Easter Cruise

[KenK]

First cruise 2007

 

Self, Better-half, Daughter and Daughters friend

 

Thursday 5/4/07

 

Hi All,

Weather for Easter looked great, BW assured me the K&A would be open down to the Thames so Thursday we packed up and headed for the boat. We’d cleaned her the weekend before and put everything we needed on board apart from food so why did it take three hours to get going. Anyway, left the marina at Greenham by 2.30 and set off. Reached Ham lock after a few minutes, boat coming up so sat and waited for them. Quick chat as we passed, dire warnings about strength of current, oh well. Just as we entered the lock chap arrived on a bike, would we mind waiting as they were on their way from Greenham lock, always happy to share as it is so much easier with two boats. Boat arrived steered with a bow thruster! The lady steering told me they intended to reach Oxford by Saturday afternoon so they were in a hurry. We ambled after them unfortunately there must have been someone ahead as every lock was against them, they had them set for us by the time we arrived, still every cloud as they say. We waved them goodbye at Woolhampton and moored up for the night. Down to the Row Barge pub for a well earned pint. It looks old world on the outside but inside it’s really a very modern restaurant, quite pricey but the food is good. We sat in the garden and watched the world go bye. It’s a good place if you’re feeling wicked, there is an automated swing bridge over the river and about a hundred yards further along the road a railway level crossing, time it right and you can open the swing bridge just after the barrier for the crossing lifts, the joys of motoring.

Went back to the boat to eat and set up the TV for the girls, teenagers need their TV otherwise they won’t do the locks. Big thanks to Tony Brooks, tried his tip about using an extending pole from B&Q to mount the aerial, perfect picture on all five channels, no freeview yet. We had moored up above Woolhampton lock not a lot of space but a nice quiet mooring.

 

Good Friday

 

Woke bright and early at the crack of 9.00, quick breakfast and on the way by 10.00. Someone had come up earlier so the lock was set for us, sent the girls on to open the bridge, once you leave the lock you can’t stop until you’re through the bridge thanks to the very strong current entering from the right just at the lock exit, missed everything and pulled over to wait for the crew. There is a boat moored at the end of a garden on the left as you leave the lock it’s covered with old tyres hung down the sides. I don’t know how many times its’ been hit but they are clearly not taking chances. Crew onboard set off and ambled gently down to Aldermaston through the lock with another boat, they were stopping there to change crews, Ownerships I think he said, so the girls went to open the bridge. They were a little disappointed only managed to hold up 35 assorted vehicles, I pointed out it was a holiday, I didn’t realise they were keeping score. Stopped at the wharf for ice cream at the trust building and to use the facilities, why do I always get the crap job, if you’ll excuse the expression? On past Reading Marine quite a few hire boats being made ready. We stopped a little above Tyle Mill lock for lunch, lovely peaceful spot, so peaceful we decided we’d had enough and decided to stay the night; well you don’t want to rush things.

 

Saturday

 

Managed to rise a little earlier this morning after another good nights sleep, I think it’s the fresh air, my wife thinks it’s the drink, don’t know what she means. On after breakfast to the lock, lots of people about, evidently the Devises to Westminster canoe race was in progress and they were expected any minute. We stopped to use the BW facilities, just below the lock on the left, very nice even fresh flowers in the loo. Not long after setting off the first canoe appeared, the river is a little twisty at that point and a tree down in the water didn’t help, still we managed to miss him. From then on we had a steady stream catching us, not a problem until you reach a lock, they seemed to have some idea that the lock mooring was designed to allow them to leave the water to portage around the lock. It’s not so much the people in the canoes but the supporters at the lock, one gentleman tried to wave me off, I waved back, he went quite red or is it puce! I wouldn’t mind but once I’d dropped the crew I hovered the boat in the middle until I could go in the lock. Then they were complaining that the water coming out of the lock made it difficult to get back in the canoe, I was thinking of a new use for a boat hook but the dearly beloved told me to smile nicely and ignore him. I smiled and he nearly fell in the river, she’s clever my missus. Just before Sheffield lock the butty Betelgeuse, think that’s how you spell it, and her tug were moored nicely on the bend, the sluice is on the left so it was a bit tight, just as I swung the tiller a gentlemen in a canoe decided there was more than enough room between me and the sluice to pass, full emergency reverse and I just managed not to send him the white-water route. I reversed up to the tug for another go and the owner popped his head out of the engine room, he was having a problem with the engine cooling and apologised for mooring on the bend, I explained about the canoe. I’d seen him at Greenham island on Thursday, he told me he was taking the butty to the Grand Union were she is going to be used to move aggregates, nice to see the old girl being used. Spotted a canoe free moment and nipped into the lock some nice people watching the race had opened the gates. We carried on to Burghfield Bridge and stopped at the Cunning Man for a well earned lunch, Nicholson’s claims this is part of the Harvester chain but not so. It’s a great pub, good choice of beers, excellent food, friendly staff, good service and you can moor right outside. I did suggest staying the night but the ladies required some retail therapy at the Oracle, so we set off for Reading. The mill stream at Fobney lock had turned the exit into a no stopping zone so the crew walked down the towpath until I could pick them up. Probably makes more sense to drop the paddles and leave the gates open anyone coming up could motor straight in which would be a lot easier than trying to stop at the landing stage to drop the crew. Reached County lock but had to wait whilst two boats came up, there are some liveaboards moored just above the bridge, one boat sporting what can only be described as a mill wheel fixed over the side at the back of the boat being driven by the current. It seemed to be made from an old washing machine drum with bits of metal screwed to it, the shaft disappeared in a box, I assume to drive a generator of some kind, hydroelectric power narrow boat style, very eco friendly. I motored through the lock and we waited at the landing stage for the traffic light, whilst waiting we were joined by another two boats. Eventually the light turned green and off we set, the river runs quite fast and its twisty, there’s plenty of room under the new footbridges but High Bridge is another story, you need to turn early otherwise the current takes you into the left and anything on the roof gets knocked off. We heard later that the second boat following us had caught the bridge and lost his chimney, a bike and damaged the roof. It opens out after High Bridge and shortly you reach a junction, turn left and you can moor around the corner from the shops. We did so only to see another boat coming at us through the bridge, I’m getting good at emergency stops, fortunately the wall of water produced by the sharp reverse kept me off the office wall, the beloved looked impressed until she spotted the sheen of fear induced sweat on my brow. I don’t think the “I thought you knew what you were doing” was deserved, I never said that! They went shopping, I sipped a cold beer, good for the nerves I believe, and watched the world go by. The girls returned eventually, having purchased most of Reading, rather than moor overnight we headed for the Thames. Blake’s lock was lockkeeper free but it’s easy to use, then down through the last bit past the gasometers onto the Thames, we did a sharp left and moored up outside Tesco. This is one store where the wheel locks on the trolleys are fitted and they do seem to work. A quick trip to replenish supplies, then back to the boat and settle down for the evening, nice meal, telly working, everybody happy.

