Steve Judy and Valerie

Sunday 30th September, 2012 at The Cunning Man.
One of two "Stag" boats that had moored nearby for a night of revelry at The Cunning Man departed early. When M complimented them on how quiet and well behaved they had been, they did confess, rather shame-facedly, that they were still feeleing much the worse for wear!!
Knowing that another "Steam Special" was due, we walked the quarter-mile up the lane to the railway bridge. Only one other person appeared and, once again, we wondered if the excursion had been cancelled - but not so. Absolutely bang on time, the cloud of smoke and steam in the distance announced the arrival of the steam engine and to our delight we saw that it was "Tornado."

M waved  as it approached and was overjoyed when the driver leant right out of the cab and waved enthusiastically back and blew the locomotive's whistle.  She was still beaming with pleasure fifteen minutes later when we got back to MM!
This set the tone for a very happy day. We were expecting Steve and Judy (from M's choir) with their friend Valerie (who lives in Zurich), for a day trip. They duly arrived mid-morning and, after tea and biscuits, we set off eastwards in the direction of Reading.

 

Steve was a dab hand with a windlass at the locks and, as ever, we had several interested bystanders at each lock to help us with the gates.

M walked the towpath all the way down to Fobney lock. Just before the lock we winded (turned) and cruised back to The Cunning Man, where we moored up for a late lunch. Good thing that we had booked in advance, as it was packed. The food was excellent as ever and we waved the three of them off late in the afternoon. Everyone appeared to have had a great day and it was lovely for us to be able to get to know Valerie better.
Today: 4 miles, 2 locks and 3.8 hours.
Trip: 288 miles, 299 locks and 256.9 hours.

John and Christine

Saturday 29th September, 2012 outside the "Cunning Man" in Burghfield.
A lovely golden morning with a clear blue sky. By 9:00am, we were already walking up to Theale Railway Station because one of the "Steam Dreams" steam trains was due to pass through on its way from London to Paignton. We were a little taken aback to find that we were alone on the station platform. Normally, when a steam train is due, there is a throng of "anoraks" waiting with expensive cameras. Eventually, another four chaps did show up and one of them said that the train had left Reading on time but that it wasn't "Tornado" pulling it as expected. Soon after, we saw clouds of steam in the distance and the train appeared, hauled by "Tangmere".  Sod's law, that a high speed train passed in the opposite direction at just the wrong moment and so we only got one quick glimpse of the engine as it roared past.

However, she was a beautiful sight and we walked happily back to MM for breakfast.
An hour later saw us walking back to the railway station to meet M's brother and sister-in-law, John and Christine, who were joining us for the day. Sadly, Jessica, their daughter, was not well enough to come with them, but we've promised her a trip when she is feeling better.

After tea and biscuits and a catch-up, we set off. There was an electric swing bridge next to where we were moored, so John and Christine watched M stop the horrid tin boxes (her "favourite thing") and open the bridge for MM's leisurely passage. M, John and Christine walked up to the next lock, which is only a 2ft 2in drop, so a very gentle introduction to the joys of narrowboating!

 

The following lock, which was 7ft 7in deep and had fierce gate paddles that created a massive wash, therefore came as a bit of a shock! This was the lock where we had seen thousands of beautiful damsel flies in June. Sadly there was no sign of them now.

 

The weather stayed bright and fair and made for a delightful cruise up to the "Cunning Man" pub at Burgfield, where we moored up and had a delicious, if very filling, late lunch.

 

After lunch, we walked back to Theale railway station with John and Christine. It was dark by the time we left them at the station, but the full moon was very bright in the sky as we walked back; so we were able see the path and miss most of the cow-pats.
Today: 2 miles, 3 locks and 2.8 hours.
Trip: 284 miles, 297 locks and 253.1 hours (405.8 total).

National Wear a Tea Cosy on Your Head Day!

Friday 28th September, 2012 at Theale.
Actually "National Wear your Tea Cosy on your Head Day" was yesterday but, with everything else going on, we decided that it was better to celebrate it today.

