Aldermaston

After several days of early starts and lunch-on-the-go, today was a chance to be a bit more laid back! Andrew walked to the nearest (well, not that near in the event - mobile phone info systems are not always entirely accurate!) Morrisons for a newspaper and returned with a bag of croissants as well.

Somewhat after ten o'clock, we eventually set off and soon found that the river current would be slowing down our rate of progress for some time yet. It was, as forecast, a warm spring day and we progressed through a succession of locks, swing bridges, river and canal cuts. The locks, being wide, can be quite vicious, requiring at least a bow rope tether to avoid too much banging about in the lock. (Remember, we are going up hill at this stage)

Much of this stretch has former gravel pits on either side - at times it feels as if we were passing along an embankment through the middle of a lake.

When we stopped for lunch we took quite a good break during which Andrew managed to restore the link between the Ipaq and the laptop, also showing how his mobile phone could act as a replacement for the Ipaq - we were planning to do this in time for the start of the season but Andrew has persuaded us to wait for the next generation of HTC phones, out soon. A newspaper article today highlighted some of the issues.

Some of the locks were originally turf-sided and vertical steel guides have now been added to assist in operation. Other locks have an unusual scalloped profile.

We stopped at Tyle Mill for all of the usual services - helpful as the guide book indicated only water and rubbish. The swing bridge above the lock is mechanised - the first of several along here which gives us the pleasure of stopping the traffic! One swing bridge not mechanised reminded us how difficult they can sometimes be when not properly maintained.

One of the old turf locks has been replaced by a more conventional shape with steel piled edges. The old lock can still be seen ahead of the new one.

It seemed a little uncertain where we might find a good mooring as we approached Aldermaston but Christine went ahead from the first lock and chatted to a man from the boat yard who gave us permission to moor overnight at the Visitor Centre mooring - we were only the second boat he had seen moving today!