 

Easter Sunday

 

Another lazy start, well its Sunday. Wandered around to the petrol station to pick up a paper whilst the dearly beloved cooked breakfast. When I returned a gentleman from the EA was checking the licence, nice chap, offered him breakfast, but he didn’t have time. Set off up river after breakfast, through Caversham Lock, girls exchanged high fives when they realised they didn’t have to do anything except hang on to a rope. We stopped at Bridge Boats on Fry’s Island to fill up with water and empty the cassette, no charge for that but I did buy another mooring pin as we seem to have lost one. Glorious day, not a cloud in the sky and lovely and warm, boating at its best. So why was the river empty, lots of boats moored up but hardly anything moving, still their loss. We motored on up the river admiring the views, Reading looks nicer from the river, I suppose because all the houses seem to be worth millions. Reached Mapledurham Lock a little after 1.00 pm so I was expecting to do the lock ourselves but no it opened for us as we approached, motored in to find the EA chap I had spoken to that morning operating it, told you he was a nice man. He told me they were manning it over the lunch hour as it’s closed after 5.30 until the work is finished. All this talk of lunch started to make us all a bit peckish, we started to look for somewhere to moor, just after the lock according to Nicholson’s, but not for a narrow boat the bank is too high. Stopped a bit further along at Pangbourne Meadow behind a big plastic hire boat (Thames Cruiser). They were looking down on us; literally, the rear deck must have been ten foot higher than our roof. After lunch we motored on to Goring, thought we were out of luck as the mooring below the lock was full but a chap on a very nice Dutch barge invited us alongside. He told me they were heading up to Wallingford so we could have the mooring. It’s a small world turned out they used to have a narrow boat and kept it, as we do, at Greenham. They set off shortly afterwards as they wanted to make Cleeve Lock before the lock-keeper went home so we settled in. My wife used to live in Goring as a child so she went off to look up her old haunts with the girls. Good deal I managed to watch the end of the Grand Prix on the TV, that Hamilton kid is amazing. She came back later very excited she’d seen the perfect house for sale, only 1.1 million with its own 70 ft Thames mooring. There was a slight snag the house on the property needed knocking down and rebuilding, no wonder they say location, location, location. She calmed down after a glass or two of red; to help her feel better I cooked the tea. This being the first time we’d taken the boat on the Thames I canvassed opinions, the general view seemed to be it’s pretty and easy but boring compared to the canals, and this from teenagers who did the Tardebigge flight last summer.