We started the day by going back to the K&A Trust Tea Shop for a pair of "Full English" breakfasts. While we were there, we asked them to photograph us wearing our tea cosies.

The railway bridges at Aldermaston are being re-built and there was a group of construction workers from the site having breakfast next to us. They were very amused to hear of the "Wear a Tea Cosy" idea and, to our surprise and delight, joyfully entered into the spirit of the occasion.

By the time that we left, they must all have been convinced that narrowboaters really are barking mad!
Walking back to MM, we met up with Julie and Graham on nb "Aramanda." As you no doubt know, Aramanda was the daughter of Queen Boadicea and the original owner of "Aramanda" had built her to replace her previous boat that had been called "Queen Boadicea", so it had seemed appropriate to name the successor after the daughter.  Graham and Julie keep "Aramanda" at Farncombe on the Wey and Arun, so we talked a while about our various travels. They were interested to see MM, so we invited them to walk down with us and have a look around her.
Soon after, we left to continue our travels in an easterly direction towards Reading - we WILL eventually get there one day......!
One of the locks was very fierce as it filled. The water power was scary - it just shows how careful you have to be in locks.

M also made friends with a cow next to the lock. M said that the cow wanted to know if she could wear a tea cosy too!!

We continued on to Theale, where we moored up and walked into the town.  We were glad we had made the effort, as it has some lovely old buildings.
Today: 3 miles, 4 locks and 4.2 hours.
Trip: 282 miles, 294 locks and 250.3 hours (403.0 total).

Fooling Around in the Dark!!

Thursday 27th September, 2012 still at Aldermaston.
Yesterday's rain cleared to give a fine bright day. R, taking advantage of M's absence, took himself off to the nearby K&A Trust Tea Shop for a "Full English" breakfast. Very filling! Back at home  in Reigate, M dutifully had porridge (Grrr!).
Today the trains ran like clockwork (ie: for once the spring didn't break and they ran on time). A fifty minute wait at Reading was just enough time for M to buy a "few bits" at the small M&S on the station concourse. As a result, it was a good thing that R was waiting at Aldermaston station to help her carry all the bags back to MM! In fact, it was all so heavy that we decided to stop off at the K&A Trust Tea Shop on the way for some lunch to give us the strength to continue...
It seems the current leaseholders have been given notice by the K&A Trust, so sadly, the future of the tea room is uncertain.

Later, in the early evening, we were sitting listening to J.K Rowling being interviewed on Radio 4 about her new book which was released today.  By then, darkness had fallen and to our consternation, strange noises were heard outside and then the sound of a narrowboat's engine at full throttle. This worried us, as it is rare for narrowboats to travel after dark.
R went out to investigate and found that the narrowboat that had been moored in front of us was jammed broadside across the canal with its engine running flat out in reverse. Its bow rope had broken and the stern mooring pin had pulled out, so the boat had drifted off. The owner, who was somewhat under the "affluence of incohol", had been trying to manoeuver in the dark without much success. R asked him to stop the engine and was then able to push the stern away from the bank. It should then have been easy to drive the boat gently back into its mooring, but when asked to put the boat into reverse, the owner opened the throttle wide - and drove the boat straight back into the bank! On the third or fourth attempt, he finally grasped the need to go back very slowly - and was soon back on his mooring. It was then just a case of retrieving the mooring pin that was dangling from the bow and waiting while he tried to find a replacement rope for the stern. The owner was very grateful if not entirely coherent!
Back on board, we watched some episodes of Shaun the Sheep - from the ridiculous to the sublime?
Today: Charging the batteries 2.9 hours.

The Shortest Narrowboat Yet!!

Wednesday 26th September at Aldermaston.
A wet morning. As it's raining and as M is going back to Reigate today for her choir practice and we are on a 14 day mooring, there is no point in moving.

M left on the train at lunchtime, and on the way to the station we passed one of the shortest narrowboats we have seen.

Later, R did a conference call for Capture and then went for a walk between the rain showers. Well, it was supposed to be between the showers but he ended up getting soaked anyway. The electric swing bridge just downstream had three boats queueing to go through it and was jammed half open. Happily there was a guy from the Canal & River Trust there trying to fix it. R sheltered from the rain and watched to make sure that it was fixed as we will have to go through the bridge in a day or so.
M arrived home safely and said that the choir practice went well.
Today: Charged the batteries for 1.8 hours.

