The Scouts, Day 2

Sunday 8th July, 2012 at Crofton Pumping Station.
Overnight the heavens opened, and it poured with rain. Our thoughts turned to our Scouting friends, who were camping a mile or so up the road, and to the groups of young people that we had met on the towpath the previous day who were doing a 100 mile hike in two days laden with the most gargantuan rucksacks!
In the morning, when the Scouts returned, they said that it was the wettest camping that they had ever known and their barbeque was less than a great success - a bit of a damp squib, one might say. They remained cheerful however, particularly after Sam decided to show off by jumping a large puddle, slipped and ended up flat on his back in the mud. Gales of laughter all round and it was declared the highlight of the weekend!

He came in for much good natured ribbing and required swabbing down and a change of clothes before we could proceed, including a pair of long baggy blue pantaloons that he borrowed from Becky, thereby generating yet more ribbing.

They had left their van close to the "winding hole" that we had used on Saturday and had walked the two miles down to us. So we set off west again, up through the six locks and through the tunnel back to their van. Today they were much more relaxed and confident with the locks and with driving the boat.

At the winding hole we dropped them off and took some group photos.

To our surprise, they presented us with a beautiful certificate signed by each of them and a lovely box of chocolates. We, in turn, told them that we hoped that they would come back again next year as we had enjoyed having them so much.

We waved goodbye to them and then sailed on down three locks to Wootton Rivers, a beautiful little village of thatched cottages and a pub called the Royal Oak, which came highly recommended.

We had an excellent dinner there and can confirm that it lived up to expectations!
Today: 4 miles, 9 locks and 3.9 hours.
Trip: 147 miles, 122 locks and 117.2 hours (261.7 total).

Be Prepared?

Saturday 7th July, 2012 at Crofton Pumping Station.
An early start, as we had arranged to meet the Scout Group at Crofton at 9:30am, which was two miles and four locks away. We started off at 7:30am in heavy rain but it eased off a bit as we got closer.
At the last lock before Crofton, we met up with Andy and Janine of nb "Scavenger" and butty coming the other way. We both stopped below the lock so that we could buy 96 litres of diesel from them to top up our tank. They have been operating their boats for ten years on the K&A selling boaters needs.

Back in the spring, we had rather rashly invited our local scout group to come and join us for a weekend to learn some boating skills. We could not have anticipated that it would be the wettest weekend of the year (so far!). The group arrived at the same time as nb "Scavenger," so they got a chance to see the rare sight of a boat refuelling on the canal. There were three "Leaders" and five "Explorer Scouts" varying in age from 14 to 17.

R briefed the group and we set off at about 10:00am in fairly gentle rain to go up the six locks on to the summit pound of the K&A. Each of the Explorer Scouts had a chance to steer MM out of one lock and up to and into the next lock, while the others worked the lock or walked up to the next lock to set it for us. Luckily the rain stopped and we were able to dry off.

When we arrived at the top, everyone climbed onto MM, four in the front and the other four in the stern and we sailed the mile or so to the turning point (or "Winding Hole"), going through the 502 yard Bruce Tunnel on the way.

After we turned round, we went back through the tunnel, at which point it started to rain again. Fine for the four scouts at the back, who went inside, but the four in the front were getting cold and wet! Just before the top lock, we stopped and everyone came into the boat for some lunch and to warm up. Lunch for the "lads" seemed to comprise mainly chocolate bars and pork pies! It was a bit cosy with ten of us on board!!!

After lunch, we went back down the six locks with each scout as well as the Leaders having a chance to steer. At the bottom, R turned MM again and we moored up outside the Crofton Pumping Station. We all walked into the Pumping Station together to have some tea and to take the tour. Unfortunately the station was "in steam" last weekend, but even when not working it is very impressive. There are two beam engines, one installed in 1812 and the other in 1846. They were designed to lift water into the summit pound of the K&A, which would otherwise dry out. These days, the job is routinely done by a large elecric pump, but the beam engines both still work, and are still capable of doing the job for which they were installed 200 years ago. We are hoping to come back for one of the three remaining "in steam" weekends later this year.

The scouts then departed to pitch their tents at a local camp site and to have a "much looked forward to" barbecue. Lets hope they didn't get too wet! They will be coming back to MM tomorrow after breakfast to continue their "boating experience" - watch this space...
Today: 6 miles, 16 locks and 5.6 hours.
Trip:  143 miles, 113 locks and 113.3 hours (258.1 total).

