Wrong wharf!

We got away at the normal time and Helen arrived at the lock to find somebody was turning it round after a trip boat had gone through. As it was it meant were able to help a hire boat up who had not managed to do a single lock as they were late when they picked the boat up so the guy did the handover and they just did the first lock for them at Bradford and left them to it. They went down to the top of the Bath locks and stopped and so this one was there first one on their own. On top of this most of the crew had left early. Mind you they had had a great time and would like to do it again.

When we eventually got up the lock we found the water point was empty so stopped to fill up and drop the rubbish off.

This is no oil painting... well actually it is and must have taken ages.

This was a lovely stretch of canal with no boats in sight.

 But astern was a different story with loads of boats all over the canal. From Bath has been like this pretty much all the way so don't expect to get anywhere in a hurry.

I had heard that the diesel at Hilperton was cheap so as we needed half a tank we stopped off and filled up. The folk were very friendly and soon had us filled and away. A couple of hundred yards up the canal was a sign saying diesel 65p domestic! I looked in my Pearson's and it only showed one wharf so I stopped at the first place. Don't you hate that when I nearly paid 80p domestic. That is about eight pints I will have to forego now! Make sure you stop at the second wharf (from the dirction of Bath that is), not ABC hire centre but The Boatyard.

We went up the Semmington Locks on our own although boats coming down did leave gates open for us. Rain had been forecast for late morning but nothing materialised so it was a pleasant trip.

The views start to extend and there are inviting looking villages in the distance.

After passing through three swing bridges that are fixed in place with a bolt and chain that are opened using a lock paddle windlass (but seem mostly to be left hand tight) we caught up with a hire boat at the foot of the Seend Locks.

There were four in the shore party so we were able to get up the flight speedily with a fair bit of banter going on. They had aimed for Bristol but had to turn round at Salford so had done okay. They were more first timers but with a bit of Thames cruiser experience. They also said they would do it again.

Our lock partners stopped between the next two swing bridges but we decided to carry on. I opened the second bridge for Helen and just as I closed it the first drops of rain started. It was then a mission to find a bit of bank to tie to and so we were soon all fast and the short gangway out.We were soon battened down and had a coffee and Tia Maria with a toasted Bath bun.

The rain stopped after about an hour and the sun is trying to come out again. It is a good job that there is no pub close as I have money to make up.