Down to Reading

We wanted to clear Caversham Lock (Reading) today so that we do not have to pay another day's Thames licence. So, we made an early start - early bed yesterday helped and it is very light by 7 o'clock! Even so, we did not set off until 8:45.

Another wonderful spring day and very warm, until just after four in the afternoon when it became a little chilly. As a result, the journey downstream was most attractive. However, we soon noticed how large - and no doubt expensive all the houses seemed to be, with their well manicured lawns stretching away from the river. There are several 'large' houses as well, such as Mapledurham, which often assert their rights and do not allow even a footpath along the water's edge. We were soon to remark how different life is in this part of the country and how large the divide between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. Far greater divide, we suspect, than we are used to in Cornwall.

Only about half of the locks were actually manned when we arrived at them. By the time we arrived in Reading, Christine was quite an expert at operating the machinery - which is not always as obvious as the writers of the instructions would have hoped! The main problem is that the sluices at the opposite end of the lock are not easily seen and are often left open from the previous boat. The system has an interlock and will not allow one set to be opened until the others are closed - but the indicator lights do no make it clear. Also, the sluice start button has to be pressed and held until it starts and then gradually lifts automatically. (The instructions do not include the wait until it starts bit!) However, the gate button has to be pressed and held until the gates are fully open or closed. So, now we know!

Eventually, we reached Reading. Just before Caversham Bridge we found all the swans in one flock - we had been wondering why we had seen so few further up!

Finally we locked ourselves down through Caversham Lock (below Reading bridge). Soon afterwards, just before the entrance to the Kennet and Avon, we found a good mooring, close to a 24hrs Tesco. (Just in time before the teabags run out!)