The Woolhampton Village Shop.

Tuesday 25th September, 2012 in Aldermaston.
The day dawned bright and fair, but the forecast was that the weather would be unreliable. There are very few shopping facilities around Aldermaston, so we walked up to the little village shop on the A4 in Woolhampton. We only intended to buy some milk, but ended up staying for an hour and a half! It's a delightful little shop run by Steve and Roz and offering local produce as well as the usual staple items.

M immediately noticed that Steve was wearing a splendid "Tour de France" T-shirt. Inevitably a lengthy and lively conversation ensued between them, while R enjoyed an excellent cappuccino.

We ended up sitting outside with another boater, Andy from nb "Molly and Lily," named after his two daughters. It was a trifle noisy, due to the "tin boxes" on the A4 but we very much enjoyed sitting in the sun chatting to Andy over a coffee. We walked back to MM along a delightfully narrow and overgrown footpath.

Our extended visit to the village shop meant that we were a little later than planned leaving Woolhampton - but that's the joy of narrowboating - no one's in a hurry and everyone has time to talk.
The electric swing bridge at Woolhampton presented no problems and as usual, M rejoiced in her ability to bring the traffic to a standstill while R went through with MM.  The River Kennet joins the canal just before the bridge and all the water is funnelled through the narrow gap under the bridge. A resident boat owner, whose boat is moored at this point, has taken wise precautions against the possibility of other boats getting out of control in the fierce current!! 

With all the rain yesterday, the river was running quite fast and so M was quite surprised to see the speed with which MM raced through past the bridge!

We moored up in Aldermaston for lunch, just past the boatyard there, and will stay here for a couple of days as M has to go back to Reigate for choir practice on Wednesday. Apart from one short shower, the rain held off, so we went for a walk up to Ufton Lock and back - a total of about three miles - before tea. In the evening we watched the film "The African Queen," which reminded us of the narrow, reed-infested sections of the canal near Honeystreet!
Today: 2 miles, 2 locks and 2.9 hours.
Trip: 279 miles, 290 locks and 241.4 hours (394.1 total).

A Very Quiet Day in the Rain.

Monday 24th September, 2012, still at Woolhampton.
We always said that when the weather was really bad, we would just moor up and relax. Today was one of those days! We woke to the sound of the rain hammering on the roof. It was a nice feeling to be warm and cosy inside while the weather did its worst outside.

Early Morning

Later in the Afternoon

M spent the morning doing choir secretarial work, while R read his book. Later in the day, the rain eased off a bit but there was still very little movement on the canal and very little activity inside MM - we just enjoyed our extremely lazy day!
Today: Just 3 hours to charge the batteries (391.2 total).

84 Charing Cross Road

Sunday 23rd September, 2012, still at Woolhampton.
It really seems that Autumn has decided to make an appearance, as today turned cold and wet. Since it wasn't actually raining first thing, R took the opportunity to sail half a mile down the canal to turn MM around so that she is facing east again, before mooring up again at Woolhampton just before the rain started.

At lunchtime, M arrived back at Woolhampton train station after a tedious and fragmented journey due to weekend engineering work. Unfortunately, R didn't get her text telling him which train she was on, and so was not waiting for her at the station. However, after a call, he walked up to the station with the large umbrella as it was pouring with rain by then.
M was very happy to be back in the cosy and warm embrace of MM (and R!!!). We had an early supper and then relaxed and watched "84 Charing Cross Road." Great film!
Today: 1 mile, 0 locks and 2.9 hours.
Trip: 277 miles, 288 locks and 235.5 hours (388.2 total).

Baby Sitting Night.

Saturday 22nd September, 2012 at Woolhampton.
We woke to a lovely morning in the marina.

At lunchtime, we walked the mile or so along the towpath to Aldermaston Railway Station so that M could catch the train back to Oxted to baby-sit Eva while Elle went to one of Matt's "Open Mic" nights. Matt was definitely "dressed-for-success!"

