Month: May 2017

Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) and Watership Down

A star-studded weekend it would seem.

Even saw a dead hare.

Downton Abbey

Or Highclere Castle, I was not allowed to cycle through the grounds, even though it was open to the public and there was traffic driving through to participate in the ‘country fare’.

Was told to get off my bike at least twice. To walk through the park is 2 miles or so.

Doesn’t really make sense when there are cars driving past then you have to walk.

I was told it was because it was ‘a footpath’.

I know footpaths are not public rights of ways for cars, they should have had to get out and push their cars!

I was so off-put by the rule that I only took one picture.

Downton Abbey

Watership Down

Continue reading “Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) and Watership Down”

Hungerford Marsh -> Hungerford

Not much of a move.

Had to go and get water, turn the boat around.

Marsh is about a mile or so out of town.

Now I’m moored right outside St. Lawrence church, by the swing bridge.

[map][/map]

Shrimps

Had a guy come past last night, wanted to catch fresh water shrimps under the boat.

I wonder if these may make a tasty meal….

Post Restanté

There aren’t any post offices around that do this service, I cycled to Kintbury yesterday to find that my mail had been returned to sender.

No post office in Hungerford. No post office in Kintbury. Makes it a logistical nightmare. Continue reading “Hungerford Marsh -> Hungerford”

Froxfield -> Hungerford Marsh

Tried to moor in-between but there were 2 problems:

  1. The railway track: Not more than 20 yards from the canal bank. Great news if you like to be waking up with a train going past your head at 3 o’clock in the morning. Otherwise, not a good spot for mooring.
  2. Heavy growth of giant hogweed; and other plantlife dipping quite heavily into the canal on a cambered bank. Making it quite hard for mooring.

Didn’t bother, after spending and hour or so wondering round seeing if I could find a suitable spot.

This is where I’m moored now. You can see it has the additional texture of raindrops…. Continue reading “Froxfield -> Hungerford Marsh”

To Ham

Felt a bit bored. Took a walk to Ham and Ham Spray.

Again, walked up through the estates of Little Bedwyn, with the ‘beware u will be shot’ signs, on to somewhere called ‘Prospero’ estates, again with little ‘u will be shot’ signs, but better hidden.

Saw lots of little birds and beasties along the way, including a weasel and about 5 hares.

Savernake forest

The woods are near Savernake forest which is owned by the Earl of Cardigan and is some 4.500 acres. I visited Savernake forest on Sunday, it’s possible to drive through from to Marlborough almost.

A short-cut except that the road is not made up. Continue reading “To Ham”