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).