Going up in the world.

We got up a little earlier than normal so that we could get to the bottom of the 29 locks ready for the up and waiting for somebody to share with. We got round the corner and as nobody was on the water tap we stopped and filled up. There were two cherry trees right next to the tap so whilst we were waiting for the water, and another boat, we picked what we could reach. We got as punnet full before the water finished. They are not as sweet as the ones we picked at Runcorn in July 2013 but they will be fine in a pie or something. That is the ones that will be left!

Just before the first lock of the 29 on the Caen Hill Flight are the old abutments of a railway bridge and Foxhanger hire boats. We moored up and waited for 40 mins but as nobody was insight we set off.

The water is pumped back up to the top from the bottom and next to the bottom lock is a small solar farm that powers it. It is like looking at the Smartguauge in big size!

We started out on the trip up in the world at 1015.

We were very lonely for half the locks but got into the swing of it and were making good time. Helen making light work of the first seven locks.

This flight of locks were the last thing to be completed on the Kennet and Avon Canal and to bring some revenue in to the company they were transshipping cargo from boats at the the top and bottom and carrying up and down with a plate way railway. These foot tunnels are what remains of the access for it beneath the roads. 

This is the supposedly daunting 16 central Caen Hill Locks. In fact these are the easiest locks to work as they are nice and close together so if you are able you can work ahead on your own and prepare the next lock whilst the boat is coming up the one before. The gradient of these locks is 1 in 30!

The pumping station at the bottom of the lock can pump around 32 million litres of water back up to the top every day, which I read is a lock full every 11 minutes. Each of the locks has a full sized side pound that can save a full lock of water that means that much less water is wasted over the bye washes and makes it all possible.

After half way up we managed to catch up with a hire boat that had four working the locks. After that it was easier but slower. Helen talked the Dad on the helm to pass from one lock to the next in tandem and this certainly speeds things up. (Marilyn would be proud of her). We got a good system going and were working ahead so swinging along very nicely.

The reward at the top of the 16 central locks was not only the beautiful view but an ice cream from the cafe and five minutes to eat it! I didn't see a voluntary lock keeper working a paddle or gate but they do have a couple of quad bikes to go up and down the flight.

The last six locks seemed to disappear quickly and we were  passing through lock 50 and looking for a mooring, which fortunately there were some left. From lock 22 to Lock 50 had taken us 4 hours 45 minutes. That means it was a little less than 10  minutes per lock. The first two thirds were on our own and only three were our way and when sharing we only had another three our way so I am very pleased with that performance. You can see the Wadsworth beer storage yard opposite the berth and the brewery is just over the road.

Mind you I was jiggered when we were moored up. I felt a little better after a bacon sarnie. We then wandered into town and looked for a bit of this and that. We found a pork pie and found the British Lion that had the siren call for us to go and have a drink. I didn't put up much resistance and throughly enjoyed the pint that hardly touched the sides. We then got a £10 deal at M&S and on wandering back to the boat we heard the call again, but this time it was the Bear Hotel. Helen really enjoyed the place so I was able to have a couple of beers here. Folk seem friendly but we were just a bit too late for the street market. As Wadsworth is brewed here I expect that we will be testing it out in more of the locals. We have a day or so here so I reckon we will be resting my legs by sitting at a bar or two. It has been a very nice day and with marvelous weather too. The gongoozlers are not quite as close to the action as at Foxton Locks so we did get too many daft questions but we also didn't get too many offers of help either. I'm glad I don't have to do it every day though!