We have come to the conclusion that narrowboaters are an untrustworthy lot! We set off early from Kintbury hoping to avoid being caught for a mooring fee as we had actually slightly overstayed the 48 hour maximum. It seems that we succeeded, since we didn't see an irate BW official chasing us down the towpath as we fled at 3 mph! Before we left, M walked up to the rubbish bins to deposit the contents of our waste bin and on the way spied a chap from the next door boat helping himself to logs from some recently felled trees. "Look at that disgraceful pilfering", thought M, hastily hiding the roses that she had just plucked from the canalside pub garden. (Well the pub was closed for refurbishment, after all!) Yes, narrowboaters are definitely a shady bunch!
The four mile journey to Hungerford was a delight. After some initial rain, the skies cleared and the sun shone. The countryside was a picture and we declared Dunmill Lock to be the prettiest that we have seen so far with its adjoining old brick-arched bridge and a little stile.
We found a lovely mooring right in the centre of Hungerford, next to the town bridge, very quiet and very convenient for the town centre. After lunch, we walked over the bridge and explored the lovely High Street. There is a wealth of little specialist shops and quite a few antique shops, one of which was once owned by M's Uncle Ron.
Tea and cakes in the "Tutti Pole" was mandatory because the guide books sang its praises, declaring that one would be served by a "bevy of comely waitresses." R was a trifle disappointed as our waitress could best be described as slightly past her "best before" date! Nonetheless, she made us very welcome, provided excellent service and the tea and cakes were superb.
M saw a flash of iridescent blue shoot past the boat and under the town bridge. The first kingfisher that we have seen on our travels this year.
In the evening we watched "Galaxy Quest" on DVD as M had not seen it before. It was great fun but we both slept fitfully afterwards - much too exciting for people of our age!!!!
Today: Just 2.0 hours to charge the batteries (Total 232.2 hours).
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