Devizes 6^th April 2009 (Cont’d)

After I’d said hello to Wadworth’s horses, and to Barry and Adrian, the draymen, I went for a walk down the towpath of the Kennet & Avon Canal. I often wonder if Wadworth’s delivered beer by this means, too, for it runs right by the back of the brewery.

I wanted to photograph and video the Caen Flight Locks (it’s pronounced ‘cain’, not like the place in France). These were re-opened by the Queen in 1990, after several years of disuse, making the canal once more navigable for its whole length.. It was once the main route between London and Bristol, but, after only twenty years, was largely replaced by the railway which paralleled it for several miles. Added to that, it’s always suffered from water shortages … its top level, seven miles through the Savernake Forest, is only fed by one small stream.

I went on a canal holiday several years ago, and reflected I didn’t think much of a holiday where you worked harder than you did at work. Especially when you have to operate a lock every few miles … and, at Caen Hill, there’s a whole flight of them to be negotiated. Your boat is restricted to 3 mph, and, if you factor in the time to negotiate a lock, your average speed comes down to about that of a geriatric tortoise.

But, it’s nice to park yourself on the towpath with a camera, and watch the narrowboats (those in the know take great exception to them being called ‘barges’) locking up and down. Canal folk call this practice ‘gongoozling’ … whether it’s intended as an insult or not, I don’t know. But, I’m quite happy to gongoozle.