Monday 30 June 2014

Woolhampton to Newbury

Monday, 30th June 2014

Susan comments on the stunning, still and sunny morning that greets us all.  It has been quiet here during the evening.  The only noise has been from cyclists and walkers who have used the towpath.  All up early and ready to go by 9:00 am.

Bridge 29 - Froud's Bridge on Kennet and Avon

Overnight Mooring on Kennet and Avon
My backside was wedged on a ledge.  It took Susan and Pete sometime pushing and going back and forwards before I could release my hold.....  lots of grinding sounds..... I think I have scratched my bottom...

At Frouds Bridge Marina Pete cruises me in to get diesel and pump-out but it is closed on a Monday!!

Off we go again..... into the jungle....

The jungle nr. Froud's Bridge Marina

We have an adventure at Woolhampton Lock.  Between the swing-bridge and the lock there is a pound renowned for its tempestuous behaviour with the current causing problems.  In the pound the CR&T are dredging the gravel from the bottom of the pound as many boaters get stuck here.  There is a long wait whilst Susan chats to the boaters and CR&T about how to navigate the pound.  They move their large barges over to allow two NBs to come through from the lock.  This means that Pete and the NB behind, Annabelle, can go through the swing-bridge and give it large to manoeuvre the strong current into the lock.  It would be 'funny' Susan says but is nervous as she waits for me to tackle it.  Pete is really good and gets me in to the lock without any problems.  Annabelle has trouble and bangs into the front of the lock and then 'hurtles' in beside me.  We all breath a sigh of relief.... Safely in the lock.....

Woolhampton pound - Aiming at the dredgers

Nearly at Woolhampton lock
Susan is disappointed that there are no moorings near the Nature Discovery Centre - looks like the NB's have been here for a long time.  In fact, Pete comments that there are no moorings - full-stop!!!!!

We continue through many locks with Annabelle.  One of the locks is the same as Garston Lock with no sides - just lots of weeds and vegetation (Monkey Marsh Lock).

Monkey Marsh Lock
Susan and Mazey walked a long way today.  Mazey loved running up and down the towpath.  Susan was in heaven as she walked through the meadows - she commented that it was Dragonfly and Butterfly City.

One of the swing-bridges Susan had problems swinging......  It was a herculean effort and she managed it.  Well done!!!

Going through a swing-bridge

Pete operating a swing bridge
The weather changed dramatically at Wildmead Lock and everyone got soaked.  It was also getting slippery underfoot and my ropes were hard to hold.  After Bull's swing-bridge another hire nb pulls out in front of us and Annabelle shares the locks with them.  We continue to do the locks but on our own.


Sudden downpour

We find an available mooring at the edge of Newbury after Lock 86 (Greenham Lock) not far from a boatyard as Pete wants to fill me up tomorrow with diesel and pump-out.

Greenham Lock at Newbury
Rest up and chat some more tomorrow.

Total 7 miles, 9 locks and 5 bridges (6.5 hours)


Sunday 29 June 2014

Burghfield to Woolhampton

Sunday, 29th June 2014

After a restful two days and meeting friends Ceri and Gary for lunch yesterday at the Cunning Man in Burghfield, I get to move on...... Yah!!!

We cruise by the two NBs that have been moored here since Thursday evening - no-one on board.

Mazey has jelly legs today.  Susan tells Pete that at the next lock they will walk so that Mazey can exercise and feel terra firma under her paws.....  She loves this and keeps playing hide and seek with me amongst the weeds, bull-rushes and nettles....  However, at one point Susan was concerned as the path left the canal and they had to cross fields with cows in.  Susan was not sure if they would ever get back onto the towpath but they did..  Susan said that she could see lots of butterflies and dragonflies on her walk.

There is evidence of the recent flooding as many sandbags are placed along the towpath.  There are also large, gravel pit, man-made lakes in abundance along this stretch of river and lush green meadows too.

Garston lock is a very odd lock... No sides..... Makes it difficult for Pete to get off of me and hold me safely in the double lock whilst a torrent of water comes through the front gates.....  Not a pleasant experience..  Not a good lock to do if you are single-handed.


Garston Lock


Works at Garston Lock
At Tyle Mill Pete cruises me to a stop and then fills me with water.  Whilst he does this Susan frantically cooks crumpets and tea for them both.  Just as Susan sits down to have a late breakfast/early lunch, Pete says he is done filling me up and that another NB is coming through the lock.  Susan leaves her food and cuppa then heads off to do the bridge and help with the lock......  She is not happy as when she gets back onto the boat the crumpets are cold and so is her cuppa!!!

