Bunny

Just a thought .... how about Tesco at Reading , if not the shop maybe the petrol station , if it's coal that your looking for . Further up the K and A there is abc at aldermaston Bunny

There is a fuel/coal etc boat started up around Burghfield to Newbury area. Don't know his contact details but might be worth asking any of the more local resident boaters . Sorry can't help anymore than that , just saw him as we left the k and a .Bunny

Have rescued 2 sheep , 2 weasels, a rabbit ( lived with us for 2:years ) and a pigeon . But not all at the same time . Bunny.

I would have thought that being 'boaters ' we are a community. Generally I would like to think we would help one another , whether a tow is needed, a litre of oil , a lift to a bus/train station , a hand tieing up on a windy day, loan of a cat basket for a vet visit and once a pound of sausages . She needs to get about a bit , mind you that was her problem I suppose. See the countryside , .wildlife and history of the waterways . We were told , a while ago now that the 'community' started many years ago. There are some very old pretty cottages on your left as you cruise into Bathampton towards Bath, they were inhabited by 'squatters' back in the 70/80s. When they were eventually evicted they took to boats in that area and of course the K and A was not connected or renovated. I don't know if this is the correct history . but this was what we were told .Bunny

Went into the cratch this morning to discover a newly formed mesh of cobwebs with at least 100 baby spiders nestling/running around in the webs. Managed to re - house them in a towpath tree . Don't know where mum went . Bunny

Take off and power wash at the local car wash . Bunny

If you havn't seen the entrance to the sheep wash before, I suggest you go up and have a look . As you turn the current will carry you broadside , so recommend not to turn too soon , and keep the power on . Also just the other side of the sheep wash bridge is a narrow boat moored up , so hard reverse once you are out of the main current and most of you through the bridge, but best have a look . Remove chimney from your roof . Also the river has come back onto red boards again either side of Osney/Godstow . SO maybe wait it out a few days until conditions are a bit calm . ? Really recommend going up to have a look. We wouldn't have gone if there were reds all around, just too much current . Bunny

We are now up on the Oxford . Went through Osney yesterday morning on the red . Husband drove up to the lock , had a chat with lockie , similar attitude and instructions that I had . Then walked up to the sheep wash . While he was standing on the bridge over ' the sheep wash' he got into a conversation with the owner of a 40 ft narrow boat who had come up to also have a look . His boat was in the lock coming up . His concern was he only has a 19 Hp lister . He asked could he wait for us . Anyway when we turned up he had gone through ok . So yep the flow was a bit lively , the turn into the sheep wash was at best ' interesting ' one of those moments best remembered and not repeated too often , but husband judged it beautifully. Never touched the bridge and hit reverse hard enough as to not hit the boat moored the other side of the bridge . Reasons for going against the red .... beta 43 reconditioned inc new drive plate 1000 hrs on the clock since then . Last week the engine was serviced Inc new belts , fuel and air filters and the fuel was polished . Oil and water checked the night before , all ok . Had already pushed 2200 revs going through Abingdon with no overheating. Also , although no one can 100% know what the Current was like , we have turned into the sheep wash under difficult conditions before. Boards either side of our red were on decreasing , so we guessed that the yellow to red margined was failing slightly . Life jackets, anchor, life ring ect rabbit in carry box , grab bag ect So we took a calculated risk , but not lightly . Nice to be back on the Oxford . Bunny

We are now up on the Oxford . Went through Osney yesterday morning on the red . Husband drove up to the lock , had a chat with lockie , similar attitude and instructions that I had . While he was standing on the bridge over ' the sheep wash' he got into a conversation with the owner of a small narrow boat who had come up to also have a look . His boat was in the lock coming up . His concern was he only has a 18 Ho

Probably, but I expect he was irritated by the narrow boat going up in the lock , making his way to Lechlade having come up from Teddington on mainly reds ( I spoke to him at Iffley lock) . Just had a hail shower here, gone quite cold now . We can sit it out for another 2 weeks if we need to , just wanted some constructive advice . Usually get good advice from the lockie . In the past have been asked about our weight , engine type and experience before their opinion has been offered . Didn't recognise this chap , think the usual lockie has retired . He was the guy who was hailed a hero by the locals in the 2007 floods , because of the way he managed to save most of Osney from flooding . Bunny

