Crofton Pumping Station

Map reference  SU 26330  62361

              

Distance 6.5 miles

Total 163 Locks 6 Tunnels

Running total mileage 159.9

Two days included in this post since we are making pretty slow progress (the whole point of the exercise!). Last night we moored between Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn by a rather leaky lock, the significance of which became apparent the following morning when the pound between the locks had fallen by about 6 inches and we awoke to find ourselves aground and at a bit of an angle. Soon resolved with a bit of pushing and shoving, and judicious use of the engine.  Actually came across a bit of a rarity on the canals, a bit of an old grouch helming his boat. Whilst sorting out my grounding problem he came into the lock just downstream of me. Gave the usual ‘good morning’ greeting which was completely ignored and then tried to make conversation by remarking that the water level was a bit down, greeted by a grunt. As he passed through the lock he then shouted ‘ Try shifting the stuff on your roof to starboard’, since the stuff on our roof in total probably weighs less that I do, just with my bodyweight on the starboard side would have had the same effect. I just assume that the guy was having a bad day.

Moored for the night by Crofton Pumping station which pretty much defines the ‘summit’ of this canal, from here onwards we will be travelling down (towards Caen Hill at Devizes which is most definitely down!). The pumping station itself is a fascinating piece of engineering constructed to save the expense of building a 2.5mile tunnel through the hillside. An original Watt steam engine still operates during the season (now sadly ending as the station shuts from Sunday until March 2014). The water is however now pumped by electric motar.

Tomorrow on to Bruce Tunnel and hopefully to Pewsey.