It seems that the evening was a great success; the venue was packed and everyone had a great time.  M loved looking after Eva, who was very pleased to see her.
R took MM out of Froud's Bridge Marina and headed back west to Woolhampton where he moored up.
Today: 1 mile, 1 lock and 1.2 hours.
Trip: 276 miles, 288 locks and 232.6 hours (385.3 total).

Robin's Surprise Birthday Trip.

Sunday 16th to Friday 21st September.
On Sunday, back in Reigate, we went to the Priory Park to watch the start of the final stage of the "Tour of Britain" cycle race. The centre of Reigate was closed to traffic and packed with spectators. We took up position opposite Finch's, the cycle shop, and were amused to see their staff up on the roof above the shop ready to watch the race!

After the riders and support vehicles had all departed, we went and had tea in a new shop that has opened in Bell Street called the Chalk Hills Bakery. Very good cakes and excellent coffee - we'll definitely go again!
On Monday morning, we took the bus to Redhill, then caught the train to Southampton, and stayed that night with Sandra and Adrian. They have done a brilliant job on the house, which looks absolutely beautiful. In the evening, we all had an excellent dinner at the "Jolly Sailor" in Old Burseldon. At this point, R still had no idea as to the final destination of his surprise outing!
On Tuesday, we left early and caught the local train into Southampton centre, then another on to Brockenhurst and Lymington. At this point R realised that we might be heading for the Isle of Wight, as the ferry to Yarmouth leaves from Lymington! On arrival in Yarmouth, we checked in to the "George Hotel", who kindly upgraded our room to a very comfortable small suite and gave us a discount, because the room that M had been promised was not available.
We then made our way to the little pier, along with a large crowd of people, all waiting for the arrival of the paddle steamer "Waverley." It looked lovely as it arrived, but very crowded! It had started its journey in Swanage, so there were already a lot of people on board.

The embarkation procedure was chaotic, but eventually everyone was on board and we proceeded on the tour around the island, travelling anti-clockwise. We started off with afternoon tea in the tea room, slightly worried by the fact that the ship had a distinct list to port as most people has crowded on to that side for the best view of the island!
The weather was glorious and the views spectacular with almost unlimited visibility. On the way back into the Solent from the east, we passed the huge P&O cruise liner "Azura" leaving Southampton and the two ships, one so vast and one so tiny, saluted each other with their hooters - lovely!

Back in Yarmouth we had a splendid dinner in the "George" the price of which was covered by the discount they had given us!!
On Wednesday morning we awoke to bright sunshine filling the room. After the "Big Breakfast", we caught the bus via Newport to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. As we arrived, the 0-6-0 Terrier "Freshwater" was about to leave, so our timing was perfect.

We travelled up and down the line in the beautifully restored coaches before catching the bus back through Newport to Yarmouth.

M had contacted Sara, as we would have liked to see her and the boys, but M received a call from her saying that there would be no one at the house while we were there. Such a pity!
Back in Yarmouth, we had a proper afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones in the old Jireh Tea Rooms before waddling back to the ferry for the journey home. A lovely end to a very special birthday treat.

On Thursday, R went to Capture for the day, starting with breakfast at "Pierreponts" as usual. M spent the day at home being domestic and then went to her choir's committee meeting in the evening. On his way home, R stopped off at the new service area near the A3 on the M25, which has only just opened.
On Friday, we both took the train to Aldermaston and walked the mile or so back to Froud's Bridge Marina and MM. As it was quite late when we arrived, we decided to stay there overnight. We had hoped to see Richard and Lizzie on "Dragonfly", but they had already left.

Froud's Bridge Marina

Saturday 15th September, 2012 at Froud's Bridge Marina.
A golden morning, absolutely still. As the sun rose, M stood on the stern deck with her cup of tea, watching a hot air balloon drift lazily by.

We set off the short distance to Froud's Bridge Marina, where MM is booked in for a few days while we go back home for R's belated surprise birthday treat. We had moored MM at Froud's Bridge Marina back in June on our way west and had found it to be a very pretty and well maintained marina.

