14th April 2014 - Frouds Bridge to Cunning Man

Left the marina at 9.25am.  We seem to have gained a dog for a few days - Maisie.
Had lunch at Burghfield  moorings and joined 'Wind Flower' to go through the swing bridge.  We hit a problem straight away as the canal beyond Sheffield Bottom lock was-- er-- empty! There had been a breach but contractors were on site repairing, delaying us about an hour until we could re-fill the pound.  Moored up at the Cunning Man.

Turning out of Frouds Bridge

Rough looking repair of the breach

Not a lot of water

13th April 2014 - More getting ready

Mended Claire's car in the morning so didnt get to the boat until 3.30pm. Abi and Mark arrived with BBQ and burgers, salad, fruit etc and we had a lovely picnic in the warm sunshine.  Mark drove our car home.

10th-11th April 2014 - Getting ready

Unloaded car and installed new cupboard I have been making to replace some time-expired shelving in the kitchen.  It fits!  But Annie found that there wasn't enough space on top for her plastic duck collection.  Not in the original job spec I'm afraid.

A reflection

5½ months away!  What a fantastic summer.  It has been an absolute privilege to travel through our countryside at only walking speed - almost medieval - watching the scenery and the seasons change.  Even the changes in local accents  could be noticed as they morphed from one area to another.  As each new flower or leaf came out we could stop, look it up in our flower book and appreciate what was happening.  

The waterways are a parallel universe. One where the clock ticks slower and people find they have time for one another - to pass the time of day and offer a lending hand where needed.  We have made several good friends whom we would love to keep in contact with.  We have also met many total strangers - who have stopped to chat - told us their life story, and then left some hours later knowing all about us - with a cheery wave we will never ever see them again! But they went away smiling and our lives are a little richer.

I hope that doesn't sound too gushing! It had its tougher side too.  Whilst it was on the whole a beautiful summer, we started in the snow and had our fair share of wet, cold and windy days.  We traveled for up to 10 hours a day some days, eating on the move and on more than one occasion after several flights of locks we were almost too tired to continue.  The distress of loosing the two young birds we found was only outmatched by possibly finding a body on the Hatton flight in Warwickshire.  If there wasn't a body then it certainly caused us to reflect on the plight of the homeless.

In short - every day was an adventure!

Some facts:
While we were away the engine ran for 600 hours and used 660 litres of fuel.
We travelled for 1150 miles
Went through 620 locks, 109 swing bridges and 34 tunnels
Neither of us fell in once!
The route we took is shown below:

Sunday 8th September 2013 - Aldermaston to Frouds Bridge Marina

We had difficulty finding motivation to do the last few yards to the Marina.  I had phoned last week to say we were coming but did not know where we would be put.  Some moorings are quite claustrophobic.

We slipped our mooring from alongside Whistler, said goodbye to Graham and moved several hundred yards to a more suitable place for the day.  Partly as a delaying tactic we got the bikes off one last time and cycled back to try and spot Stockton.  This was of course like looking for a needle in a haystack and doomed to failure.  We then cycled to the marina to find that we could have our old mooring back - fantastic!  Its in a corner and we think a lovely spot.  Well pleased.

We finally upped pins and moved the final few hundred yards into the marina.  Claire and Rob came for lunch - we had booked a table at the Butt Inn again - a late birthday celebration which was absolutely wonderful and quite took the sting out of coming home.  After a stop off to see Mum, Claire and Rob ran Annie and I home - the adventure over!

Slipping our mooring from alongside Nb Whistler

Early morning fog - autumn is upon us

Saturday 7th September 2013 - Sonning to Aldermaston

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.

Sonning bridge - think about it.....

Penny helping Annie with the locks

Gathering clouds

Friday 6th September 2013 - Sonning returning to Sonning

Awoke to a wet day after a very wet night.  Some 10 degrees cooler than yesterday.  Started off in T shirt and shorts but we both soon put several layers on.  Set off early to get to the 'Reading Loop' to moor up and walk to the station to meet Penny.  Got there by 10 and Annie walked up to meet her off the train at 10.30am.

After the obligatory cup of tea and settling Penny in, we set off back to the Thames and a cruise in to Henley.  After some initial rain it turned out to be a mostly dry day and a great time was had by all.  Returned to our spot at Sonning for the evening and the sun came out to allow us to sit out on the bank for a glass of wine.

Penny - "Dont you dare take my photo!"