Sequence: Wet - Wetter - Wettest - Today!

Friday 6th July, 2012, back at Bedwyn.
Oh, the vagaries of the English climate! The contrast with yesterday evening's gentle calm sunshine could not have been greater.

Last Night's Mooring (What a Contrast to Today!)

From our mooring last night, we sailed back to Bedwyn to pick up Alan and Pat who are "borrowing" our house while they are visiting our neighbours Grant (their son) and Katie for a month from their native New Zealand. Naturally, they had never seen an English canal so we had invited them down for the day.
They duly arrived by train from Reigate about 11.30 and we took them on a quick tour of Bedwyn village. Then the plan was to do three locks in two miles, turn and come back through the three locks back to Bedwyn railway station. However, by the time that they arrived, the rain had started and as we set off it got heavier. They bravely helped with the first lock in bare feet but by the time we left the first lock the rain was torrential and they very wisely returned to the dry warmth inside the boat. It was raining so hard that it was difficult to see more that a few yards but by the third lock it had eased off a little and was only pouring down (!). Both M and R were dripping wet. M went below and prepared some hot Bovril while R went down to the Winding Hole and turned round. Then we did the three locks back while the rain still pelted down and Alan and Pat watched fascinated from inside the boat.
Three and a half hours later, we were back where we started and moored up again. After wringing out our clothes and emptying the water out of our shoes, we had a late lunch of smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches and Bakewell tarts with tea and coffee.
While it certainly wasn't the day that we would have liked for Alan and Pat, it was undoubtedly an experience for all of us! Despite the weather, they appeared to have enjoyed themselves and they left on the 16:44 train back to Reigate
We had an early supper and made some contingency plans for the weekend with the Scouts in case the weather does not improve. The forecast is for heavy rain showers and sunshine - so anything is possible.
Today: 5 miles, 7 locks and 3.6 hours.
Trip:  137 miles, 7 locks and 107.7 hours (252.5 total).

Ooops Twice!

Thursday 5th July, 2012 near Bedwyn.
We awoke to a dry, bright day - at last! John and Jack (Russell) of nb "Beverley" passed by on foot; he was going to Hungerford by train to pick up the boat having left his car here. It was nice to see him again.
The Bruce Trust has a base at Bedwyn. They provide trip boats for the disabled and handicapped, and we had an interesting conversation with a chap who does their painting and sign-writing.
We walked into Bedwyn village and visited the astonishing Post Office that used to be a stone mason's. It is surrounded by fascinating stone artifacts.

A Stonemason's Stone Bill (about 4ft high!).

We also visited the friendly General Store to purchase vast quantities of Jammie Dodgers and Penguins for the Scouts during their visit this weekend!
We set off from Bedwyn. planning to go through two locks, turn and then moor up so we could come back to Bedwyn tomorrow to pick up friends who are coming for the day. All went well until we got to the "Winding Hole." A Winding Hole is a special extra wide bit of the canal where you can turn a 60ft (or normally even 70ft) narrowboat round on a canal that is normally less than 40ft wide. We put the bow into the winding hole and started to turn, only to find that the stern hit the opposite bank and we were stuck broadside across the canal. It was only then that we saw, buried in the undergrowth, a sign that said "Max 55ft". MM  is 60 ft!  Ooops! For a while we were stuck fast but by removing the rear fender (buffer), and with Marion hauling on a rope from the shore and Robin pushing hard with the pole (and much cursing and sweating!), we just managed to get round.
After mooring up, we decided to walk the mile down to Crofton Pumping Station, where we will meet the Scouts on Saturday, as it was a beautiful sunny evening.  There was a considerable gap between boat and bank, and as M stepped off the boat, she slipped and half fell in. Another "oops"! The mooring ropes saved her but one leg ended up right in the canal. Luckily she was fine but she now claims to be a "proper" boatwoman.
The walk to Crofton was truly delightful. The evening was sunny, warm and still, with just the skylarks and yellowhammers for company. Bliss.

At Crofton, we spoke to Andy on nb "Scavenger" and butty. They make their living travelling the canals selling diesel, and other canal necessities.

So nice to see such a traditional pair (of narrowboats).
Today: 1 mile, 3 locks and 3.4 hours.
Trip:  132 miles, 90 locks and 104.1 hours (248.9 total).

