Crofton to Sells Green

The quiet moorings at Crofton made an ideal place to stay over the Bank Holiday weekend.  On Tuesday morning we set off up the small flight of 6 locks which took us to the summit level and Bruce Tunnel.

The entrance to Bruce Tunnel with a spot of light marking the exit

The summit level pound was 2 miles long and then we descended through 4 locks into the Vale of Pewsey and the character of the canal changed again.  A boater from Doncaster described the Kennet & Avon as a ditch, a very apt description for this section which is narrow and shallow.  We stopped at the small town of Pewsey where I found 'Miss Lemon's Wool Shop' which had a large tempting stock of colourful wools.  I did resist buying more wool but did succumb to some patchwork fabric.  

On Thursday we continued through woods and out into open countryside although the canal was flanked by hedgerows which sadly blocked our view.  It was slow going due to the shallow water and we had to slow down for the long lines of moored boats which are infamous on this canal.  Bess enjoyed looking out from the comfort of her bed on the roof.  

Bess sat up when something caught her attention

As we approached All Cannings we spotted a white horse carved in the chalk hill, one of several in the Downs.

The white horse near All Cannings

We stopped overnight at All Cannings which is a picturesque village with thatched cottages  and a row of 'Best Kept Village' awards on the village hall.  It was interesting to see some sedge warblers hopping amongst the reeds on the opposite side of the canal. 

A thatched cottage at All Cannings

On Friday we sailed into the small market town of Devizes, the home of Wadworth Brewery and a good pie shop.

Wadworth Brewery in Devizes

 While on the moorings we met Jen and Bern on their narrowboat Daydream and arranged to travel together down the next section of 29 locks which we were going to do in a day.

On Sunday their daughters arrived to give a hand with the locks and the sun was already hot when we set off through the first lock at 9.45am.  We quickly settled into a routine and worked well as a team, 2 women on the lock taking the boat down and 2 preparing the next lock while the men were at the helm.   After the first 6 locks we started our descent of the Caen Hill Flight, a spectacular flight of 16 locks which dropped the canal down 130 feet.   The locks were busy with other boats travelling in each direction and plenty of people on the towpath watching us work.

The Caen Hill Flight, I took this photo the evening before our descent and after the locks had been shut for the day. 

After the flight we continued down the last 7 locks to complete the 29 locks in 5 hours.  We were pleased to shut the last lock gate, it was hard work but satisfying to finish in a relatively quick time thanks to the extra help.  We then sailed a little further on to Sells Green for a mooring where we enjoyed a well-earned beer.    

Our journey from Crofton to Sells Green