Thus, went the Oracle.

Saturday 9th June, 2012
We slept well and awoke to better weather so R washed the roof down, the bad weather of the last week had left it very dirty. Some of the bird effluent dries like concrete and took some getting off!!

Meanwhile, M potted up two rectangular planters, one with geraniums and ageratum - red, white and blue of course, in readiness for the Olympics (which is also why our bunting is still flying gaily!) The other trough is now full of herbs for our future dinner table.  We hadn't quite bought enough compost, so M nicked some soil from the "Oscar Wilde Walk" saying that she thought he would approve of such petty larceny behind Reading Gaol! He would consider he was getting his own back!

Sometime after mid-day, we set off.   One of the first thing that we encountered was - would you believe - canal traffic lights that control the one-way system through the "Oracle" shopping centre!  The canal goes right through the middle of the vast shopping centre, which was packed with those seeking their Saturday retail therapy fix.  Bet they looked at us and thought how much nicer life would be at 4mph!

 The Oracle is really quite remarkable, very stylish in its ultra-modern way; quite a surprise in an uninspiring town such as Reading.  After the first lock there were rows of very narrow terraced houses backing on to the canal. Apparently these were built by Huntley and Palmer for their workers at the biscuit factory. Some were side on to the canal and they had the most spectacularly patterned brickwork on the corners and over the windows - very attractive and unusual in small houses like that.
Progress continued to be slow upstream and we only saw a couple of boats moving all day. We only cruised for a couple of hours as we are not in a hurry and are trying to get used to the idea of not having goals and deadlines. We have been cruising for two days now since we left the Thames and we haven't even got as far as the M4!  This truly is Life in the Slow Lane!

We moored for the night between two Alder trees right out in the country just Before Burghfield lock and just past the famous "Cunning Man" pub.  R had to "walk the plank" to get back on board, as it was impossible to get right up to the bank.  Right now the sun is shining and the sky is blue - lets hope it continues like that for a few days.  The birds are singing merrily and we have just sat up on the "Barry" seats at the stern podding fresh peas - the first of the season.  This is the life!!!
Today:  4 miles, 3 locks and 2.8 hours (plus one traffic light).
Trip:  92 miles, 37 locks and 44.8 hours  (188.1 total).