There are a lot of swing bridges and power operated bridges.  At one of them 3 men had to move their cycles from the bridge.  Susan struggled to remove the heavy chain and then pull the bridge open.  Thankfully, the men came to her rescue, so that Pete and I could cruise through the bridge.  A few of the bridges immediately precede a lock, so Susan with Mazey has to go and prepare the lock before operating the bridge.  Then I can cruise through the bridge and into the lock.  Clever......

Swing bridge completed

Aldermaston
From Aldermaston lock, Susan comments that there are now a lot of boats either in private moorings or in public moorings.  There also appear to be LOTS of stinging nettles which don't bother me BUT I think the family are a little concerned by them, if they tried to moor amongst them, which they may have to, they could get stung.

Thankfully, Pete manages to moor us near bridge 29 not far from Woolhampton.  Pete has managed to get my bow into the towpath but my stern is well adrift......  Hey ho!! Time for dinner Susan says.  Tonight is paella with garlic mash..... Strange concoction Pete says but manages to eat it.  Night night.

Total 8 Locks, 6 bridges and 6.5 miles (water)




Friday 27 June 2014

Henley on Thames to Burghfield (Kennet and Avon)

Thursday, 26 June 2014

Another full-on day..... as we leave Henley on Thames.  The family are up early and Pete has his head down where my engine lies.  I have a bolt which has come loose off of the filter.  Pete manages to repair me....

Lovely views of the riverside houses in Henley as we pass by.


Henley on Thames

Riverside houses

I get a close up of an Egyptian goose and agree with Susan that it has strange eyes but amazing feathers.   Also, Pete notices that there are lots of mooring spaces at the park on the outskirts of Henley. However, the family were happy with their mooring last night.

At Marsh lock Pete chats to another narrowboat owner who suggests to keep going on the Kennet and Avon beyond Newbury and then it is wonderful!!  He suggests the Tesco moorings in Reading and Goal moorings too.  Then he recommends staying at the Cunning Man in Burghfield.

At Shiplake lock there has been a technical problem and two boaters in front of us have been waiting for one and a half hours whilst the lock keepers sort it out.  Thankfully, we go through quickly.

Pete and Mazey chilling at Shiplake Lock
At Sonning lock Susan and Pete get chatting to the owners (Roger and Karen) of another nb called Comet.  They are also going to Bristol on the Kennet and Avon.   We all decide to shop at Tesco's before the new adventure on the K&A.  Susan comes back laden like a donkey.........

Susan and Pete have decided to make a dash for Burghfield tonight as the weather forecast for tomorrow is not too good.  As we head to the K&A entrance Comet joins us.

The first lock (Blake's lock) is owned by Thames Conservency even though not actually on the Thames.  It has wheel paddle operation.  The boaters in front tell Susan that these are the type of locks on the rest of Thames to Letchlade.  I go abreast Comet.
As Comet have done this stretch through Reading before Pete asks Roger to lead the way.  Thankfully!!  There is a section controlled by traffic lights and you can only pass through when they are green.  There are retail shops and restaurants along this stretch.... It is not possible to moor here as the river is too narrow and flows quickly...  Susan suggests to Pete that it might be good to find a mooring at the Goal section on the way back so they can explore the shops.

All excited to see the Welcome sign.

Start of the traffic light signals

Reading shops

County Lock
For the rest of the journey to Burghfield we are supported by Comet and her crew.  There are a couple of incidences by other boaters who get caught by the weir and struggle but everything turns out fine.

I go through meadows and lush green vegetation - a jungle!!  Seems a bit strange after the wide expanse of the Thames but am loving it.  So peaceful.  All locks are now manual  so the family are happy to share the locks with the Comet crew.

Thankfully, moorings are available when we reach the Cunning Man.  A good place for the family to re-charge their batteries, mine too, before we continue our adventure to Bristol.  Susan and Pete join Roger and Rupert (who have decided to stop here for the night too) for a quick pint before dinner.

TOTAL:  8.5 miles and 3 locks (Marsh, Shiplake and Sonning) on the Thames to Reading.  Kennet and Avon Reading to Burghfield 4 miles and 4 locks.








Wednesday 25 June 2014

Windsor - Cookham Lock - Henley-on-Thames

25th June 2014

Hello again everyone.  We have had a very busy and memorable few days.  Full-on!!!

We have reached Henley-on-Thames.  It is exciting as they are preparing for the Regatta week, next week.  We are lucky to get a mooring that costs us £8 for the night.  Next week they are charging £50 per foot for 4 nights.....  We won't be staying - says Pete.

It has been another sunny beautiful day.  On the way Pete thought that Bourne End was a cruiser "Rivera".  The Thames widens and we were joined by yachts.