We filled up with water and diesel and had a pump-out at the marina before taking MM to her berth. We were very surprised to see that nb "Dragonfly" was moored up there.
We walked along the towpath for a mile to Aldermaston railway station and caught the train home. We will be back next Friday.
Today: 1 mile, 1 lock and 1.0 hour.
Trip: 275 miles, 287 locks and 231.4 hours (384.1 total).

Cute Calves

Friday 14th September, 2012 at Woolhampton
A rather grey start to the day, with some drizzle, eventually giving way to a bright but breezy day.
We said farewell to Thatcham; not the most picturesque of the towns on the K&A, but it's served us well in terms of transport links and shopping.
We shared the three locks between Thatcham and Woolhampton with a hireboat nb "Ufton Lock" and heard the saga of their problems with their two toilets! We already know that narrowboat toilets are a law unto themselves; M refers to our own toilet as "Quatermass" - enough said! At Woolhampton, a man from the hire company was there with a new toilet for their boat, which he fitted while they all waited on the towpath to get away from the smell. They were very pleased that it wasn't raining!
The breeze was so strong that M, having struggled to open one of the swing bridges, then watched indignantly as the wind promptly blew it shut again. A nice chap on a bicycle, saw her fighting a losing battle to re-open it, and came to her aid. He was cycling all the way from Reading to South Wales for charity.
We moored up above Woolhampton lock and, after lunch, set off for a walk, OS Map in hand. The old coaching village of Woolhampton has more or less been ruined by the advent of the A4 road that drives right through the middle.

Our path took us through lovely meadows and a very pretty herd of cows with their calves.

 

 Eventually we came to Midgham Church, which we have frequently admired from both the canal and from the train, as it sits very high and prominent on the hills to the north. Close up, St. Matthew's is a beautiful work of architecture and we were pleasantly surprised to find it open, so we were able to look around and sign the visitor's book.

It was all downhill back to the canal and we then walked down the towpath to MM, the total distance was four miles, so a fairly respectable distance. Along the way we sampled some of the blackberries, which are now in abundance in the hedgerows; they are ripe and sweet. The sloes, however, are not ready or abundant so we may have problems finding enough for this year's batch of Sloe Gin.
At bedtime, we stood on the stern deck looking in wonder at the night sky. It was one of those rare nights when, even in southern England, you can see the Milky Way. Wonderful!
Today: 3 miles, 3 locks and 1.9 hours.
Trip: 274 miles, 286 locks and 230.4 hours (383.1 total).

A Hurricane and a Mosquito!

Thursday 13th September, 2012 in Thatcham.
It was a bright morning both in Thatcham and in Reigate, with a clear blue sky and very still. R walked up to Costa in Thatcham town centre for his breakfast while M, in Reigate, had to content herself with humble porridge!
Our wonderful bus passes are only valid from 9:30am on weekdays and recently the local bus company changed the timetable for a bus that passes the house at Meadvale from 9:31 to 9:26, so M was amused to find that the bus driver refused to let her on the bus this morning as it was now before 9:30! So she had to wait for the next one and only just managed to catch the train at Redhill as the doors were closing.
R met her at Thatcham at mid-day; the station is so close that he only left MM when her heard the level crossing warning as the barriers came down - and he was still on the platform well before the train arrived!
It was such a lovely afternoon that we decided to stay put and have a quiet day.

We were thrilled to see a Hurricane fly over, following the same flight path as the Red Arrows and the Lancaster of the last two days. R did some research and discovered that they are all heading for airshows on the Channel Islands. All we need now is a Spitfire to pass overhead to complete the collection!
While doing the research, R discovered that the De Haviland Mosquito being built in New Zealand is due to fly for the first time this month. It has taken seven years to build and cost three million dollars. It will be the only airworthy example in the world since the last flying example crashed in 1996.

Check it out at: http://www.facebook.com/Avspecs
We set off for a pre-dinner walk, heading downstream towards Woolhampton, the route that we shall take tomorrow.

