18th-19th July: Devises and Cain Hill

18th-19th July

Lock Stats

Today: 29 locks
Grand total: 44 locks

To go: 235 locks

So to make up for not getting to Foxhangers I made an early start, I'd been recommended my other boaters to give some early morning boating a go and it is beautiful.  The stillness of the new day is beautiful and there was mist hovering over the water.

I locked up through the first of the Foxhangers flight on my own however a boat turned up to lock up behind.  I went ahead and set the next lock and waited to be joined by the boat behind so we could share the locks going up.

The boat in question was a beautiful green narrow boat named Henry.  The boat was crewed by a couple of continuous cruisers and a lovely dog!  They were only doing the 7 locks up to Cain Hill bottom lock but demonstrated the kindness of boaters by not only accompanying me through the Foxhangers flight but by then subsequently helping me up the Cain Hill flight and giving me a bottle of water to make sure I was drinking enough, true boaters through and through!

Having reached Cain Hill bottom lock I was going to pause however some overzealous hire boaters were in the process of setting the locks against me so I dashed it to the lock whilst it was in my favour.  A few locks in I was joined by my Dad who got expert coaching in lock operation from Henry's crew, with a team of three we flew up the Cain Hill flight stopping after the top lock just after lunch.

Then me and my Dad completed the final Devizes flight of 6 locks up to the top pound of the K&A canal.  Then stopping at Devises at we went for a well earned coffee in Cafe Nero! :)

Having conquered Cain Hill I took a day out to do boring things like paperwork, laundry and restocking ships supplies.

A friendly butterfly

I finished off the day by paying a visit to some boat friends who had moved their boat to Seend and we had a night BBQ by the canal, accompanied by some beer from the famed Devises Wadworth brewery.  Then for another night cycle home, always a little hit hairy! :)

BBQ lighting