Monday 29^th July 2019

Having both had a good night’s sleep, we took stock, looked at our surroundings, and admonished ourselves for our negative feelings of yesterday, and set off for Hungerford.

Harvey gave us a great laugh. He often goes off down the towpath seemingly in a world of his own. This morning he was about 3 boats length from us when a 10-carriage train passed at speed on the opposite bank of the canal. He stood stock still with his ears cocked up and then came tearing down the towpath and virtually launched himself into his mum’s arms, absolutely terrified.

The infant River Dun had been running beside the canal since before Great Bedwyn. Just before our first lock of the day, the river passes beneath the canal through a circular, siphon weir but with an overflow that runs into the canal, an ingenious arrangement. Siphon weirs allow rivers or streams to pass beneath another waterway, the theory being that the uphill level is above the downhill, joined by a pipe or culvert that runs below the bed of the canal. This weir was interesting in its circular shape and the overflow into the canal. Again, another clever and attractive canal feature that most people would never see or appreciate.

We passed through lovely countryside that became flatter as we progressed and opened out into water meadows, with the canal passing through them. At Hungerford Marsh Lock we could see the picturesque watermill on the River Dun. This lock had a swing bridge over the middle of the lock, the bridge having to be opened to enter a full lock, or when filling an empty one. Forming part of a busy walking route, Brenda had to contend with one particular group of walkers, moaning about the boats being a pain.

It is a wonderful entrance into Hungerford on the canal from the west. There is an attractive swing bridge right next to the pretty church wall overhanging with trees. There follows a stretch with nice moorings, on which sat Mr. Nasty from the summit locks, before reaching Hungerford Lock and the wharf beyond. We really couldn’t believe our luck that there were free moorings here.

At one time the wharf, like them all, would have been a very busy place. At Hungerford there was stabling, a blacksmith, various warehousing and a granary that survives and is now a private dwelling. Today the wharf is a popular green space surrounded by new private housing. Everybody wants to live beside a canal today.

Mooring at Hungerford Wharf

We had a quick walk around the town and had the first of a few visits to the independent ironmongers. The high street is wide with trees lining both sides, the buildings are mainly Georgian with a few much older and the odd thatched property hiding in between. The town has a really nice feel to it and the people are friendly, but antique shops dominate.

           

Hungerford

We came across a field mouse whose tail had become impaled on a bramble thorn so, being the soppy sentimental type I am, the mouse was released to go scurrying through the undergrowth. 

Weather: cooler but a nice day.

Day Total: 5 locks; 2 miles; 0 Tunnels; 2 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 3.1

Overall Total: 621 locks; 1109 miles; 49 tunnels; 47 Swing Bridges; 5 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 702.9hrs