To Great Bedwyn

2 miles and 4 locks...but it felt like more!

We started the day with a visit to the café at the Crofton pumping station for breakfast. Harold was  slightly on the wonk with low water levels in the pound so on our way we put some more water through the upper lock and he straightened up.

Part of the Crofton Beam Engine

After breakfast Jo went to fill the lower lock so we could go down. Just taking that water out of the pound got Harold's back (and deepest) end stuck and he wouldn't be shifted. 2 boats then arrived to come up the lock and had to be asked to wait while Robin went to let yet more water through the upper lock to get him off. After a fair bit of faffing about he was free at last and we got down the lock and away. However, the pounds remained low and it was slow going. At lock 62 we met Serendipity going the other way. We knew them from Frouds Bridge marina where they were getting the very lovely Serendipity ready. All the locks were pretty leaky but Bedwyn Church lock was the worst and took absolutely ages to fill and 2 people to open a top gate. In the pound above several boats were listing in the low water and resisting the efforts of their owners to get them straight again.

Eventually we arrived at Great Bedwyn Wharf and filled with water etc. Robin spotted a space on the 48 hour moorings and we nipped (as far as Harold does nip) round the corner. The rain set in just as Jo was returning from a trip to the shop for milk. Great Bedwyn is another pretty village with some lovely houses and cottages.

Thatched cottages at Great Bedwyn