The June Rose: Friday 17 July 2015

Had a bit of a late one last night – 2am! This week has been like a holiday where you meet a couple staying in the same hotel as you and then you spend the evenings with them. I had a walk into town this morning whilst waiting for everyone else to get up! Hungerford is a great little town.

Had a few spots of rain this morning and it was quite windy. We set off at about 11.30am and chugged through more beautiful countryside. Wiltshire is a very peaceful and attractive county from the canal. Once leaving Hungerford there were not many villages on the water’s edge, just rolling hills and copses.

As we left Hungerford we saw a boat called Mrs B – a guy I worked with at the architects used to have a narrowboat called Mrs B. He would go every other weekend straight from work, jump on a train, chug until Sunday and tie the boat up somewhere near enough to cycle to a station, leave the boat there for 14 days and then go back and move on – he had been doing this for quite a number of years. I wonder if it was his boat, I must look on the website and see if he still works there.

We had a real workout today – 10 miles, 19 locks, 2 swing bridges and Bruce tunnel (only a page and a half in the book!) Found a nice remote spot in a place called Burbage Common at about 7.20pm. Rob did a beef bourguignon in the slow cooker and I did roast spuds and veg and we ate onboard Weston Lady. Early night tonight – tucked up by 11pm! We have had a great week with Rob and Claire – they are going home tomorrow – I think we need the rest!!!

Hungerford High Street

and looking the other way.

Two Westis - one for you Mo!

and one for me - GnT - I wonder if this means there are already 41 one other boats called GnT!!

Mrs B - Martin I wonder whether this is your boat?

Lovely wild flowers

The Church at Great Bedwyn (I think!)

Crofton Pumping Station - housing two 19th-C steam engines - one built in 1812, the oldest original working beam engine in the world still performing its original duties.