Left the mooring at 08:00 in sunny weather, but it soon deteriorated. No problems with locks or swing bridges, although the gates on Towney Lock would not stay shut and needed quite a top flow to get them to stay closed. A lot of debris in the cut too after last nights storm. Got to Reading Marine at about 9:30 and stopped for diesel. Then picked up with nb TOMORROW for passage through Aldermaston and Woolhampton Locks. Because of the proximity of the automated swing bridge and the lock, and the river stream which joins the canal in between it is generally reckoned necessary to make the jump between the two in one go. So for a single handed boater experiencing the rage of the motorists in opening the bridge and blocking their road, then mobilizing the boat, steering it through the fast stream, correctly offsetting for the cross stream from the river, entering the lock, climbing out and roping the boat up then wandering back to the bridge to reconnect the road, is fairly daunting. Actually, however, having checked it all out, I think for the single boat it is perfectly possible to do this uphill in two sections, although downhill with the current might be more difficult. By now the weather had turned and gentle rain which had started some 15 minutes previously, turned into torrential rain. Time to moor up for the night – and its only 12:00 midday. However the planned distance has been covered at we should be in good stead to meet Gemma tomorrow evening at Thatcham. She will be leaving at Great Bedwyn, thereafter I shall be single handed again until Devizes.
Todays cruise 4miles, 3 swing bridges, one major road lifting bridge
4 hours
Hi Michael and Pat
Having stumbled onto your site by chance while looking at narrow boat holidays i just wanted to say how much i enjoyed reading about your trip so far and shall certainly follow your journey.I have had an interest in inland waterways for many years but have not done much about it due to career etc, though i have attended most of the boat shows and have loved looking around the narrow boats,and pipe dreaming i suppose!!
Anyway just thought we would say hello and wish you a safe journey and we shall keep popping in to read all about it.
Yours
John and Louise
( Essex )
Posted by: John & Louise | July 09, 2004 at 16:58