Caen Hill Locks

In recent visits to Caen Hill I have concentrated on the swan family at the top of flight of locks and not shown the flight itself. On this occasion I was driving along Marsh Lane, which crosses the Kennet and Avon at the bottom of the flight, at about the time that I had been told was the most propitious for seeing a pair of kingfishers that frequent that spot habitually.
I spent about fifteen minutes looking out for that dazzling flash of blue and listening for the useful call I have learned to recognize that they make before coming into sight, much as a train whistle does. No kingfishers.
The closest I got was this narrowboat named Kahu Kura, named after a Maori daytime god of war said to exist in the spectrum of a rainbow. It is also the New Zealand name for the red admiral butterfly, and the word can mean "red cloak".
The Awa people of Whakatane say that Kahukura is composed of two arches, a double bow. Of these the upper one, Kahukura-pango (dark Kahukura), is the darkest colour and is spoken of as the male embracing the light hued and female lower bow, Tuawhiorangi. Kahukura, goes the saying, is a being who stands with one foot on land and one on the ocean, an allusion to the vast span of the rainbow.

L.
27.10.2014 (1456 hr)

Blip #1411
Consecutive Blip #004
Day #1672
LOTD #646 (#766 including archived blips)

Alternative:
Lock At Marsh Lane Without Kingfisher

Lens: Pentax 18-55 mm

Caen Hill series
Canals series
Kennet and Avon Canal series

Lozarhythm Of The Day:
Rolling Stones - She's A Rainbow (recorded 18 May 1967)
Mick Jagger (vocals, percussion), Keith Richards (acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Brian Jones (electric guitar, mellotron, percussion), Bill Wyman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Charlie Watts (drums)
with Nicky Hopkins (piano)
String arrangement by John Paul Jones