It was a lovely evening, and a walk of four miles was perfect. We were interested to see repair work being carried out near Midgham lock to strengthen the embankment side with steel shuttering.

After dinner, we watched the Elstree Studio classic "Whisky Galore" with very young examples of Joan Greenwood, John Gregson, James Robertson Justice and Gordon Jackson among others. A sheer delight!!
Today: Just 1.4 hours to charge the batteries.

A Lancaster Flypast.

Wednesday 12th September, 2012, back to Thatcham.
As it looked like being a nice morning, R walked across the bridge to the Kennet and Avon Trust Tea House for breakfast, which lived up their very high standard. M, making do with porridge back home, said that she was very jealous!!

The Kennet & Avon Trust Tea Room behind the tree.

After breakfast and after removing more fishing line (complete with hook and fishing weights) from around MM's propellor, MM finally said a sad farewell to Newbury. We have really enjoyed staying here. On the way down we spent seven nights in and around Newbury and a further six nights on the way back - by far the longest time we have stayed in any one location on our trip.
The return trip to Thatcham was uneventful. Even Bull's Bridge lock gates succumbed, thanks to two ladies from another boat waiting to go up through the lock. R and the two ladies together just managed to get the gates open!
R moored MM at Thatcham to await M's return from Reigate tomorrow. Shortly after mooring up, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster flew over heading to the south west. I guess there is a lot of activity around this time of year, as it is Battle of Britain weekend. The sound of those four Merlin engines is so evocative. It always makes one think of wartime Test Pilot Alex Henshaw's autobiography with the wonderful title: "Sigh for a Merlin."
Thatcham town centre is about a mile north of the canal, a good distance to work up an appetite for yet more coffee and cake after a visit to a local barber!
Today: 4 miles, 5 locks and 2.5 hours.
Trip: 271 miles, 283 locks and 228.5 hours (379.8 total).

The Red Arrows and a Tough Lock.

Tuesday 11th September, 2012 in Newbury Again.
Awoke to a pretty morning, bright and breezy. There is definitely an autumnal chill in the air. M remarked that the photo taken early in the morning is very reminiscent of a Constable painting.

The "canal" is actually the River Kennet here, and it is a joy to see the clear water which moves quickly downstream, you can even see the bottom in places. The clear water was a great help to R, who removed a large amount of cloth of indeterminate origin, wound up with a load of fishing line, from MM's propellor.
Lizzie and Richard on "Dragonfly" set off for Aldermaston mid morning and we bade them a sad farewell. We've got to know them quite well and have grown to like them very much. Hopefully we may see them again later in the year as they are also heading up the Oxford canal via the Thames.

M left for Reigate on the train at mid-day and soon after, R started off for Newbury on MM as the Thatcham moorings are time limited.
As MM pulled away from the moorings, the Red Arrows flew over quite low in two "V" formations of five aircraft each, heading south west. A lovely sight!!
R is quite used to doing locks and bridges solo these days, it's not a problem if you do it slowly and take your time. However, at Bull's Bridge lock, the bottom gates leak so badly that even with both top paddles fully open, the lock never quite fills completely. Even that inch or two of difference in water levels means that it is virtually impossible to open the top gates against the water pressure with only one person. It took 15 or 20 minutes of struggling and straining (and the odd expletive) before the gates finally opened.
On arriving in Newbury centre, there was ample mooring space available but R needed to turn MM round to be ready to sail back to Thatcham tomorrow. The first attempt under the town centre bridge went sadly wrong as R mis-judged it and ended up with MM stuck across the canal with the bows jammed up against the guard rail of the small wier and the stern stuck in the shallows on the other side. R walked the length of the boat and pulled the bow free with the bow rope, allowing the stern to float free. The second time it worked perfectly and MM reversed into her mooring.
We get many compliments from passers-by admiring MM, but today we got an unusual one from a man walking along the towpath: "You must have worked really hard to have such a lovely boat!"
Arrived in Newbury just in time for a walk around the town and then the obligatory coffee and cake at the local Costa.
Today: 4 miles, 5 locks and 3.4 hours.
Trip: 267 miles, 278 locks and 226.2 hours (377.3 total).