At Marlow Lock, we are 3-abreast with two other narrowboats.  I am in the middle and Susan has attached the front to SULIS on the right of the picture and Pete has attached to the other boat on the left at the back.  The lock-keeper Nick Harrandell took this photo.  Thanks Nick.


Marlow Lock - 3 narrowboats
As we exit the lock, we see ISADORA 11 our friends (Darryl and Pam) from Roydon Marina and they say "That it's lovely to see us out and about".... I agree.  Such a shame we cannot stop for a chat - Susan remarks!!

Marlow and Isadora 11 approaching

Temple Lock is exciting as we have four boats in the lock.  I have to move as far to the front as possible and the lock-keeper ends up holding onto the front line to avoid my being pushed back into the other boats.  


Temple Lock-keeper
At Hambelden lock we notice a lote of buzzards.  The lock-keeper informs Susan that they are Red Kites.  There are a lot of them around here apparently.  Pete gets excited at the prospect of getting his huge lens out.....

The Regatta rowing lanes are already laid out.  I must keep to the right on these lanes.  There are many rowers practising. 


Regatta Lanes at Henley-on-Thames
We moor in Henley-on-Thames and listen to the sounds of the cox's shouting "lovely", "push" and "Don't get tense", plus lots of other words of encouragement...... to their crew.  Such a wonderful sight to see and you can feel the excitement in the air already.


Henley-on-Thames


Rowers preparing for Regatta week

Total 12 miles and 4 locks (Marlow, Temple, Hurley and Hambleden Locks) - (Mooring £8 per night)


24th June 2014

Pete and Susan went to Windsor Castle to watch the arrival and return of the guard this morning.  The guard was led by the Vancouver Police Band.  Susan was very emotional as they played the Elvis Presley song "Wooden Heart" as they arrived up the hill......

Jubilee Fountain and Windsor Castle

Coldstream Guards
Once back, Pete decided we needed to set off.  I was excited about moving again.

We cruise through Bovney, Bray and Boulter's Locks.  The houses were stunning.  Susan said that she has never seen any like this except for on TV in Dallas....  Pete says "Their boat-house will do us".   Probably bigger than the family home in Hatfield Broad Oak - no kidding.   Boulter's lock was deep similar depth to Teddington except no high-tide...  Susan found it difficult to reach the bollards at 7ft 10 inches.

Amazing houses in Bray
The plan had been to moor up in Clivedon but there was no-where for me to moor.  Pete said "It was like travelling though the Amazon" whereas Susan said "This stretch is stupendous. Stunning and very spiritual".  This forested area is full of beech trees and goes on for miles (Hedsor to Taplow).  Clivedon house is renowned for its involvement in the Profumo affair in 1963.  It is now a stately home and is leased from the National Trust.  Very peaceful...

Clivedon

Clivedon House
The family were tired so at the next lock, Cookham, they asked the lock-keeper where they could moor.  He said that we could stay for the night and that he could give Pete a key to get in and out of the area.  It was the quietest mooring EVER.......  Only £6.75 for the night.  So lucky to moor here with squirrels, deer and dragonflies for company.  Fantastic!!!



Pete and Susan leave Mazey and I together as they head off into Cookham to investigate the village and local pubs.

At 10:45 pm there is a spectacular fireworks display at Clivedon House.  Susan and Pete watch it with a lot of "ooohs" and "aaaahs".  Mazey decides to stay on-board!!  Such a special end to a memorable day...

Total 8 miles and 5 locks (Overnight mooring at Cookham Lock £6.75)


Monday 23 June 2014

Laleham to Windsor

23rd June 2014

We have had a lovely time in Laleham over the weekend but it is now time to move and carry on with our adventure.

Our first lock of the day is Penton Hook which is after the island.  It is very peaceful and serene here.  Hardly believable that the island was once a burial ground during the Great Plague in 1665.....


Penton Hook Island
There are many stunning houses backing onto the Thames river along this whole stretch.  Susan wonders how they earn their money to be able to afford it.  They also have boats moored at the end of their gardens.  In some there are as many as three boats moored to one house.  Last night Susan and Pete commented on a large boat which went by, it was named Branson II.  Both think it might belong to Richard Branson's family.

There are a few narrowboats moving around today in the opposite direction to us.

Once through Stains we go under a busy M25 bridge.

Busy M25....
After completing Bell Weir Lock, where the lock keeper was miserable, we travel past Runnymead and Magna Carter Island.  I cruise past a beautiful paddle boat.



There are quite a few moorings available here and Susan notices that Branson II is moored here too.

Bell Weir Lock

Runnymead moorings - Branson II on the right
As we progress toward Old Windsor Lock, Susan notices a small boat which has come loose.  Pete slows me down and Susan grabs the front.  As she does this, the owner has managed to get into another small boat, and comes to rescue it.  He and his wife thanked Susan and Pete for helping him to retrieve the runaway boat!!!

