Aldermaston

10.5 miles and 11 locks today. We set off at 7:05. It was warmish then, but has got much hotter, peaking at 27 °C at around 4:30. Last time we came this way we got exhausted on this stretch as we tried to do too much. Today we have taken it easier. The river through

Still here

Not moved today. Actually that’s not quite correct. We pulled forward into the space vacated by the boat infront in order to move a little further from the busy road. The day was spent wandering arounf Reading and going for an 8+ mile bike ride upstream for a while, then down to Sonning lock and

Reading Gaol

Our original intention was to stop at Wallingford last night, which is more like half way between Oxford and Reading. But in the past we have found it difficult to get a mooring at Wallingford, hence the decision yesterday to stay a Abingdon. However that made for a longer day today as our Thames licence

Abingdon

Just a quiet tootle down the Thames today. We didnt really need to but we made our usual  start at about 7:30. Out through Isis lock to the Thames. At that hour the lock keepers aren’t on duty, so it was Abingdon lock before we had to hand over cash for our licence. We are

Aristotle Bridge

Before we did anything else today the boat had to be cleaned. So we moved a few yards to the lock and washed the dirtiest side that we couldn’t reach last night. All this was at 6:30 am ! A really good day weatherwise. To start with we saw far fewer boats than yesterday, but

Heyford Common Lock

We arrived at the marina yesterday and found these next to the boat. Some shopping for foood and stuff yestarday then an early night. Off and away at 7:30 in a lovely bright and sunny morning. At only the second lock there were 8 boats (4 up and 4 down including us). But it calmed

Fuel polishing

When we had the engine services before Christmas Clive mentioned that our diesel tank was rather contaminated with water and crud. He recommended that we have the fuel ‘polished’. This is achieved by passing the fuel contents repeatedly through  a series of filters. We contacted Tankbusters who came today to carry out the polishing. It

Napton Top Lock

Another cooked breakfast ! Then journeying on to just opposite the engine arm at the top of the Napton flight. We are due to meet up with some other Cutwebbers in the Folly Inn this evening. We will walk down the locks as we dont have time tomorrow to get back to the marina if we

Fenny Compton

We arrived yesterday after a ride up across the Cotswolds in the cold and wet. I tried to get the Eberspacher going, but it wouldn’t fire up. Got the fire going instead. This morning, after a cooked breakfast,  we reversed back across the marina to top up with fuel and get a bag of coal.