If you've read the little ditty about my enforced stay in Devizes, then you may like to read how it was that the problem was solved, and how I got down the flight.

My involvement began when I arrived at Devizes with a college friend, Alan, after promising him a couple of days exercise and exertion getting down the flight of locks and into Bath. 29 locks in just under 3 miles was to be our due on Tuesday morning. After arriving on Monday afternoon, we went for a walk down the flight to determine our strategy for the morrow.

As we approached lock 49, just above Caen hill itself, we feared the worst. The tell-tale signs of work going on, no entry signs, temporary barriers, the lot. On investigating, we were told that someone had crashed his narrow boat into a lock gate at speed, and the gate had collapsed, causing a near catastrophe. Fortunately no-one was hurt, but it meant that the lock gate had to be replaced, and that meant a delay of several days.

Alan and I managed to find things to do in Devizes, including a cycle ride down the towpath to Avoncliffe aqueduct, gathering I think just the 7 punctures on the way, but sadly no more boating for Alan, who returned to London disconsolate on Wednesday.

When I told my sister, who had visited earlier in the summer, she offered the services of her two daughters and one of their friends, of Granny Bike fame. Also, a family friend had said that he was interested in helping out.

And so it came to pass that instead of hours of hard work by yours truly and a crew of one, we were reasonably mob handed on the flight itself when we left at 10:00 on Saturday morning.

There is something almost balletic about the way a crew that is working together for the first time gels almost immediately. People take up roles that they merrily repeat, working from lock to lock, with hardly a complaint. Their enthusiasm also meant that I had to do almost no work! I offered control of the tiller many times, but they were all happy with their jobs and I got no takers.

The locks on the Kennet and Avon are broad beam, which means they will take two narrow boats side by side, and for most of the locks we had company. The team worked methodically and skilfully, and by 2:30 we had reached the bottom of the main flight. All 29 locks were behind us, and this picture is the classic photograph of locks in this country. Caen Hill itself, 16 locks in a row, with only a short pound between them, each with its own enormous side pound to ensure there is plenty of water.

The following day, when they woke, there were a few aches and groans, but those of you who have done a big flight of locks as part of a crew will know, there is no better feeling of tiredness than that achieved by a day on a canal. A great sense of achievement, along with an enormous appetite, fresh air in your lungs, and a good night's sleep, there is no better way of enjoying a day.

So to Jenny and John, Becky Ruth and Ben: Thank You for your help. I could have done it without you, but I'm glad to have done it with you.

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