Our autumn weather has been outstanding with warm temperatures and sunny days. I shouldn't complain then about travelling in these conditions. It's the low sun you see, the glare is blinding and without those polarised sunglasses of mine, goodness knows what I might crash into.
Whitechurch lock with its long curving weir had the staging right next to it. I would imagine if the river had a good flow running this might be a difficult landing.
Here a cruiser joined us as we waited for the lock to fill. As I had gone in first it was left to me to exit first but Ian had to get back on board after operating the lock. Our luck was in when a boat appeared so Ian hopped back on board as a siddled past the steps. That cruiser was in a bit of a hurry and it was obvious he wanted to get past. All well and good but a narrow boat was also speeding toward us. You would have thought that cruiser would have at least pulled over to the right side but no, playing chicken came to mind.
Evasive manoeuvres by the narrowboat going toward the bank and collision averted. Speeding didn't do him any good as we caught him up again at Mapledurham. This was another of those slow fill locks so by the time we had emptied the loo and got rid of the rubbish we were able to share. In he went followed by me. Ian did the lock and again we were lucky as Ian signalled that another boat was waiting to come in. Cruiser sped off but having to wait for Ian to come down the steps took a while. Next thing I knew the waiting boat starts to come in! Suddenly he realises and reverses out and that's when I saw it was an EA enforcement boat. Apologies and a grin came from him as I passed.
Caversham lock got us down into Reading. Not far from the lock was Better Boating Co. At 97p litre, it was still very expensive but still the cheapest so far. Only the Jerry can to fill keeping the cost down.
Tesco mooring in Reading used to be full of continues moorers until signs went up stating a payment of £100 would be charged to stay there. But this had been changed (so we were told) to a fee of £9.50p daily and would be charged for moorings even to stop for a shop. This had been confirmed by the lock keeper at Abingdon so we hoped to find a mooring within an easy walk to Tesco, but on arrival, not a sign to be seen and only one boat on the new boarded area. Further along the bank, there were those moorers who looked to have been there a while judging by the stuff on the path. Anyway, we stopped and shopped and didn't pay anyone, even had lunch there before setting off toward a 24-hour free mooring by Sonning lock. Fingers crossed it wasn't taken and yes, a good result. A lovely new mooring with what looked like cement bags along the length and not a boat to be seen. As moorings go these were rubbish! Shallow in places, no rings and worse of all the bankside edge was of loose shingle. Not to be defeated we got the stern almost to the bank and Ian found a spot forward and aft to put the rhond anchors in. Still had a bit of an issue as no fenders could be used and everytime those big cruisers came past with their wash big enough to sink battleships, FS's moved backwards and forwards scrapping rust from her bottom.
And on the journey.
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| No signal that this boat was joining the Thames frpom the K&A. Another chicken moment!!! |
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| Kennet and Avon |
And seen on route,
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