Friday 2nd August 2019



We had us a memorable day today. We called into the sanitary station just 100 yards from the mooring before entering the first lock of the day, paired up, once again, with Quentin and Sue who we locked with yesterday.

We only went a short distance, 3 miles and a further 3 more locks before mooring between Hamstead and Benham Locks in the middle of a wooded area. We are short of fishing gear and have heard there is a tackle shop in Thatcham, the other side of Newbury, and so are timing our arrival there for Monday morning.

At Dreweat’s Lock we were lucky enough to catch the horse drawn trip boat “Kennet Valley” which was winding below the lock. The horse had been unhitched and was grazing beside the lock while the boat was manually turned. Eva was so excited to be able to hold and stroke Drummer, the horse. Once the boat was winded, she re-entered the lock which was filled, the horse reattached and the tow recommenced. It was all very interesting to witness.




     




Ever since Hungerord, the River Kennet has been joining the canalised section, only to then flow over a weir and follow its own course a short distance later. In some places the river divides with one part joining the canal and the other running alongside, separated only by the towpath. Our mooring is in one such place where the river joins opposite and then tumbles over a weir next to the mooring.  

There was a pill box across the weir that we were able to investigate but the inside was absolutely full of decomposing rubbish, such a shame. There was a lot of turbulent water below the weir, with water coming over the weir itself, water shooting down an overflow sluice and all joining a part of the river that had been flowing alongside the canal. There were dippers and wagtails aplenty but, no biting fish.







The fishing started in earnest from the back of the boat. Manny catch his first ever Pike that measured in at 32cm, he was beside himself with excitement. A second pike at 29cm and 5ozs and then the biggest Perch we have caught weighing 15ozs. Eva caught the biggest Roach we had seen. It put up a real fight and she was lucky to land it. It made for some interesting fishing.










   







We had a real enjoyable barbeque in the evening along with a dessert of meringues with strawberries and mango that the kids had made between them. A great end to another great day with the kids.



Weather: hot and sunny.



Day Total: 4 locks; 3 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 3.1

Overall Total: 628 locks; 1115 miles; 49 tunnels; 47 Swing Bridges; 5 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 708.8hrs








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