Rescued Boat
Windsor Lock is, once again, very pretty with well kept gardens.  The lock keeper is helpful and friendly.  We travel under Victoria Bridge and see a gatehouse on the edge of the royal gardens.  There are now signs everywhere saying "The Crown - No moorings"......  Susan gets excited as she and Pete spot Windsor Castle through the trees.


Gatehouse - Royal Park

View of Windsor Castle from the Thames
The downside to this peaceful, tranquil, serene journey is the noise from the airplanes taking off and landing at Heathrow.  So noisy.

Susan also spots Egyptian Geese as well as many dragonflies.  The geese are strange looking, she says.

Egyptian Geese
We go through our last lock of the day - Romney Lock.  The lock keeper ensures we all wrap our ropes  twice around the mooring posts and then tells Susan that she must stand inside the well-deck and not on top of it.  She said she was happy to do so and quickly stepped into the well-deck!!


Pete in Romney Lock

As Pete hunts around for a place to moor for the night.  He decides that the Brocas moorings were too high for Susan and Mazey to climb in and out, so we carry on.  After going through the centre of Windsor, and past the trillions of swans, Pete notices moorings near the Leisure Centre and decides to moor here for the night.

There are many pleasure passenger boats going past us quickly........ means I keep banging my hull on the side...  Susan and Pete think we will stay here for one night only!!

After mooring, the family leave me and go into Windsor.  They wander around and find a Waitrose and Susan gets more food shopping.  They also have a cheeky pint in the King and Castle (Weatherspoon pub) overlooking Windsor Castle.

Queen Victoria Statue

Windsor Bus

Windsor Castle
Night night!!

Total 9 miles and 4 locks (Penton Hook, Bell Weir, Old Windsor and Romney)
Moorings £8 per night

Friday 20 June 2014

Molesey Lock to Laleham

Friday, 20th June 2014

Life on the Thames has been very restful over the last few days.  Susan had to go to Waltham Abbey to have some sister and family time whilst Pete and Mazey stayed with me at Hampton Court Palace.

Today, the family were back together so decided to cruise.  At Molesey Lock I get filled-up with water and the rubbish is taken off.

We cruise by the many lovely houseboats and Garrick's Temple where all the visitor moorings have been taken up by permanent boaters.  There is another submerged/sinking narrowboat..... such a shame!!  We also see the Hampton Ferry...... taking humans across the river....


Garrick's Temple

Hampton Ferry

We cruise by "Astoria" at Garrick's Temple.  Built in 1913 by the mentor of Charlie Chaplin, Fred Karno, and now fully restored by Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd and used as a recording studio.

Recording studio "Asoria"
Pete cruises me to the left arm of Platt's Eyot.

End of Platt's Eyot

We go through Sunbury Lock and meet up with two other narrowboats (Sulis and Ginny).  "Sulis" is heading to Bristol and "Ginny" is heading to Oxford.  As we exit the lock we see three cruiser style boats waiting to enter it.

Exiting Sunbury Lock
We go under the amazing Walton on Thames bridge then along Desborough Cut (saves 3/4 mile from the original river) prior to Shepperton Lock.  Susan says to Pete that, thankfully, it is much quieter on the river today and she is enjoying the journey..... so am I.  We see the entrance to the Way Navigation.

Walton on Thames Bridge

Shepperton Lock
Sulis moor up after Shepperton Lock at a very attractive pub - Thames Court.  The mooring allows only two boats.  Amazing views on the lower Thames include: amazing houses (grand manors, bungalows and chalets), many boats (all types), a rubbish boat full of rusty shopping trollies from dredging by the Environment Agency, Houseboat being moved and a very large houseboat base being moved.

Rubbish from dredging
Base of a houseboat being moved
Houseboat on the move
Meandering along, I go under Chertsey Bridge before entering Chertsey Lock.

Chertsey Bridge

Chertsey Lock

Our new mooring is at Laleham which is on the opposite side of the river to Thorpe Park.  Susan loves it here as she watches the many dragonflies darting across the bank.  Susan also states to Pete that it is 'Flip Flop Day' and promptly goes and puts hers on!!

The family go for a walk into the village and find the local pub called the Three Horseshoes.  Susan says that she enjoyed her Pimms.  When they get back to the mooring I have been joined by many cruisers.

Laleham Mooring
Three Hoseshoes Pub, Laleham

Pimms O'Clock
Total 9 Miles and 4 Locks. (Mooring free for 24 hours, £5 per night up to 72 hours.  If longer a fine will be charged of £50 per night)