Henley to Reading

Sun 1^st August  Henley to Sonning

We started by paying our £10 for the mooring to two guys who were driving along the line of boats on a park’s vehicle, also collecting rubbish bags. Some boats had already left when they arrived. We departed for Marsh Lock just after they had been.

Rubbish collection and mooring fees vehicle.

Receipt

Approaching Marsh Lock

We shared Marsh Lock with another narrowboat, which we overtook before the next lock at Shiplake, where we had to wait for the lock, as it was full.

We saw an interesting boat by Shiplake Lock. It was called Sonbar, and research revealed that she was built by Stebbings boat builders on Burnham-on-Crouch in 1947. On the Stebbings archive website, someone was asking the whereabouts of this boat, so James commented that he had a photo. They have now used this photo on the website.  Motor cruisers | Stebbings Archive (wordpress.com)

Sonbar

Another boat we spotted was Rubette, and again James did some research online. He discovered that it belongs to a company based in Benson who hire out classic boats like this. They themselves are not sure who built it or when, but say it was “probably built by the admiralty and used as a harbour launch, hung in the davits of a naval ship”. Rubette  has only recently been restored and had her first customers in June. If you fancy hiring her, here is the link: Our Boats :: Bygone Boating

Rubette

We looked for moorings on the islands known as The Lynch or Hallsmead Ait but there were lots of boats moored on the towpath side. The island moorings were all overgrown or had trees in the way.  In trying to get into one place, we picked up an item of clothing on the prop.

Sonning Bridge

We continued through Sonning Lock, where we saw lots of hollyhocks growing, but rather battered by the recent heavy rain. We stopped on the public moorings above the lock.

Hollyhocks at Sonning Lock

Moored above Sonning Lock

3 locks, 5 miles. Dep 0925, arr 1140.

Mon 2^nd August  Sonning to Reading

After a peaceful night we headed up stream once more, past the entrance to the Kennet and Avon. We spotted two interesting boats here. The first was floating shed. A work in progress, probably.  The second was a vessel built by W.White in 1899, called Chrysoprase.

Kennet and Avon entrance

Floating shed

Chrysoprase

There were no spaces on the Tesco moorings that were large enough for us, so James set Hazel down from the stern to go shopping. He carried on up to Better Boating, where he topped up with diesel at 89p per litre. By the time he had done that, and turned the boat again, Hazel had finished the shopping and was waiting at the same spot.

Tesco moorings full

Better Boating

We turned once more and followed two boats to Caversham Lock. We couldn’t fit in with them, so we waited for a second lock. The lock keeper here is Tanya, who has been working here since 1996 – a year longer than we have been boating.

Lock queue for Caversham Lock. The Blade in the background

After Caversham Lock, we cruised under Reading Bridge, followed by the new footbridge called Christchurch Bridge. We saw another interesting boat, called Kings Shilling, and discovered it was a Broome, built in 1947.

Reading Bridge

Kings Shilling

Christchurch Bridge

We saw John and Barbara’s boat Ichthus, with a space in front as planned, just before Caversham Bridge. We tied the bows to the railings and the stern to a mooring spike as instructed by John.

Moored by Caversham Bridge in front of Ichthus

We visited Aldi, and got most of the rest of the shopping, except for sausages and bacon, because there was a problem with their refrigerator.

James went to explore Caversham across the bridge, and discovered a Waitrose, so he bought the sausages and bacon we needed.

When John and Barbara came back from their working day with Salters Steamers, we arranged to go to the Persian restaurant in Caversham. It was very good, but the portions were much bigger than expected. Next time we’ll have a main dish to share between two plus some side dishes. Lovely restaurant, great view, excellent company.

Persian Palace

Coffees and brandy back on Gabriel.

1 lock, 3 miles. Dep 0950, arr 1135

Tue 3^rd August  Reading

It was misty this morning

We had arranged to meet at 10am by John’s car, for a trip to Basildon Park, as they had never been, and we have tickets that allow guests. As Hazel was getting through the fence into the car park, she overbalanced and fell, grazing her knee, and bruising her left wrist. John is medically trained, and soon had her disinfected and patched up.

We drove to Basildon Park, and had a wander round the gardens and the house (1^st floor only), and a drink in the café. There were lots of butterflies. A lady who was cleaning two huge stone dogs in the garden kindly took our photo.

With John and Barbara

Basildon Park

Red Admiral

Peacock

Large White

Brimstone

Gatekeeper

Back at the boats, John produced a hose, and we filled the water tanks of both boats. Much quicker than the silly low-pressure Environment Agency water points.

John very kindly lent us his car, and we went to visit BCF and Canal Ministries friends Mike and Jean Greenslade. Mike has been very ill with heart problems combined with a possible early case of Covid. He was bed-bound for many weeks, but is now able to walk a little. It was good to see them after more than two years.

Mike and Jean

Later in the evening we went on board Ichthus for drinks and nibbles.

Moored by Caversham Bridge

Water Art

No boating today

Next: Onwards and upwards (upstream that is) through Pangbourne, Beale Park and Goring

Dorney to Henley

Fri 30^th July  Dorney to Marlow

It was a bit showery this morning. There were no boats moored at “PG Point” which was surprising.

