Pangbourne Meadows (River Thames) – Friday 30th August
Three unmanned locks today. We got water at Cleeve lock, which has the strangest tap I have ever seen. It is tall and the water comes out in small bursts. I love the acer tree in the pot at Cleeve lock.
I took my obligatory photo at Goring lock, I just love that view. What you can see is the Swan at Streatley, maybe one day I will be able to go there and see the view from the other way.
Whitchurch lock is always a complicated one but we were able to go straight in today.
Under Whitchurch Bridge which is one of two remaining private toll bridges across the Thames, the other being Swinford Toll Bridge and is Grade II listed. A bridge has stood here since 1792 when it replaced a ferry. The structure was renewed in 1852–3, 1902 and most recently in 2014. The original charges ranged from a halfpenny per pedestrian, sheep, lamb, boar, sow or pig to twopence for each wheel of a vehicle and twopence for the drawing animal (though one and a half if an ass). I’ve had to “borrow” this photo from the internet as I forgot to take one.
That then took us on to Pangbourne Meadow where we hoped to moor. We found a rather small space which we could just about get into when I noticed a larger one. Absolutely brilliant spot. We were nice and early - even in time for lunch. Our whole afternoon was spent sitting out on the bank. Rio had the best afternoon of the trip. There was a public footpath with lots of people and dogs so he spent his time being our guard dog and seeing off invaders! He was shattered!
7 miles
3 locks
Above Sonning Lock (River Thames) – Saturday 31st August
We set off from our shangri la and continued down stream.
Mapledurham lock has been linked through the ages with the nearby corn mill - the only water mill working on the River Thames today. The mill appears in the Domesday Book, so it follows there was a dam or weir here in 1086, one of the earliest recorded on the river. The lock is a big one being 202 feet long by 21 feet wide.
Caversham lock was a riot of colour, but not flowers. Reading Pride was occuring in the field next door and people were walking down the towpath in wonderful colourful outfits. Reading Pride was formed in 2003 to represent and support the local LGBT+ community. Since the first Festival in 2004 attendance has grown steadily year-on-year with over 15,000 people visiting the event throughout the day and well over 3,000 participating in the Parade.
We wanted to stop at Tesco to top up the cupboards, but there was no space. Most of it was taken up with continuous moorers. We were obviously looking for a space when two chaps came down the River in a motorboat. One said that we could moor against his boat, Lucky Lady, a plastic boat! Behind Lucky Lady was a small black narrowboat which the chaps were working on, so we had one end on a plastic boat and the other end on a narrowboat! It was quite complicated trying to get on and off our boats but even more complicated trying to get the food on! One of the men had a Cavachon who wanted to say hi to Rio!
We were chatting to the owner of the little black boat. He had just got it back after it was stolen 18 months ago - he had only owned it for 3 weeks before then. It was found in the trees not far from Tesco’s. It is in quite a state now - I do feel sorry for him.
We struggled to find a place to moor above Sonning lock, then we saw a hire motor cruiser coming out of a spot. It was a bit tight, but Steve with his bow thruster was able to get in and we breasted up against them.
It had been a really dull and grey day. It was almost like winter. We sat on our decks all wrapped up!
9 miles
2 locks
Marsh Meadows, Henley (River Thames) – Sunday 1st September
We left Sonning on a lovely day and cruised down the river. Richard had rather cocked up the timing for today thinking it was going to be 3½ hours when it was only 2½ hours, which meant that we arrived in Henley before lunchtime! We had planned to go down to Remenham to moor but Henley was so quiet. It was a Sunday and the moorings were practically empty. As it was a warm day we pulled over at the start of the moorings where there were some trees so we could sit out in the shade.
Our three locks today were all manned. Sonning, Shiplake and Marsh. At Shiplake there were lots of posters designed by local school children. They were very good.
The river divides into three at Sonning which forms the Sonning Eye. There used to be a mill there which ground grain brought up from London by boat. It was then ground into flour which was taken up to Reading to the Huntley and Palmer’s biscuit factory. The mill ceased grinding in 1969 and is now a 215-seat air-conditioned theatre and restaurant.
We were moored on Marsh Meadow, this then merges with Mill Meadow forming one large park. Mill Meadow is a more formal park whereas Marsh Meadow is more informal in nature comprising rough grass, trees and hedges and a wildlife area which contains a small reed bed, shallow ponds and a wet, flower rich, meadow conservation area. The park has held the prestigious Green Flag Award since 2014 recognising it as one of the best green spaces in the country!
There was a garden opposite our moorings which was all lit up at night. It looked really lovely.
7 miles
3 locks
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