Can You Keep a Secret?

Wednesday 4th July, 2012 in Great Bedwyn.
We were up at 6:00am and R caught the 6:44 train to go to Capture for the day. It was a cold, damp, drizzly morning. We have had no mobile signal at all on the boat while we have been here at Bedwyn. The only time we can get a signal is if we stand on the road bridge over the canal, and even then it's intermittent. (not that we are dependent on modern technology or anything!). However, standing on the bridge in the pouring rain to make a phone call was not an inviting prospect.

Simon and Irene left at 11:30 to drive home, leaving M to have a quiet day doing domestic tasks.
In the afternoon, M took the train to Goring to join R there as the Mikron Theatre was performing in Goring in the evening (usually in the open air next to the canal). They have toured the canals all summer for the last 40 years in their narrowboat nb "Tyseley," performing two different plays each year. This year's plays are "Losing the Plot" (about allotments) and the play that we saw in Goring, "Can you Keep a Secret" (about the rise and fall of the Luddite movement exactly 200 years ago this year).

Even though all four members of the cast were new this year, the production was well up to their customary brilliant standard. Fortunately they were able to stage the play under Goring bridge so that both them and the hundred or so members of the audience all stayed dry.
We left just as it ended in order to catch our train home and as we walked back to the station, we ran into Abbie and Dave out for some evening exercise, so they walked with us to the station. A super evening!
Today: Just 1.0 hour to charge the batteries.

Eyeballs in the Sky!!

Tuesday 3rd July, 2012 at Great Bedwyn.
We set the crayfish trap last night and had caught three overnight. M said that watching R peering at them in the bucket reminded her of the "Eyeballs in the Sky" with Boot the dog in the Perishers cartoon in the Daily Mirror each August.  However, the crayfish were quite small so we put them back into the canal.

Eyeballs in the Sky!

After a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, we set off to take advantage of a brief pause in the rain. Today was not so cold but the rain persisted all day. Simon and Irene crewed very competently with Simon steering for much of the way.

At Great Bedwyn, we were lucky enough to take the last mooring spot. We were surprised how many boats were moored along the canal leading to Bedwyn and on the visitors' moorings. Nb "Dragonfly" was moored behind us (again!).  Richard and Lizzie mentioned that they might think of selling her next year, so Simon and Irene went and had a quick tour round their boat as there's a chance they may buy a boat themselves in the future.
We took advantage of another break in the rain to walk around Great Bedwyn; a quaint little village that was delightful even in such dull weather. Again, the plan was to eat out tonight and we favoured the "Three Tuns" pub, but when we went in there was a man sanding the floors who said the pub was closed for renovation. That is the third highly recommended pub closed for renovation! It seems there is a "Refurb Rash" spreading down the canalside! However the other pub in town, the "Cross Keys" was open, welcoming and happily took our booking.
Dinner there in the evening was excellent. The open fire was very welcome and warming, and we all chose hearty winter fare (it is England in July after all!). The only difficulty was choosing from a menu where every dish was tempting - we wanted to try them all!
Today: 3 miles, 5 locks and 4.0 hours.
Trip:  131 miles, 87 locks and 99.2 hours (244.0 total).

Wet, wet, wet.

Monday 2nd July, 2012 near Froxfield.
In July the sun is hot.
Is it shining? NO IT'S NOT!!
(With apologies to Flanders and Swann).
Simon and Irene arrived early in the morning having driven up from Fareham, left their car at Great Bedwyn and taken the train to Hungerford. We walked up to the station to meet them, pausing only to buy a tin of dog food as bait for a crayfish trap which we acquired from the owners of nb "Greyfisher".

Back on board, the four of us had coffee and then set off to do the four locks to Froxfield in the pouring rain. The first lock is unique in that it has a swing bridge right across the middle of the lock so you have to open the swing bridge before you can fill the lock, otherwise the roof of your boat hits the bridge!

The rain continued all afternoon so we amused ourselves chatting, reading and having a "G&S" singalong. The grass was tall where we moored and we took this picture of the rain-soaked grasses through the window.

The plan was to eat at the Pelican Inn at Froxfield as it came highly recommended in the guide books, but, as with the Dundas Arms at Kintbury, we found that it was closed for renovation so M cooked a lovely meal instead.
Today: 3 miles, 4 locks and 3.4 hours.
Trip: 128 miles, 82 locks and 95.2 hours (240.0 total).