Juno Comes of age

[magpie patrick]

We are home this afternoon after a twelve night trip on Juno, from Dundas to Crofton Pumps and back, the longest holiday we've had for three years.

 

salient facts

 

74 miles and 94 locks (58 of them going up devizes and back down it a week later), 16 swing bridges

 

Overnight stops

 

Avoncliffe

Semmington)

Sells Green

Devizes Wharf (two nights, didn't move)

Pewsey

Crofton Pumps (two nights, didn't move)

Pewsey

Devizes

Sells Green

Bradford on Avon

 

Salient feelings? this is a canal of two halves. It is odd to think that we live less than two hours drive from Crofton and yet we were in unknown territory, not just because we hadn't visited, but the canal above Devizes is so different to the canal below, the length around Dundas is manicured and busy, both with boats and people. We cruised from Devizes to Pewsey and only saw one boat on the move, and the vegetation was so dense we would have struggled to moor and the views were obscured.

 

Seeing Crofton Beam Engines in action was a joy, shared as we had friends with us for that day. More on the engines later

 

Other observations: The Wadworth brewery tour was well worth it, not just for the beer afterwards, but for the knowledge that a company takes it's heritage so seriously and can still make money. Overall Devizes is a good service centre

 

 

We can sleep four on Juno at a pinch, but we and the other couple need to be good friends (fellow enthusiasts stayed with us at Crofton, I slep under the canopy)

 

I will take more care over procuring petrol when it is convenient, a four mile round walk for the stuff is less than ideal.

 

Pulling back into our mooring today felt odd, our longest previous trip had been four days, and typically only a few hours. Neither Juno nor I are going to be content pottering around Avoncliffe for ever more. She needs more work, but the time has come to explore

Edited July 5, 2012 by magpie patrick

[Zayna]

How lovely. I cannot wait to go exploring in our boat. Thanks for sharing.

[Tesla]

Sounds like a great first voyage. Any pics?