A Summer Sunday the Southern Way

After a very pleasant visit to Goring it was time to move on ten miles up stream to Reading.

These summer houses come in all shapes and sizes!!!

Sunday is always guaranteed to see fishermen....

and yes its a match.....

and they are getting inventive....

have rods, will travel....

Plenty of passing room under Gatehampton Railway Bridge.

What a pretty cottage.

This is the Mikron Theatre Boat. On board is a company of actors who do performances anywhere for everyone by canal,river and road.  They have a website giving details of where and when they are due to perform.

Between Whitchurch Lock and Mapledurham Lock a r canoe race was in full swing....

At one point we were almost surrounded!!

This group closed in fast....

and left us standing!!!!

Approaching Reading Bridge.

The pleasure boats taking a break.

We did a full circle round Fry Island looking for moorings....

this was the best available. So off into Reading to see what is on offer.

This magnificent statue is in honour of those fallen in the Battle of Waterloo.

Shops shops shops!!!

A lovely church....

and what can be more english than a brass band concert in the park....very enjoyable(Trev was unimpressed when they began with a number)

Today we have done the Aldi/Range shopping all of 8 minutes walk away and the boat behind has moved on so we have our own mooring space....what a novelty!!!!

Six Miles and Two Locks

View from the side hatch as we left  Wallingford

A Crested Glebe- its tufty head is just about visible.

A broad,very pleasant  stretch of river heading towards Moulsford.

The pill boxes are still in evidence and well hidden.

Today's version of the Thames boathouse, and very nice too!!!

Moulsford Railway Bridge, built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1840.  When the line was quadrupled fifty years later, a second span was added.

The Beetle and Wedge Boathouse where H G Wells stayed whilst writing 'The History of Mr Polly'. It features in the book as 'The Potwell Inn'. 

Glebe Lock and time to take on water.

Now that's what you call a hosepipe!!!

Half a mile down river is Goring Lock

Three cruiser behind and one waiting alongside the water point

Sokai and Arkholme take up one side of the lock

All four cruisers fitting snugly alongside.

Here we are breasted up along side Sokai, mooring's are at a premium.

Now for a flavour of Goring

The High Street.

Goring Mill

Three weirs!!!

A beautiful example of a houseboat.

George Michael's house it would appear!!!

SCORES ON THE DOORS 

399 1/2 miles, 204 locks, 21 swing bridges and 5 tunnels.

Rainy Day Boating

Here we are again at the bottom of Sheepwash on a rainy morning.  This time it's a left as we head towards our final destination of Brentwood Junction getting on for 100 miles downstream.

Osney Lock and its electric.

Just a tad wet, but what a star. Who would think he had been up all night with the trots!!!

Folly Bridge

Very up market boat houses.

A lovely looking houseboat.

These geese take exception to us using the lock!

More Thames wildlife.

Sandford Lock and it's a big one...

Electronic and self service.

It is so so wide.

Only another 85 miles of this glorious river until we get to Teddington.

Moored at Abbington, our resting place last night.

Now that's what you call a weir.

Skyline at Abingdon.

Approaching Culham Lock and there are four boats behind us.

The two cruisers squeeze in with us.

Yep another brave lady swimming the Thames.

We do love these old wooden boats.

A thatched boat house????

Shillingford.

Tree trimming Thames style.

Moored at Wallingford and off to explore.

The main square.

Tomorrow we are heading for Reading.