Kennet and Avon Canal (Day 44)

Hi There

Onwards and upwards, or I suppose sideways when you're​ traveling East to West and Nicky's completed 105 of her 208 locks as well as 22 swing bridges so far. Now I say 208 locks as our book says there are 104 of them although they're numbered up to 107 that would make 214. To further confuse myself, I've logged us as doing 105 with 4 more to go that would then make it 109 so somethings not right somewhere. But then with having garbled on about it, do you really care???

Always good to see no mooring within 50' of a bridge, but I guess if you're a wider boat then it's okay!!!

The Boys walking with Nicky whilst moving forward, only a short hop to Bradford on Avon today.

And the aforementioned Bradford on Avon

The Tithe Barn with what almost seems like a waste of good woodwork for a barn.

And looking more like a church from the outside.

Off again, but only by a lock and two miles to our next stopping point at Avoncliff.

Sharp right turn up ahead

Onto the Avoncliff Aqueduct

The best bits of what you miss if you don't stop.

And of course the bonus of a walk for The Boys

Only a short one back towards Bradford on Avon though as it's a bit warm.

Then after tea when it's a bit cooler they get another one.

Plenty of sniffs about.

Sort of got lost and came across Freshford and then Limply Stoke before finding the River Avon and just followed it back until we found where we were.

Any guesses what this could have been?

Were you right?

And then it's off again on another two mile cruise, but no lock this time 😁

Turning towards the Dundas Aqueduct, but mooring just on the left before crossing it.

And once again missing what's underneath unless you stop.

All moored up.

Now these things are a pain in the arse and whilst I fully accept that the waterways and towpaths are for use by all, if you're going to continually hit my boat with your oars then either try harder not to or at least wave, acknowledge or say sorry and not just assume it's your waterway and we're just in the way!

Fortunately, for Nicky, she wasn't even onboard when I manage to foul the prop with our own rope, talk about scoring an own goal, so just had to accept muttering to myself instead of having someone else to blame and shout at.

Two and a half hours later and then a call out to River Canal Rescue who turned up the next morning and spent another hour or so and all was sorted, other than the need to replace a stern rope!

Made it to Bath and walked up to a bit of the Skyline walk with The Boys.

They're not interested with views though, they just want to have a play. Eight and nine now and still pups at heart.

Nicky went on a tour that took her up the Bath Abbey Tower

The Roman Baths

And when she got back we went down the six locks that'll take us onto The River Avon.

Then a drop of 19' 5" in the last lock but one that I think is probably the deepest we've done so far on the network with the exception of maybe the staircase locks that take you up onto The Lancaster Canal as part of The Ribble Link. (See page tabs above of this journey)

Then it's onto The River Avon

My sexy lock keeper

And just when your not expecting it you come across a visitor mooring (on the left) so it's a 180 so we're facing up river

And that'll do us nicely.

Great views.

Then there are if course Nicky's wildlife pics

So there we are, all up to date and sitting just down river from Saltford. Aiming to be in Bristol in the next  two or three days then I can start colouring in The Kennet and Avon part of our map as done. Then it'll be back track time although we won't be taking seven weeks to do the West to East journey.

And so in signing off,

Day 1399 in the Badger Sett Narrow boat - 2982 miles, 1890 locks and 1496 cruising hours further on from when we started.