End of Cruise - Time to Relax and Enjoy

Sunday 10th December

We are back at the marina, a very pleasant cruise back for most of the day. A bit wet at the end and now its back to the rain and winds again! All in all it has been a great few days, new places, new people and new things learnt about Epiphany and how she acts, reacts and performs.

The carols at Pewsey became rather a “busman’s holiday” for BJ! Unfortunately, the advertised Peter Atwell had double booked and was unable to come at the last minute. Someone, (own up if it was you!) remembered that the SOW hatted guy was a Vicar, a Rev on a boat! BJ was only too pleased to help and took the mike to lead the singing, and generally do “Vicary” things! Two carol sheets between the crowd meant everyone's memory was tested, but all were in good voice. We had a good time and only hope that everyone else enjoyed themselves too; many thanks to all those who arranged it, the band and also the cooks – delicious. The rest of the evening went with a swing in the bar and we really enjoyed meeting fellow narrow boaters and certainly hope to see them all again.

PS Are there any Cornish out there in Narrowboat Land? Over the years we have seen quite a few Cornish flags and St Pirans flags flying on boats. Boats called Curnow, Kernow, Tywardreath, and lots more. Let us know, leave a message, get in touch. We may be able to have our own little Gods Wonderful County links across the cut!

Devizes To Crofton Top Lock, Returning

Friday 8th December

Some more blog as I have time on my hands for a bit. We are moored at Pewsey Wharf for the night. There is a Carol Concert with a band and Peter Atwell (Boaters Christian Fellowship) at 7.00. We will probably eat in the café afterwards as chicken curry is on the menu! We met Peter, not that he will remember at all, at Dundas aqueduct when we hired Silver Dove from Anglo Welsh, about 5 years ago. We had to start from there instead of Bristol as the river was in flood and we were really pleased as we were upgraded from a 4 berth to a 6/7 berth boat with, wait for it, a microwave!

We fell in love with the K&A then I think, as it was a wonderful trip with our good friends. Silver Dove is still in use down at Sydney Wharf, where the Anglo Welsh hire fleet is run by Bath Narrowboats. We had a nose on her when we were down there in November and had no real memory of the interior, just that microwave. I do like my porridge made in a microwave in the morning, must be my Scottish quarter blood!

So this is Christmas – song title there I think! This will be my first taste of carols this year, just about right and not too early. It seems the shops have already finished Christmas, as it is sale time apparently. Have a good one, keep things simple and enjoy.

Wind, Rain and Christmas Carols on a December Cruise

Cruise: Devizes – Crofton Top Lock (R)

Tuesday 5th December

We have a few days to explore the K&A canal further. The weather forecast looked blustery, wet but not cold. However there seemed only one or two boats on the move. Google alert had notified BJ that a blog had mentioned “Narrowboats”; on following the link he discovered that “Moore 2 Life” was at Devizes having a new boiler put in. So we popped over and spoke to Chas at the Marina. John had seen that Sue had bought a new boat from Devizes – “No Problem 2”. Fortuitously I opened Allington Swing Bridge just as she approached and the usual greetings of “hope to see you later” took place!

So lots of firsts with Epiphany: Our first blustery night when we thought everything would take off from the roof and the sat dish fell over with a bang. Our first torrential rain storm and really muddy steerers step; our first loss of a fender at Wooten Rivers, and a futile attempt to rescue it. Duck “poo” on the roof from an adventurous friend; Bruce tunnel, interesting but short, but at least we were able to test the headlight and BJ approves of the stern light as he is able to see the stern too. We winded in what felt like a force 50-gale and lashing rain at Crofton Top Lock, nice bit of helmsman ship! We are beginning to get the hang of playing with the sat dish each time we moor and finding out about the vagaries of mobile Internet and phone signals along the K&A.

However, more importantly, we are both agreed that Epiphany is the best thing we have ever done, she is really what we wanted and really ours. We love being on her and out in all weathers and it is great to begin to meet fellow boaters on this lovely stretch of waterway, for once I agree with a Tory MP. Thank you Michael Ancram for giving the Kennet and Avon Canal some publicity in parliament this week – keep up the good work all you “Save Our Waterways” folk.

We Joined In. How About You?

We have just returned from a few days on Epiphany. Of course there are new photos! These will be uploaded soon. I took some internal pictures to bore you with, mainly to show her now well and truly as "home" - well second one anyway. I suppose we have joined the ranks of second homeowners now, although that is not strictly true as our "first" home goes with BJ's job. Two homers then!

I suppose more importantly we were on Epiphany to join in the protest blockade at Devizes Wharf, K & A canal, on Saturday. Here is a foretaste of the photos, which will be in our gallery. Epiphany decorated with Save Our Waterways posters (third boat from the Wharf) and you can just make out the Skipper! Skipper's Mate was "David Bailey" for the day! Actually I would prefer to be Lord Lichfield I think.

There are more photos of the Devizes blockade and other events around the country on Flickr.com. Also on the Save Our Waterways website, with written reports from other events.

The Devizes event was a great success, about 40 boats blocked the canal at the Wharf, blasted horns and hooters on the hour, enjoyed a barbeque (thank you chefs), nobbled passers by for their signatures on the petition and despite the damp weather generally made our presence known. The Mayor of Devizes came, signed the petition and lots of photos were taken, the local press included. In the afternoon the sun shone but as dedicated boaters nobody minded the weather anyway.

Thanks must go to the organisers, Devizes Boat Club and the K & A Canal Trust. In the evening food and a band were laid on. Unfortunately we had to leave before the band as a 4 hour journey home awaited us. I won a raffle prize though, yeah!

So folks, check out future events on SOW
Make sure YOU make your voice heard, sign the petition and the electronic petition, write to your MP. We need to keep our linear National Park open for use and available for everyone. In 1884 campaigners set up the National Trust for the protection of coastline, countryside and buildings, and government passed an appropriate Act, The National Trust Act. Would the waterways were seen as equally important by all.