Monday 21st May
My day off yesterday has done me some good and I am much better today, which is just as well because it has been a bit of a marathon! We set off at 7-30 am, in freezing conditions and did the 8.5 miles and 3 locks to get to Tesco’s at Reading. We arrived at Tesco’s about 12pm and as there was only one free mooring B and B had to breast up to us. They needed to go into Reading to find a Wilkinson’s.We had done our bits and pieces shopping in Henley yesterday so we didn’t need to go into town. We went straight to Tesco’s and did a HUGE shop as things were getting very short on the comestibles front. When we got back it took some juggling to put it all away! Then, as it had warmed up considerably since this morning, we sat on the back of the boat watching the world go by while we waited for B and B to get back.
Some time later Barry appeared with their shopping from town and then went off again to join Barbara in Tesco’s. Some further time later he reappeared with their trolley full of shopping and Ken started to help him unload. Unfortunately, the trolley was not on level ground and as they both walked away with some of the bags it tipped over depositing much of the rest of the contents into a nettle patch! Luckily it only fell in the nettles and not in the river and we managed to get it picked up before Barbara got there (although if she reads this she will find out of course!)
We set off again about 2-45pm and started up the K and A. Although we have only done 2.5 miles and 3 locks it was fairly eventful. The first lock, Blake’s Lock, has some unusual paddle gear which resemble ships wheels and you turn them to raise the paddles (see photo). This lock used to be manned but there is only someone there about 6 days per month now.
Between Blake’s Lock and County lock is an odd sort of one way system operated by a traffic light, with a wait button like a pedestrian crossing. A sign says the wait can be up to 12 minutes so we got off to moor up but there weren’t any rings or bollards on the side where we were. Instead of crossing over to the other side of the canal where there were some bollards we decided to hold the boat. After a while I got fed up with standing there and decided to tie it to some railings. However the railings proceeded to come apart and I had to then hold the rope between my knees while I reassembled them!
Eventually the traffic light went green and we were off. This one way only bit passes through the smart shopping area where the Oracle Mall is and all the restaurants, bars etc are. It didn’t seem too narrow to us and we were wondering why it was one way. We were about to find out – there was a boat coming the other way, that shouldn’t happen obviously but there was enough room to pass. The girl driving the other boat said she had been waiting ages at the other end and the lights weren’t working, we knew they were but what the heck. Any way as we slowed down to let her pass the flow took us and slammed us straight into the wall! We suffered some slight internal collateral damage (glasses) and lost another bit of paint!
We carried on to Fobney Lock and finally moored up about 4-45pm, hurrah! As it was now a lovely evening Ken and I sat outside having a glass of wine and some nibbles when a man, two children and a scatty Staffie came by. The Staffie, called Missy first tried to get in to my nibbles, then knocked into my table and slopped my glass of wine everywhere, tried to get in the cratch with George and nearly fell in the canal all in the space of 20 seconds, bless!
Tomorrow we are probably going to Aldermaston.
