Sunday June 19th - Canal Trip with Rosemary and Ray

Off we go

Despite a less than promising forecast earlier in the week Sunday dawned, and after some early cloud, it was glorious. First stop junction 35 and then on to junction 30 to meet the rest of the contingent.

It was here that we set a new record - losing someone before we'd even left the services!

We'd seen David and Julia pull in but where were they now? A brief scout around the car park revealed nothing. Looking across to the petrol station threw no more light on their whereabouts. The theory that they may have exited the car park in error and had to return to the roundabout and re-enter was put forward. As time went on it became increasingly likely that they had missed the turning on the roundabout and been forced to travel to the next junction.

Here they come (again) - where had they been? To get petrol they say, but we can see the petrol station from here, not that petrol station though. David had been lured away from the services by the promise of savings at ASDA!

A shortish drive down the M4 and we were entering Bradford on Avon, and after some slightly garbled radio communications we assembled in the car park along with our friends from over the water.

Time for lunch?

Some energetic souls decided to go for a walk, while the rest of us trooped into the The Lock Inn for brunch. Unfortunately they were very busy and at least 3 of the party decided to cancel their order, as time went on, rather than risk indigestion. (I opted to risk the indigestion)

If you get the opportunity to go there it is well worth a look at their Customer Charter in the menu, in fact most of the menu is a good laugh - apart from the food which is seriously good. If you can't make a visit then take a look on-line. www.thelockinn.co.uk

Messing about on the water

Climbing aboard Barbara McLellan (it's a boat, not a member) we began to realise how hot the day was becoming, and how much hotter it was going to get! It's just as well we didn't have to do anything energetic, it took all my energy to get to the bar and back to my seat. In fact, in the end, I simply abandoned the idea of going back to my seat.

An extremely pleasant afternoon which consisted of chatting, drinking, attempting to complete quizzes provided by Rosemary, watching the world go by and experiencing a real-life rescue by the crew. OK it was only a ladder that was knocked off the top of the boat by some overhanging branches but nevertheless had it been one of us it was reassuring to know that they could have quickly stopped the boat and recovered us.

More information on the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust can be found on their Website www.katrust.org

If the information on their site is up to date then we also have the makings of another quiz question:
Who was the recipient of the largest single lottery grant ever to be awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund?

Or even:
How much was the largest single lottery grant ever to be awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund?

Returning home

Saying our farewells we headed back to Wales in smaller groups and individually.
Some of us chose to follow Mike back through Bath, or not as the case may be. Listen to what Rosemary is telling you next time. Having detoured around Bath and into Bristol we then found the Portway was also closed! Oh well what the heck, it was still dry and warm and the tops were down.

Many thanks to Rosemary and Ray for organising it all, along with everyone who attended for making it such a great day.

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Credits
Pictures - Ray H & Ray R
Report - Ray H