Still waitng at Iffley ( want to go up onto the Oxford via the sheep wash ) . A pair went up this morning then another narrow boat . So I had a bit of a walk , caught 2 buses and made my way to Osney Lock to have a chat with the lockie . A singularly irritated gentlemen who proceeded to treat me like p##t . I had a lecture on red boards , the reasons they are there, flow strengths, and how a narrow boat only has one engine , and if that fails in a current , (which narrow boats are not designed for ), it their lives we are putting at risk when we get stuck on the weir , and our insurance would be null and void ( knew that anyway) . Any idea , I asked when the reach may be on yellow " gods will " . So all.very usefull . I did mention at the end of the lecture that I'm not a p##t , if I was, I would not have made an effort to see him and ask questions , I would have just turned up on the lock mooring . So I'm feeling more that a bit patronised , wonder if he would have spoken to a man like he spoke to me . Will find out tomorrow , I asked my husband to go up there and see if he can glean a bit more info. We are fairly experinenced boaters with river and tidal experience and appreciate that accidents / mistakes happen and we can only prepare for a difficult trip to a certain extent . Bunny

We have a 'dogs running free ' poster on each side( regardless of whether they are on board or not ) . Unless its really warm all exit doors/ side hatches are bolted and locked from inside , keys handy but not within reach / sight . Slightly different in the summer but still aware of vulnerable areas . Laptop , cameras always , unless in use in a locked cupboard not within obvious sight. Phones at night by our pillows incase of emergency by day inside out off view . Any valuables in an almost impossible to access password protected safe. Yep as you may gather have been a victim of a not nice burglary . Criminals have a totally different mindset to the rest of society and although at the time of my ' incident ' the detective told me ' this sort of thing only happens once in a life time' other crimes/ incidents have happened since ,so we are ' criminal aware ' . No great hassle , just routine . Bunny.

Having just come off the K and A on a falling red board. I can honestly say the river Thames is very ' chunky' at the moment . Made Iffley in two days from Burghfield on about 1800 / 2200 revs to maintain steering and control , now waiting for Osney to fall to yellow, we could try and push through but husband now working till Tuesday so not really any point but wanted to make oxford and didn't want to get stuck further downstream. Would have spoken to more local lockie but very few about . Wanted to take advice about Osney from the Iffley lockie but the Sandford lockie said that Osney , Iffley and Godstow were under the care of only one lockie ( so we didn't see him . ) no lockie at Whitchurch ( lunchtime ) no lockie at Goring , Cleeve or Benson and one looking after Days , Clifton And Culham so limited information . Bunny

Lots of pretty yellow boards showing now .Bunny

Where are you heading Terry ? K and A or oxford ? If Oxford , the sticking points will be around Clifton and Culham and again above Osney Lock . Usually they come off red a couple days after the others . Have gone on red between Clifton and Culham . Didn't like it , won't do it again .If the K and A , we are seeing yellows creep on now . We are making a move tomorrow from Aldermaston to Oxford , well that's the plan , hoping for a dry few days , and no rain on the Chilterns. Bunny.

We are in Frouds bridge marina at Aldermaston (it's on the river section) . Water levels are about 10 inch up at the moment , but expect it to rise further as the water makes its way from the saturated land around here to the waterway. Blakes Lock stream warnings are usually pretty spot on . Husband working Wed and Sat . So aiming for Oxford, red boards allowing , on Sunday . In bumpy conditions its quite acceptable to leave Fobney and County downstream gates open. Going downstream it can get a bit scary at the road bridge lock mooring before county lock , stern rope on first , is a must . Bunny.

Well we are still here , in the marina in which we wintered . Didn't want to get stuck with red boards, so stayed put, and they have all gone red today , no surprise, just wait till the flow starts to decrease . Hopefully by next Sunday , but there again ???? As the e.a says ' the rivere is sensitive to rainfall at the moment ' Maybe not. Bunny

Ha ha . Like it . Bunny.

Anyone leaving the K and A Monday We are making a run for Oxford mon/Tues. yep going go get wet , probably very wet but trying to avoid the red boards and get up onto the Oxford . So anyone going our way ?? Bunny

Today channel 81 Talking pictures 5.55pm . Bunny

We are a 62 ft narrow boat ( fenders up ) venturing over towards the River Trent ( first time ) As the tag asks are we too long for the South Yorkshire navigation . Jim Shead states 61 ft 8 inch . The locks are broad , so would we fit or have you tried, succeeded or failed . ?? Bunny

We have only gone through in low water summer levels , but have managed to get through with the garden on the roof. Never lost a bean . Bunny

We call them ' bow thruster birds ' they sometimes flock together as they ' trill' away. Yes sometimes ( only under duress) we are part of that flock too . Bunny

Well .... how is it ? . Bunny

As your first few locks are downhill, and you may be distracted keeping an eye on the girls locking operation , remember the cill behind you. Bunny