Though much cooler than of late, the weather started off quite nice, becoming more cloudy as the day wore on. After breakfast we set off through Sonning Lock and turned off the Thames onto the Kennet & Avon. Through Blakes lock and County lock there was the interesting trip through the Oracle shopping centre.
We reached Theale in good time where we had planned to drop Penny off to catch the train for home. However a combination of our good progress, a still lovely day and not appreciating how many locks there were left - she volunteered to continue with us to Aldermaston. Of course from this point on the weather deteriorated and by the time we neared Aldermaston it was lashing down.
About then we realised that Stockton was no longer on the boat. He has been in the cratch, but we needed the cover off going through the locks. Our flying lessons had worked too well - we only hoped he was sufficiently developed to be able to feed himself. There was a problem with the lock gates at Aldermaston, which further delayed us so after locking through Annie and Penny went straight to the Butt Inn to find a table for a meal and order, while I went on to moor Ceilidh. Typically all the visitor moorings were taken, but then I spotted Nb Whistler in its new mooring on Aldermaston Wharf. After a swift reunion and catch-up with Graham and Jan they kindly agreed to my breasting up with them for the night - leaving Ceilidh moored alongside theirs. After a nice meal with Penny we saw her off on the train, and walked back to the boat, where Whistler's cre came aboard for a grand catching up of both our summers wanderings.
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| Sonning bridge - think about it..... |
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| Penny helping Annie with the locks |
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| Gathering clouds |
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