Day Four : Bath back to Hilperton

Thursday 2nd May

Leaving Bath we cruised past some interesting craft and 

through the swing bridges with the intention of stopping for lunch at an old favoured watering hole, "The Cross Guns" at Avoncliff.

Problems with ropes

and ready to turn sharp left over Dundas Aqueduct

Pictured below is where we moored for our lunchtime stop.  
Sadly "The Cross Guns" had new young go ahead owners, who whilst they had done a lot to improve the internal layout, including moving the toilet facilities inside from a pretty decrepit outside shed, the quality of the beer had gone way downhill and the food was disappointing to say the least - well my fish and chips were well over done.  I quite like crispy batter but this was of another order!

After our lunch we regrouped, discussed how to move the boat which had grounded and to proceed over Avoncliff Aqueduct, a scene which had challenged our pilot 8 years ago - especially the second right angled turn to the left.  This year Garry demanded the chance to prove he could do better.  A request that was met with hearty approval, although 3 of the crew decided to walk over instead.......but if you wanted photographs what choice did we have?

and then cruising on over the Avoncliff aqueduct

a sharp right hander 

oh hell this is a sharp turn - watch your feet

and a manoeuvre for the very sharp left bend on the other side 

another opportunity to water

oh bugger taps broken

 It was also at this point that concerns were expressed by Garry about the boat's handling.  As it was described, Paddy and I feared that something had fouled our prop shaft and the only cure was the dreaded lifting of the weed hatch.  In 40+ years on the canals this was the first time I'd encountered this problem.  As is usual, the first volunteer to get down and dirty was Paddy and he was straight into the engine compartment to lift the hatch and dip his arm into the murky (and apparently very chilly) water.  After much searching he found an article of women's clothing was indeed wrapped around the prop and with a kitchen knife he proceeded to hack away to untangle it.  We think it was in fact a ladies scarf but how it got around the prop who knows?  It's removal certainly seemed to massively improve the boat's handling so a great job that man.  He certainly earned his subsequent shower!!

After the water tank filling I also had the benefit of a shower whilst disconnecting the hose from the broken tap but fortunately no one with a camera was around to catch this extremely damp moment.

our final lock of the trip at Bradford-on-Avon

and a very comfy nest spotted on the final stretch back to the boatyard

We had decided to moor at the boatyard for the final night as it is much more convenient on the final morning.  Getting back there soon after 5 in the afternoon, the staff still there greeted us with great delight as at least they had one of their boats back for hiring out again the following afternoon.   Apparently, at least two of their fleet were stranded on the far side of Semington Lock where, since early in the morning a "wide" boat from another company had managed to get jammed in the bottom lock and there as no prospect of it being moved for at least 24 hours.  

As we'd had lunch earlier we decided that evening to just visit a pub in the village of Staverton for an early tipple and then return to the boat to use up provisions we still had - now we're back to those surplus eggs as no one had taken the option of a bacon egg butty for breakfast.  Patrick took control and produced the most gargantuan omelette imaginable - bleddy good it was too!

Patrick also demonstrated he's a mean hand at coiling a rope.....

It may well turn out to have been our cruising swan song but, if that's the case, at least it was truly a cracking week.  Brilliant.