Beale Park to Goring Lock

2 locks: 6.5 miles

Sadly I did not have time to explore Beale Park and its nature reserve and rare breeds farms.  As they say next time!  At least I stopped this year...........
It was a bit of a cold start to the day and mist hung over both banks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You soon approach the amazing Brunel railway bridge at Gatehampton.
It is built at such and angle to the river.  The mansion at Basildon Park is some way back from the river but nearer is a large building called the Grotto.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Before too long Goring Lock is upon you and before the lock are plenty of vistor moorings, But I am headed for a booked space around the back of the lock.
I am a little early as it does not need to be vacated until 12.00 noon.  The occupients of gin palace currently moored are waiting the Royal wedding! 
I have to meander arround above the lock and wait and dri9ft nearly to Cleve Lock which is less than half a mile away.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Reading to Beale Park

3 lock: 8 miles


Hallmark has been 'overnighting' at the Thames and Kennet Marina. 
But I am back from London and off for a couple more days of cruising.

Thursday was a no rush day.
Or was it the two pints of cider I drank in The Boaters at Thames and Kennet Marina.
First a bit of maintance.
The stem tube greaser needed refiling.  This seemed to stop the small drips for a while.
I also took some time to pump out the engine well.

At 10:15 I slowly backed Hallmark off the mooring and turned her round and headed through the rows and rows of boats.  This all went better than expected.
It's a short distance to the rather short Caversham Lock
Then its the two Reading bridges.
Looking back at Caversham Bridge shows Reading and the Thames at its best.

The reach above Caversham is quite long and has lots of small island to pass on the way.  Its always clear which side to pass unlike in some other place.

Mapledurham Lock is very very fierce.  The top sluices are above the water line and the water roars in.  I had to really hold on tight to the ropes.  The weir is long and much calmer!
The lock has a cafe which sells hot food But sadly I could not find a mooring so I could not go back, despite hunger pains!
Pangbourne meadows are just before Whitchurch Toll Bridge and lock
They look like good moorings.
However I pushed on towards Beale Park where I thought I would use the banks where many IWA visitors stayed during last year's National Festival.

The moorings are really good with loads of reeds beds across the tow path

I walked the mile and half back to Pangbourne It's great little place
Plenty of non-chain coffee shops and some specialist food shops.

Reading to the Thames and Kennet Marina

0 locks:  0.5 miles

Time to move on from my mooring at the Tesco Riverside store in Reading.
I am going back to London for a few days and need somewhere 'safer' to keep Hallmark.
The Tesco mooring has been great, but I am not sure it is the best place to leave an 'unattended' boat for a couple of days.
So I am going to moor up at the Thames and Kennet Marine on the Caversham side of the river.
The marina is in a nature reserve and has sections for wide beam barges, narrow boats and cruisers.

It is an enormous place with a big wide entrance that is easy to turn into.
Inside there are lines and lines of boats big and small.

The great thing is they welcome 'short term' moorers and only charge £10 per night.
First some diesel and some water and then off to my berth for two nights.
Hallmark needs 49 litres but it is the first fill of the trip.

The facilities look good with a bar and a cafe.
I'll try these on Wednesday night.
Getting on to the mooring was relatively easy and I was given good directions.
Tieing up needed a bit of thought but it was soon done and the Brompton bike was out on the pontoon and before long I was on the 3.5 mile cycle into Reading.

Sonning Bridge to Riverside Reading

1 lock:  3.0 miles

It is an 8.00am start.
Another bright sunny day.
First its Sonning Bridge which dates from the 17th century.
It is so picturesque with its eleven arches.
In the morning light it looks maginicant.
I have remembered that the middle one is the only one that is navigable.

Sonning Lock is aslo magic.  Such great flowers and amazingly tidy.
The tea shop at the lock is a must visit.
Luckily I am joined by a hire boat 'racing' back to its base so doing the lock is simple.
After the lock the river is lined by trees and reeds but then suddenly you begin the approach to Reading with its business parks sometimes called our Silcon valley,

Suddenly the River Kennet's mouth appears after the gas holder. There is  a sign showing this is the way to Bristol via the Kennet and Avon canal.

Next is the Tesco riverside store which is amazing well hidden by Chestnut trees just coming into flower.
This is where Hallmark will spend Monday night.

As well as a bit of shopping I gave Hallmark a good wash as the Henley storm had covered it with yellow dust Then a late a bacon and egg sandwich and a walk down the Thames and back up the Kennet and then a bit of chilling out watching the world (or is it the boats) go by.

Henley to Sonning Bridge

1 locks: 6.0 miles

I was going to spend a second night in Henley and then go all the way to Reading.
However, after a hearty breakfast cooked on Hallmark decided to go to Shiplake or maybe Sonning.
First under Henley Bridge and a look back at the town.

Then less than a mile to Marsh Lock where the lock is quite difficult to locate because of many double parked cruisers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chugged up through Shiplake and the Wargrave on to near Sonning where I stayed night on wonderful peaceful mooring under the trees near Sonning Bridge.
The mooring was £10 a night on land owned by Uri Geller, the self-proclaimed mystifier who bent spoons!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Having brought some chicken in Henley I decide to cook a chicken curry.  Great home made food!
Then sat on the back deck of Hallmark and watched the sun go down through the trees opposite.

Cookham to Henley

4 locks: 12.5 miles


A seven fifteen start.  Up and away with the larks.
There was very little water under Hallmark but a good heave-hoe at the bow got her shifted.
In think about 'floating' Hallmark I nearly forget to put the tiller on.
I could tell it was going to be a great day.
Wonderful rippleless river and already a scorching day.

