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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 8:33:53 GMT
Above Reading atm and deciding whether to turn right later today towards Bristol.
What are the chances of getting stuck if I do - don't want to get stuck forever in 'hippy land'
Will CRTs lack of maintenance (or boater vandalism) disrupt things or will the heavens open and the floods keep me trapped or will another lockdown happen?
Decision time is noon...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 9:11:25 GMT
I'd stay on the Thames if it were me but then I am a Thames addict anyway so it's not a hard choice. I did do the K&A years ago (2001/2 including winter around Bradford on Avon. No desire whatsoever to go there again unless it was to transit to Bristol for sea access.
It's quite pretty I suppose.
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Post by bodger on Aug 3, 2020 9:16:24 GMT
I'd stay on the Thames if it were me but then I am a Thames addict anyway so it's not a hard choice. I did do the K&A years ago (2001/2 including winter around Bradford on Avon. No desire whatsoever to go there again unless it was to transit to Bristol for sea access. It's quite pretty I suppose. hey! I thought we'd agreed to keep the Thames secret.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 9:17:44 GMT
Oops.
K&A is lovely specially in summer. I wish I could do it again but boat is a bit on the deep side and I would not wish to be known as a cillblower.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 9:26:25 GMT
I wouldn't base your decision too heavily on C&RT's ability to keep the canal open ... they seem to be struggling all around the system at present and the parts open appear to be hanging by a thread.
It's a lovely journey if you've not done the K&A.
Rog
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 3, 2020 9:59:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 16:42:25 GMT
Well I turned right... Bristol here I come, come hell or highlow water levels...
Aim to be back on the GU by end of September so fingers crossed.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 16:43:46 GMT
It's a nice canal. Enjoy it. At least bodger will be happy. Take care in the Reading environs as it is rather scrotey. I would have taken Mr Stabby and his big knife with me if I could when I went through the Fobney area. Awfully scary youth on noisy motorcycles made me want to throw Molotov cocktails at them but I had no milk bottles with me.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 17:02:31 GMT
Take care in the Reading environs as it is rather scrotey. Must say the most scrotey area was the full Tesco moorings... beer supplies getting low so full steam ahead to Thatcham...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 17:04:48 GMT
Yes I stopped at tesco for the beer acquisition protocol solution last week. Only left the boat for about 20 minutes but I was nervous. I've had a boat "looked at" before on that mooring they didn't take anything but things were rearranged somewhat.
Bit nasty.
Have a good time and take care.
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Post by thebfg on Aug 3, 2020 18:16:47 GMT
It's very pretty and not as bad as everyone makes out but gets very busy past Bradford upon Avon. But mooring is still possible but we always timed it to miss the hire boats.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 18:49:36 GMT
Telemachus has a thing or two to say about the K&A with slightly more recent experience. Very shocking if I remember right. Long hair and all that sort of thing.
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 3, 2020 19:12:35 GMT
Abandon all hope ye who enter the Grinch's lair! You'll be coming past us, then. When we came up from Reading we parked up by The Cunning Man, Burghfield, following advice not to stop until that spot - and indeed we encountered some scruffy-looking boats and their inhabitants with no licences displayed on the way. It was by this pub the next morning we were warned of 'travellers' headed our way on bicycles, having been chased off attempting to nick stuff off a boat a couples of miles ahead; and we were told of Sheffield Lock ahead where travellers sometimes wait in a van to ambush boaters using the lock - they grab stuff and drive off in their van. These 'travellers' of Theale are associated with those who murdered Andrew Harper whilst caught trying to nick a quad bike. If you look at Google Maps' satellite view you'll easily see the car park where they lurk. Our next overnight stop was at Woolhampton (Midgham) and we ate inside The Rowbarge - I vaguely remember the food was OK. And our third night was in Newbury. It's a mixture of river sections and canal sections, and, as usual, I'd recommend the Pearson's guide. You can probably breathe easier after Aldermaston, and the scenery is very nice all the way to Devizes which is as far as we've been. If you can get a bicycle, I'd say it's worth exploring the uplands to the south of Newbury and Hungerford. Nice cafe in Newbury, Empire Cafe: Some pics of the canal between Newbury & Devizes: By bicycle Newbury to Hungerford via Walbury Hill: www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=22757&v=2G
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2020 9:32:13 GMT
Well I survived the night at Fobney - all very pleasant...
A couple of questions for the future...
Mooring on the river (providing conditions are benign) between Bath and Bristol for one night - what are the options/pitfalls/availability of doing this - would be a long day for a single hander to go from say Bathampton to Bristol in a day.
Booking a couple of nights visitor mooring in the floating harbour at Bristol - does this need lots of advance notice or is it sort of ok to try to book a couple of days beforehand?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2020 10:25:48 GMT
The river was in flood when we were there (they locked the Deep lock) so we had to do Bristol by train from Bath. The floating harbour was very expensive (£38 per night or so) ... I seem to recall Telemachus stayed there and could perhaps advise. We were trapped on the K&A by floods on the Kennet and Thames, but seized a window of opportunity once levels dropped, to go from Newbury to Oxford on amber in two days. Enjoy your trip but keep an eye on river levels and the weather and you shouldn't get stuck for too long, even if unlucky.. Rog
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