Day 5 - and on to the very pleasant Hungerford

---

---

15 locks today, 53 in total.







Filled up with diesel from a supply boat owned by Andy and Janine. They have 2 narrowboats, one for living and one that is converted for diesel, coal, etc. They run between Newbury and Bath and back again. We'd been hoping to run into them again, rather than go to a marina. Each litre gives approximately an hour's motoring. Andy is also a sign writer (he decorated Dunlin) and both he and Janine work at Glastonbury Festival each year.







Shortly after we teamed up with a hire boat with a Dutch crew of three – luckily their English was infinitely superior to our Dutch and we all got along very well for the 14 locks today. These were reasonably spread out, not in a flight like those at Caen Hill. It was quite hard work as some of the gates didn't want to move but otherwise uneventful until we approached Hungerford when I managed to lose my glasses overboard – first time anything like this has happened to me in 50 years but thank goodness I had brought my old pair with me. Then we heard the news that a lock this side of Newbury was damaged today and is now closed until further notice. We await an update from the authorities.

---

Photos

Saved from the Stone Museum
The work of 7 generations of stonemasons was displayed in the museum, which closed a few years ago.

Great Bedwyn Church
Mainly 12th and 13th century, with a crossing tower.

Not just a lock but....
.... a swing bridge over it too. Forget to swing it away and your boat will not rise as the water level does!

Another view of the lock/swing bridge combo
at Hungerford Marsh