Left at 7:10 for the 6 remaining locks of the Crofton Flight and then, once over the summit and through the Bruce Tunnel the 4 locks at Wooton Rivers. This will leave the 16 mile pound for tomorrow which should put me in Devizes by midday to meet Pat. With a lock flight single handed I like to have one lock prepared ahead, so that it is not necessary to moor up each time to open the gate etc. So I keep the fold-up bike handy in the cratch and use this to ride up to the next lock whilst the current lock is on its last 1/3 fill making sure that the boat is secure. This works best when other boaters are not around, hence the early start. Nearing the top my mobile got a signal again and I saw there was a voice mail message from two boating friends, Ross and Judith who looking forward to having a day out, and having been following this blog offered to help me up the flight. The message was dated the previous evening. Too late now! However, on the other side of the tunnel, we made contact and they joined me at the top of Wooton Rivers Locks.
So I had the luxury of escorted passage and charming company as well as ending up in the Royal Oak. Moving onwards, making Pewsey my target for the night, we managed to squeeze into a mooring just 1 foot too short, but at least enabling the dogs to disembark. Pewsey is clearly terribly popular. Such a shame that the moorings are not up to the standard elsewhere on the canal, being largely unmade and shallow in places. Tomorrow Devizes and Wednesday Caen Hill to Bradford on Avon. That promises to be a long day – 36 locks in all. Perhaps we need a cunning plan!
Today: 7.4 miles 10 Locks 5hrs 45 mins
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