Past - the Wilts and Berks Canal?

Tuesday 31st July, 2012 - East of Bradford on Avon.
A very pleasant day's cruising, some of which was spent sharing locks and swing bridges with Derek, Angela and their two grand-children on the hired nb "Braithwaite" - good name! (it's the last village we pass through before arriving at Hope Farm in the Lakes). Derek remarked good-naturedly that his grandson was more interested in watching the Olympics on the boat's TV than helping with the locks!

We moored up next to them for lunch, but left long before they did as - yes, you guessed it - they were watching the Olympics!
On our way, we passed the entrance to the Wilts and Berks canal that used to connect the K&A to the Thames at Abingdon but which was finally abandoned in 1914. Now there is a strong restoration group hoping to re-open it gradually, although it will be a huge task as it is 52 miles long and needs 50 locks. However, the Duchess of Cornwall cut the first ceremonial sod of earth in September 2010 as a symbolic start to the restoration.

The blocked-up entrance to the Wilts and Berks Canal.

We planned to stop at one of the two marinas at Hilperton as our poo-tank needed emptying but found that access was very difficult and they both appeared to be closed. So we went on and moored just short of the Devizes Marina. Google Earth told us that we were just 298.11 yards from the entrance (very accurate, Google Earth!) and so we walked up the towpath to reconnoitre for the morning.
Today: 6 miles, 4 locks and 6.4 hours.
Trip: 172 miles, 159 locks and 142.5 hours (290.3 total).