First Bourne End with its imposing railway bridge.

Then was almost a four mile run to firstlock at Marlow.
Glorious as ever with its imposing bridge and church sky-line.

Worked the first lock with another two early birds.
Had a easy run to Henley with all three locks in Hallmark's favour.

Arrived before 1.00pm and there were plenty of boats about.
Amazingly there were amazingly plenty of moorings.

Went into Henley for some milk and things at a very expensive Sainsbury Metro.
The town seemed full of dress shops and restaurants and so crowded too
However, Found a wonderful air conditioned Starbucks
Back to the boat for bit of planing and made a great pasta meal.
Below, Hallmark looked great as she sits on its mooring at Henley.

Boveney Lock to the meadows at Cookham

4 lock: 8.0 miles


A great night's sleep in the Boveney Lock weir stream.
What a great mooring this is. I'll certainly bring Hallmark here again
All the facilities too and decided to make use of them
I finally make a start. Then there is a delay at Boveney lock due to sewage pipes needing to cross the lock There are loads and loads of boats out.
Too crowded when you start after lunch!
Despite this the run to Cookham is really good.
Lots of intersting houses and buildings. 
First Oakley Court.

Then Monkey Island where I had a wonderful meal back in the days of working for Berkshire.

Unfortunately there was a bottleneck at Bray Lock.  Too many overlarge gin-palaces. It takes three lock fillings before Hallmark's turn.
Then it is Maidenhead with its Brunel railway bridge and arched road bridge.
The town really makes good use of the river especially at Boulters Lock.

The Cliveden Reach was stunning
Sadly the was No space on the Cliveden islands Next time.

But would there be room to moor on the meadows at Cookham. There were quite a lot of boats but there was space for Hallmark!

What a sunny Good Friday it has been!
I decide  to finish the day with a walk into Cookham
And of course I venture into the Kings Head and it's beer garden and decide to have fish and chip supper with mushy peas.

Overnight at Boveney Lock

0 lock: 0 miles

I had left Hallmark at Boveney Lock for four nights.
It was time for the next part of the 2011 cruise.
Maggie gave me a lift to with a mile of the lock.
We could not go any further as here was a chained gateway stopping cars.
However as it was a bridle path I could cycle final bit of the roadway
My Brompton bike was well overloaded (actually overloaded!0

Hallmark was secure in the weirstream.

Three boats from the boat club due on Saturday had arrived early,
They were enjoying themselves already!
I unloaded the bike and packed everything away
Then had some soup and a roll and of course did some housework/cleaning!
The back cover needed a good scrubbing.

Royal Windsor to Boveney Lock

0 locks:  1.5 miles

A very short run for Hallmark today.
From the centre of Windsor just up to Boveney Lock to mooring I have agreed with the lock keeper.

At 8.00am the river is so quite and peaceful.
None of the trip boats, motor boats rowing boats are about.

There are plenty of joggers on the tow path!
The race course could not have a better setting almost the whole course seems bounded by the river

At the lock Hallmark turns left.
What a great mooring.
In a backwater near the weir.  Totally hidden from the main river.

Staines to Windsor

3 locks: 7.5 miles

A good night's sleep.............
Although Staines riverside (especially on the other bank) had plenty going on at it's bars and eateries.
It was grey early morning but dry as Hallmark drifted away from the Swan Inn and through the centre arch of the Rennie's road bridge.

First passed Church Island where Merganser is still happily moored.
This boat was for many years just upstream from Hallmark at Molesey.

Within 25 minutes Hallmark has steamed under the M25 bridge and is arriving at Bell Weir lock which is alongside the Runnymede Hotel.  We accompanied a massive resturant boat called Passepartout
cruising to Maidenhead and Clifton.

Suddenly houses are gone and parkland open country is all around.
On the right are  Runnymede Meadows with Coopers Hill above with its various memorial nestlings below.  On the left is Magna Carta island.

At French Brothers boatyard a few of their vintage boats are laid up for the winter
Beyond is the Bells of Ouseley, a favourite mooring of mine. Today I am not stopping as I am going all the way to Windsor.
It always seems a long chug on the river beside Windsor Great Park and the Royal Estate. What a wonderful place with Windsor Castle in the distance getting nearer.

Then all of a sudden it is Romsey Lock with a very helpful lock keeper and then Eton Bridge and the Windsor's famous river frontage is here and time to find a mooring.
As it is early in the year it is really no trouble at all.
A great central spot is found.

Improving the electrics

Hallmark is down at Harris Boatyard in the hands of Paul at 4Marine.

The electrics are being improved with a Sterling alternator booster.

This gizmo should seriously improve the input into the batteries and the electric power for the cabin.

As you can see from the photo the job is midway through with Paul taking a break for the wiring!

When done 

Walking on the Rochdale Canal

Walking in Manchester today on the canals.

Starting off on the Rochdale.

It is stunning.

The Rochdale Canal

name refers to the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, through which the canal passes.

It runs for 33 miles between the centre of Manchester and Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire.

When originally built, the canal had 92 locks the canal now has only 91 locks. The former locks 3 and 4 have been replaced with a single deep lock.  However, 

the traditional lock numbering has been retained on all restored locks, and on all the relocated locks, 

At Sowerby Bridge it connects with the Calder and Hebble Navigation.  In Manchester it connects with the Ashton and Bridgewaster Canals.

The canal was re-opened to navigation along its entire length in July 2002 and forms part of the South Pennine Ring.