If you want to moor in Reading there is a loop just after Blake’s lock by the old prison the moorings are good there. There is no where else to moor until after Fobney lock. When you go through the Oracle shopping center there is a traffic light rather like a pedestrian crossing light, you press the button and wait there are some tricky bends so it’s a one way system. Once the coast is clear and there are no oncoming boats the light goes green and you can go through.
The tricky lock you are referring to is Fobney lock which is the second lock coming out of Reading it is next to a pumping station there is an outflow next to the landing stage which can push your nose out when you tie up to use the lock and the river can be quite tricky make sure you open both gates to go on and you should be ok. Woolhampton lock further up the other side of Aldermaston can be tricky too as the can be a strong stream there too! Enjoy the K and A, everyone moans about it, but it is very beautiful if a little hard work at times.