Cropredy Marina

10 miles 7 locks In order to beat the forecast rain we set off just after seven again. Two other boats moored near us had the same idea. So there was a convoy of three heading for King’s Sutton lock. We were number two. Soon after the first lock the leading boat caught up with

The Pig Place

We are moored above Nells bridge lock, opposite the small campsite/smallholding/farm shop called “The Pig Place”. The forecast for today was for rain this afternoon, so we set off at around our usual time (7:05), but actually the rain didn’t materialise. There were quite a few boats around, but no delays until we got to

Kidlington Green lock

26 miles 13 locks A long day today, 10 hours. We started at 7:15 and didn’t stop until 17:25. We even had lunch on the move. It’s been hotter today than the last few days, particularly this afternoon. We were delayed for quite a while at Abingdon. We wanted a pumpout, but the boats in

Wallingford

15 miles 6 locks We had a disturbed night. Some drunks were very loud by our boat around two o’clock in the morning. It sounded like one actually went into the water. Despite the lack of sleep we were still away by 7:15. We did the first Thames locks on our own as the lockies

Reading

We are in our usual spot in the Reading Gaol loop. Right at the end, tied up to the railings. The only other space was near the noisy road. Again it was a 7:00 start. Most of the day we were on our own, but we did share Fobney and Burghfield locks with a hire

Aldermaston Wharf

9 miles 10 locks ( again ) Newbury to Aldermaston today. As usual we were away by 7:00 and did the first few locks on our own. Then we caught up with a rather scruffy boat. We were a bit apprehensive, but the skipper and his crew turned out to be really charming and pleasant.

Newbury

9 miles 10 locks MUCH cooler today, though it was still 20°C  at 7:00 am when we set off. It didn’t really change much through the day. We dropped down Hungerford lock then onto the services to top up the water. While we were watering there was a brief thunderstorm, only about 10 mins. The

Hungerford

5 miles 7 locks Started at 7 again and finished at 10. We are moored by the church again, but the only spot in the shade is very shallow at the edge, so we are out on long ropes, and slightly on a list. It has been very hot, in the low thirties, again today.

Great Bedwyn

8miles 14 locks A 7:00 start this morning to try to beat the heat, we failed! We had arranged to meet a former work colleague, Mike and his partner Janet in the afternoon at Great Bedwyn, but when we arrived the only available mooring was in full sun, we were roasting. Luckily  a boat a

Pewsey Wharf

12 miles 6 locks With the weather today forecast to be just as hot as at the weekend we decided to make an early start. So we were away by 6:55. It was 8:05 when we reached the top of the six locks that brought us up to the level of the “long pound”. After