Bedwyn Bound

It was another short hop of just over three miles today. Like the  last few days the locks come thick and fast along this eastern end of the canal.  There’s not quite enough space between them for it to be worthwhile for Doug to get back on the boat between the locks, so he ended up walking for most of the distance!

Three “beggars” hanging around the boat this morning at Hungerford – very attractive in their ‘half way’ plumage.

The Kennet and Avon Canal has always been a good place to see water voles.  The many tell tale holes in the canal bank suggest they are still around but we’ve yet to spot one this time.

Hungerford Marsh Lock is unique on the K and A for having a swing bridge across it.  The bridge MUST be swung out of the way before you fill the lock (of course)!  

From Hungerford Marsh Lock (looking across Freeman’s Marsh) you can see the house which Johnny Morris used to live in.

Further along and we got to the three locks at Froxfield.  These are set to be closed from November 5th for major repairs.  The infrastructure in place at the moment is impressive – generators, toilets and a very substantial temporary road.

This lovely pile of new lock gates suggests that two of  the locks are going to be looking good in the spring.

Waiting for Doug to set Little Bedwyn Lock we’re  treated to the Great Western main line trains.  Another few feet and they’d be joining us in the canal!

After Little Bedwyn comes Great Bedwyn which was our intended  destination for the day.

‘Chance’ at the very good moorings at Great Bedwyn. 

Doug’s parents used to live here for a while about fifteen years ago and so we took a (nostalgic for Doug) walk around the village.  On the edge of  Savernake Forest, it’s an extremely attractive village with many thatched cottages and some lovely old brick buildings.   This one, which now houses the Post Office, displays some quirky epitaph memorials – most likely from the monumental masons next door which, sadly, no longer exist.

Here’s just one of the plaques fixed to the wall of the building!  We might show a few more in the future.

The temperature changed dramatically after we moored up, with our walk around the village a very chilly one compared to the mild journey we had up the canal.  Still, we’re not complaining as this week has been truly superb for the time of year. Tomorrow we’re using the winding hole the other side of the bridge (95) and will retrace our steps back towards Aldermaston as this year we’ve booked in to Froud’s Bridge marina for the winter.