Thursday 29th July 2021 in Goring-on-Thames
A charming "Good Morning" from the resident swan! Clearly he was not having a good day...
Our lovely next door neighbours arrived mid-morning, with Ruby a young friend of the family.
Sam was quick to volunteer to steer MM as we set off from Reading towards Goring.
Ben was next on the tiller. Both the boys quickly got the idea of steering the stern of the boat and anticipating her next move, so MM went in a fairly straight line down the middle of the river.
It wasn't long before dare-devil Sam found that you could walk along the gunwale and we were surprised (and a bit alarmed) to see his face looking through the window! Kerry was very nervous, but nobody fell off all day!
Phil took a turn on the tiller next.
Meanwhile, the children had lunch inside MM.
Ruby was a bit nervous about taking the tiller at first but Phil talked her through it, she grew in confidence and did a brilliant job.
Soon Phil and Ben were walking along the gunwale and sitting in the front of MM. M photographed them through the front window.
Kerry also tried the tiller with Phil looking on.
The call of the gunwale and the front was irresistible and soon Ruby and Joe were up there too, both of them circled the boat more than a few times.
When we arrived in Goring it was time for a bit of a picnic and a glass of Prosecco. Kerry had kindly brought all the food and drink with her and M had bought sandwiches for us, so M didn't have to cook at all today.
The end of a lovely day as we wished then farewell and R walked them to Goring Station to catch a train back to Reading and their car.
So pleased that we could have such a great trip with them on MM.
Today: 10 miles, 2 locks and 3.6 hours.
Trip: 350 miles, 194 locks and 176.4 hours.
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