Monday 5th August 2019



Manny and myself walked to the angling centre. Although only 1.6 miles, according to google maps, it seemed a long, long way. The woman in the hardware store at Hungerford had told us that the owner of the fishing shop was miserable, but on dear me, miserable doesn’t touch it. If there had been another shop anywhere nearby we would have told him to poke his wares and gone elsewhere. However, we bought lures, rigged hooks, maggots and a couple of new rods and reels.

Once back at the boat we moved on. Only to leave the mooring, the tiller to vibrate badly, and myself being reminded that the propeller hadn’t been checked. We had no option but to motor to the next lock as there was nowhere to moor. Once there, the weed hatch was lifted and a wrangled towel found wrapped around the propeller.

There then followed a further 3 miles, 3 locks and 2 swing bridges through delightful countryside before mooring. There were major works in progress at Woolhampton where CRT were in the process of repairing a breach caused by the river. Barges were across the navigation and, with plant everywhere, it was difficult to pick out a route through.

We attempted to moor in secluded countryside on the bends before Froud’s Bridge Marina but found we had invaded a wasp’s nest. They swarmed all over the boat without, luckily, finding a way inside, before we managed to move away. 





We eventually moored beyond Froud’s Bridge in a lovely spot. We again, had a barbeque for dinner and more fishing. The fishing was disappointing, but I think all fishing from now will be compared to the catching of pike and elusive trout. Many of a new type of fish were caught, Common Bleak, just 10 – 15 cm in size, but great fighters.      



Weather: hot and sunny again.



Day Total: 4 locks; 4 miles; 0 Tunnels; 3 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 4.2

Overall Total: 641 locks; 1125 miles; 49 tunnels; 52 Swing Bridges; 5 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 719.2hrs

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