PG Point

At Windsor Marina we spotted an elderly boat, and research revealed a Dunkirk Little Ship, with a history.  Aquabelle

Aquabelle

We noticed, frustratingly, that the fuel price here was cheaper than Penton Hook, and Bray Marina was cheaper still. In previous years we had found that Windsor and Bray were both the same and expensive, and Penton Hook was cheaper. This time, the prices for a 60/40 split were: Penton Hook 132p, Windsor 126p, Bray 123p. Bray also has the best access to the diesel point.

After the M4 Bridge, there was a queue for Bray Lock, which is small, and was on self-operation, which is slow. We had to wait for a second lock, and there were more boats arriving from behind as we were in the lock. As we left, there was a queue waiting to come down as well.

Bray Lock queue

In the lock

Boats waiting to come down

We passed some huge mansions on the approach to Maidenhead, where we passed under Brunel’s Sounding Arch railway bridge, the largest brickwork spans in the world. This was followed by Maidenhead Bridge, opened in 1777, and now carrying the A4.

Brunel’s Sounding Arches

Maidenhead Bridge

At Boulter’s Lock we couldn’t fit in, so we had to wait for a second lock. A heavy rain shower happened at that moment, so we were able to get inside and keep dry. It had stopped by the time we set off again into the lock, and found our friend Rob the lock keeper, as cheerful and engaging as ever.  A narrowboat behind us was Sundragon, and we had met them at Town Lock in Weybridge.

Rob the Lockkeeper with the watering can

We cruised up Cliveden Reach without stopping on an island as we often do, and went into Cookham Lock, which again was fairly full. We had intended to use the water point above the lock, but there were two boats waiting, so we carried on.

Cliveden Reach

Cliveden

On the visitor moorings at Cookham, we spotted My Diadem. In hindsight we should have joined them, as there was a space.

My Diadem

A strong wind had sprung up, which we discovered later was Storm Evert. There had been no warnings on our weather forecasts on our phones.

There were no moorings available at the Bounty, where we might have stopped. The Spade Oak moorings were also full, where we had hoped to meet Alan and Geraldine. Later we found they were in Yorkshire, anyway.

The Bounty

Upper Thames Sailing Club (where we once performed)

Castellations

The visitor moorings at Cookham were also full, but we found a place just beyond where we managed to tie to trees. There was a well-spoken guy there who seemed to be homeless. When it rained heavily later, we let him onto the boat for shelter. He left when the rain stopped.

The boat was scraping on the bottom every time a boat went past.

Moored at Marlow

3 locks, 10 miles. Dep 1035, arr 1425

Sat 31^st July  Marlow to Henley

The boat had stopped scraping on the bottom, because it was now sitting on the bottom, causing a slight list. We didn’t want to leave it like that, as the river level might be going down and we could be stuck, so we left before breakfast.

On the bottom

We discovered that the voices we had heard until 3am were from some fishermen who had pitched their tent just above us, and their lines were in the water just inches in front of our bows. Thankfully Hazel spotted the lines before we went through them.

We backed off to get ourselves afloat, and then went through Marlow Lock on our own, with Hazel pressing buttons.

Marlow Lock

Marlow

Marlow Suspension Bridge

The wind had lessened since yesterday, so it was a bit easier on the river. The council moorings on the park above the bridge were all full, as were the free ones beyond the little footbridge. Some boats had doubled up.

All Saints Church at Bisham

We noticed that the moorings below Temple Lock were available, although the bollards were hidden in long grass. We were on our own again in Temple Lock. 

Alaska built in 1883

Harleyford Manor

As we were cruising past opposite Harleyford Marine, we saw Sundragon getting ready to leave. With sign language we agreed to share the lock. When we arrived just around the corner at Hurley Lock, there were two fat cruisers already waiting and they left no room for us.

It was still too early for lock keepers, so James had to hold the boat with two ropes while Hazel pressed buttons. Both boats used the facilities above the lock. The water point was extraordinarily slow. In their wisdom, the EA have removed the blue hoses, so we have to use our own. That’s fine, but they have also fitted a non-return valve, to stop so called contaminated water getting back into their precious water supply. This valve lets water out when the pressure builds up. This means that a lot of the water goes to waste, and it takes ages to fill. We gave up at three-quarters full. Health and safety once again trumping common sense.

Medmenham Abbey

There were several swimmers in the water, going upstream

Culham Court

Hambledon Mill

We travelled on to the next lock, which was Hambledon, where two other narrow boats were just going in, so we joined them. This was keeper-operated, and side-filling.

The Henley Regatta course was all set up, and some races or time trials were taking place. There was a bit of avoidance necessary as rowing fours were leaving the course and turning in the navigation channel. There were also kids in canoes, paddle boarders and assorted other boats. We overtook the other two narrow boats when it was safe, and cruised under the bridge at Henley, and found a mooring on the park further up.

Fawley Court, designed by Christopher Wren

Regatta Course

Henley

Jason and Kate on Sundragon arrived a little later, and moored up three boats behind us. They moor at Endon on the Caldon Canal. We first met them at Town Lock in Weybridge, when James beckoned them up into the lock before we went down.

We had heavy rain later.

Heavy rain

It didn't bother the ducks

There were many people walking past, and after we had gone to bed there were people returning from their night out in Henley, talking and shouting, and singing at 2am.

Moored in Henley

4 locks, 9 miles. Dep 0720, arr 1115

Next: Further up the Thames through Henley, Wargrave and Sonning to Reading.