W H Smith's House, Hollyhocks and MM Tied to a Tree.

Wednesday 28th July 2021 in Reading.

Once more, we had chosen a memorable place to moor; this time opposite the magnificent house once owned by W H Smith of the stationery emporium; it is now a conference centre.

The island at the end of Henley's famous rowing course is called Temple Island after the "Temple" building on it. The regatta is scheduled to start on 9th August, subject to government regulations and the course is already laid out, dead straight for a mile and a quarter. Good job we are passing through in July; Henley is heaving throughout the regatta.

This notice board on Shiplake Lock correctly summed up the weather today!

Sonning Lock had a magnificent display of hollyhocks all along the locksides, such a beautiful old fashioned flower.

We needed to moor in Reading overnight as our neighbours, Kerry, Phil and family, are arriving here tomorrow for a day trip. Again, moorings were in short supply and we had to resort to tying MM to a tree!

We walked into Reading for the inevitable "few bits" amid heavy downpours interspursed with bright sunshine.

Today: 10 miles, 4 locks and 3.9 hours.

Trip: 340 miles, 192 locks and 172.8 hours.