Hungerford

7th July 2014

We all had a chill out weekend.  Susan walked to Hungerford on Friday taking photos of bugs....  Pete fished...... AND he caught another Roach - similar in size to the one on Thursday evening.

Mating Orange Beetles

Butterfly

Hornet

Saturday and Sunday were spent watching a LOT OF TV - British Grand Prix and Wimbledon.

I was truly pleased to get moving this morning.  I can only take so much floating....  Susan and Pete were surprised that not one boat moored here during the weekend.  Pete thinks it's because people want to be near a pub or restaurant.  We were moored in the middle of no-where and it was fabulous!!!

We went through 2 locks: Wire and Dun Mill Lock.  Got to stop prior to Hungerford and get to take on more water whilst Susan put the washing machine on, after waiting for 40 minutes for another boat to be filled-up.

Dun Mill Lock

View over meadow from Dun Mill Lock

Between Dun Mill and Wire Lock there is an area known as the Lower Meadow & Lower Common home to many kingfishers, mayflies, watervole and otters.  There is a lot of fly-fishing for brown trout too.

Susan was excited last night to see the Kingfisher as well as many bats swooping around me!!   Pete was happy to see a very large WW2 Pill Box which must have housed a machine gun or anti-tank gun, due to its size.

WW2 Pill Box

Susan commented to Pete on the different types of paddle mechanisms on this stretch of canal.

There are 48-hour and 24-hour moorings in Hungerford (both below and above the lock).  I manage to squeeze into a space prior to the lock (24-hour).

View from our mooring - backwards

Pete and Susan leave Mazey and I to go into Hungerford (traditional market town).  They have a late lunch in a Tea Room named The Tutti Pole (Hocktide a medieval ceremony).    Followed by food shopping in Tesco's.  Then Pete goes back to check out the antique shops.

The Tutti Pole Cafe

Hungerford Tourist Boat

Total 1-3/4 miles and 2 locks