7th April 2013 - Goring to Dorchester

Set off at 10.30am, straight through Whitchurch lock.  Mapledurham Lock is only a short distance and we availed ourselves of their nice new pump out machine, then topped up with water at Cleve lock.  Deciding not to stop at Wallingford we had lunch on the move. We came on another narrowboat firmly aground on the inside of a sharp bend at Shillingford.  We took a line from them and managed to pull them off at the third attempt.   Moored up just south of Dorchester near Days Lock at 4.30pm at a beautiful solitary spot set in the pre-historic landscape of Whittenden Clumps hillfort and the earthworks at Dorchester.  Our idyll lasted for 30 minutes until 3 boatloads of foreign scouts moored up next to us for the night....

Evidence of the recent floods

Our gaff for Sunday night

6th April 2013 - Reading to Goring

Mark joined us for the day.  Set off around 11am and were quickly on the Thames.  Had a fantastic day in lovely sunny weather (but still chilly out of the sun).  We had planned to get as far as Wallingford but because of the strong current only made it only as far as Goring. Had a look around Goring. Met Christine & James for a meal at the Bull at Streatley in the evening after which C&J took Mark back to Reading to collect his car.

Our driver for the day

Nice spot - Goring

The mooring in Goring

5th April 2013 - Theale to Reading

Up early and cycled into Theale just to see what it is like.  Not too shabby!  We spotted coal for sale just as we were at the furthest point from the boat and had to buy it – so cheap!  It was then an interesting exercise to get a 20kg bag back to the boat, balanced on a bike saddle....

Finally we set off at 10.30am. Water flow on the Kennet is still very strong and we had a hard time getting out of a couple of locks and not bending the bikes on the back.  Nevertheless we got into Reading safely and moored up on the Reading Jail Loop.  Once parked we took a stroll to Tescos for some shopping.  Heard from Jess – she has made it to NZ safely!

Parked up behind Reading Gaol

4th April 2013 - Heathrow!

A lovely (and exceedingly cold) walk around the ponds to the west of Theale in the morning.  Climbed into the car and drove home to take Jess to Heathrow for her 10.30pm flight.  Strange saying goodbye for a whole year!   Good luck Jess!  Arriving back home we parked the car for the final time on the drive and Charlie (bless him) drove us back to the boat.

A fond farewell to Jess x

3rd April 2013 - Theale

Just waiting until tomorrow to see Jess off at the airport.  Got the bikes out in the afternoon.  Blew up tyres and went out for a chilly but fun 1 ½ hour ride around the lakes next to the canal.  At the furthest point it came on snowing quite hard!

2nd April - Back home again!

Quacky duck joined me on the back deck scrounging breakfast!

Collected the car from the sailing club car park and took Jess back home.  She needs a couple of days to pack and 'put her affairs in order' before leaving for New Zealand on Thursday.  We took the opportunity to collect some things we had omitted to take, and did a bit of shopping.  We returned to the boat with the bikes and bike rack.  Spent a happy hour or so making the bike rack fit onto the back of a narrowboat.... seemed to work!

Theale Swing Bridge

1st April - Theale Swing Bridge

Remaining at the moorings next to Theale bridge.  Very cold day with a bitter wind. Annie and I went a walk upstream to see if there was any wood lying around for the fire but no luck.  Two woodsmen are cutting trees between the canal and fishing lake, creating huge bonfires as they go - but very efficient and not leaving a twig to pick up.

Claire and Rob arrived at 3pm.  Went a walk up to the sailing club, then drove the the Spring Inn to meet Chris, Mum and James for a meal.

The Spring Inn