Now we are faced with more decisions. With all the recent heavy thundery rain river flows have risen, though on the Kennet not to a hazardous level. However the Thames is different and the whole river has been placarded “Stong stream increasing” with four reaches on red boards. We can stay where we are but ultimately provisions, water and pump out will become issues. So we decided to take the option of booking into the marina, leaving the boat there for a week, by which time the river will have settled down and out journey can continue. Reading has fast and easy access to London and home.
Fobney Lock is larger than most and the bottom gates lead to a short landing stage under which a vigorous by-wash emerges. Beyond is the data flowing river which we take to County Lock at Reading. So rather than have issues hovering around to pick up crew it seemed safer to leave the bottom gates and pick up Pat on passing which worked fine. The next hazard is the weir by County Lock, where the plan is not to get stuck on it. The plan is to get a stern rope on aboard under the road bridge and not try to moor in sight of the lock. After the lock is the traffic light which we got immediately and drifted down through the “brewery gut” on tickover but just needing some power to straighten up for the arch bridge where to meet an opposite direction boat would surely be a major excitement, but protected by the traffic light system.
Blakes Lock was deserted. There hasn’t been a lock keeper there for ages and the site looks very sad. The lock office will soon be overtaken by vegetation running rampant and the lock garden, once a pride and joy, just a mass of weeds and overgrown shrubs. (See photo).
After Blakes Lock, we were soon on the river Thames and into the marina. Our mooring quickly arranged and the long taxi ride to the railway station booked.