to "go for it." This may not have been the wisest decision, weather-wise. Soon after we started, the rain got heavier and then it became "stair-rods" accompanied by thunder and lightning. We had lashed the boats together again, but this time did not have any helpful lock-keepers. Soon we were VERY wet. R had water pouring off the front of his stetson, M's skirt was dripping and Angela's turn-ups were full of water - as were all our shoes!! M said that at least she won't have to worry about watering MM's flower troughs tonight! Angela's boat is most appropriately named; the roof is a riot of colour with tubs of - would you believe - red geraniums! (not to mention the pansies, lettuces and tomatoes)!
Would we find a mooring in the centre of Devizes? In weather like this boaters tend not to move too much but we were lucky and both boats found a good mooring about 150 yards apart.
It took a while to dry off and change our clothes, then we settled down to a late lunch and yet more planning for our "No Plan" plan. We are still amazed by how much planning we have to do in order not to have a plan!
Mid afternoon, the sun came out and it has turned into a lovely day! Breezy but fresh and bright.
To our delight, we saw another Kingsground boat passing us. It was nb "Morse" that we had seen before in Newbury Marina, crewed by Ben, the owner's son.
Tonight, M, R and Angela are going into Devizes together for dinner to celebrate our successful trip up the Caen Hill Flight and our survival of the weather!!
Today: 2 miles, 22 locks and 2.4 hours.
Trip: 206 miles, 197 locks and 171.6 hours (321.6 total).
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