Well – That was an expensive trip to the pub!.. Don’t get me wrong, lovely food, good drinks and well worth it – it just get’s expensive when Anna and Dawson sample the entire cocktail menu! 😀
But… the water tank is topped off again, so were setting off and ready to stay put for a week once I get the car in a few days.. Firstly.. turn around, as the boat is pointing the wrong way!
As we got back to the lock, another boat was waiting – so we may have another boat to pair up with into Newbury. Even going down-hill, it’s useful having 2 boats as we can swap over getting locks ready, and staying behind to close the gates.
Down past Kintbury lock..
But.. this run may take a while.. just as we got out the lock – the horse drawn boat pulled out from their lock landing with a boat full of tourists.. Ah well.. were not in a rush and it’s good to see a boat full of paying passengers.. especially after the year or two we have all had!
Eventually, after navigating moored boats and having to stretch the rope between the horse and the boat over the rood of them.. they found a spot where they could pull in and allow us to go past.
We got to Dreweat’s Lock, the boat we were following, that came down Kintbury lock with us got to the lock first, and there was one boat waiting, so they dropped down the lock with them. A boat came up the lock, and the horse boat arrived behind us.
They did ask if they could go into the lock first, turn and then come back up again – which as were on the lock landing, was not an issue, and to be honest – I always wondered how difficult it is to turn a horse drawn boat, especially a big wide one!
The horse was released from the boat and allowed to graze on the far side of the lock landing whilst the crew man-handled the boat.. in this heat.. I don’t envy their job today!
So how do you turn a horse drawn widebeam..
Now that there on their way back to Kintbury.. we can drop the lock and get back to Newbury.
Eventually, we got through the last lock, and heading to the mooring for the next week.. hopefully, there is a spot for us.
Past Victoria Park.. no space here, but its only a 24hr spot anyway – so no use to me currently..
And we found a nice spot opposite Newbury marina – which is handy – as in a week, we will need fuel, pump out, water and gas.. and can get it from them soon after we set off again!
But.. how many swans on one stretch of canal – were going to need more bread!