 

 

Easter Monday

 

The girls were being collected by our friends today; they were going to Devon for the rest of the week. We left the boat moored up and investigated Goring, nice place, two good pubs and one expensive one. Shops are a bit limited but there is a Post office and a small supermarket. Checked the house prices in the local agent’s window, ok if you’ve won the lottery or work in the City with million pound bonuses. Our friends arrived at twelve nicely in time for lunch at the Catherine Wheel, girl’s choice. Turned out to be a very good one, good food and beer, if you’re into burgers the have the most extensive range I have ever seen. After lunch we went back on the boat to give our friends a quick trip before they set off. We turned round none of this winding stuff on the Thames, given the weather and the scenery they both began to see why their daughter liked it so much. We turned back after an hour but they both tried steering the boat, not much of a challenge on the Thames but when it is your first time it seems like it. They left for home and we decided as there were only two us we’d get through Cleeve lock whilst the lock keeper could do it for us. Not far after the lock we spotted what looked like good mooring on the left and pulled in for the night. It’s difficult on the Thames to decide if it’s ok to moor, lots of places have very obvious no mooring signs but many don’t whilst others charge a fee, the signs are often difficult to read from the boat. No one came to chase us away so we settled down for the night. Easier in some ways without the girls, only two to argue about which TV programme to watch, don’t know why I bother she always wins.

 

Tuesday

 

Still in very laid back mode we set off around 10.00 and headed up river towards Wallingford. The river is fairly wide, well compared to a canal, but also boring. There is not much to see and despite the still excellent weather very few boats about. We reached Wallingford around twelve and moored up on the left just above the bridge. The mooring is free until 4.00 pm then you have to leave or pay the fee to overnight. As it is next door to a noisy pub I suspect you could find yourself with problems at closing time on occasion. We wandered into town found a good Waitrose and stocked up on the supplies. This is one of those nice little towns ruined by traffic, it has a bye-pass so why they don’t create a traffic free zone I don’t know. We’d brought lunch so wandered back to the boat to eat. After a leisurely lunch we set off again towards Benson, just above the lock there are two boatyards with all facilities according to Nicholson, but how you use them escapes me the place was wall to wall plastic tubs (sorry Thames cruisers). No room to pull in that I could see, although the café was doing good business but I suspect the customers all arrived by road. We carried on passed Shillingford, where there is, if I am any judge, the best house on the river. We reached Day’s lock and the beloved spotted the facilities just as we motored bye. A quick reverse and we pulled up to the landing stage, its just around the bend on the left as your going up but you can’t see the sign until your past them. In addition to the sewage and rubbish disposal there are toilets and showers but these were locked and we didn’t have a key. Motored into the lock and the keeper told us they were for the campsite use only, ah well. Time was getting on so we decided to motor on and see if we could find a good mooring, Nicholson has some just above Clifton Hampden bridge, the ones on the left are permanent moorings and on the right occupied by a cabin cruiser with a very noisy parrot in a cage on its top deck. We kept going, just before Clifton lock the weir stream enters from the left, its navigable as far as the pub and there were supposed to be moorings so we gave it a try. The navigation was no problem, its as wide as the main river but when we arrived the only mooring was occupied by a narrow boat, might have been enough room for a small cruiser but that’s it. They started shouting at us as we arrived, I couldn’t hear a word over the engine but the missus was at the front, evidently they had tried winding three times and it was impossible due to the current. Certainly couldn’t do it there with them in the way so I carried on around the corner, just out of their sight there was a wide scour, deep and calm as a mill pond, turned the boat around in one and ambled back, I did enjoy the expression on their faces. We’d spotted a possible mooring below Clifton Hampden bridge so we motored back there was another boat there when we arrived so we moored up just beyond them. Enquiries revealed that they had stayed there before without problems. Settled down for a nice peaceful night.

 

Wednesday

 

We started back towards Goring, this was going to be our last full day on the boat as my Father in Law and his wife were coming on Thursday to borrow her for a week, I wish I was retired, unfortunately work beckoned. We cruised slowly back towards Goring intending to overnight as before just above Cleeve lock. The return journey was pretty much the reverse of the outward, stopped at Wallingford for lunch below the bridge just for change. We filled the water tank at Sheridan Marine at Moulsford; they charged a £1 for the use of the hose. We reached the mooring late afternoon and spent a couple of hours packing and tidying up, and then had a lazy bits and pieces meal. Chatting afterwards we agreed that although it had been a nice lazy break and one which we had enjoyed we preferred the canals. It might have been different if there had been more boats about but the few people we met who had done it in the summer said it was just busy and not always friendly. Certainly the facilities are harder to find and mooring could prove difficult especially if there was more activity. The boatyards we did use were helpful and friendly as were all the lock keepers we spoke to. Moored where we are we have to transit either the Thames or the Severn on our way to anywhere. The trip had been useful as we now have some experience of one end.

 

Thursday

 

Through Cleeve and Goring locks and moored up below the lock by 11.00, finished the final packing and cleaning. In laws turned up not long after we arrived and we swapped boat for car. We had lunch in the Catherine Wheel and then gave the in laws a quick reminder about the fixtures and fittings. We watched them through Goring lock and then set off for home both praying they wouldn’t sink her. I had arranged to meet them in a week’s time to take her back up the Kennet, by the time we crossed the bridge towards Streatley they had disappeared, an hour later we were home. Dearly beloved is off tomorrow to visit a friend for two days, but its ok she has left the list of jobs, deep joy, back to the real world!

 

Ken