Boat Trip - Day 2: Heading to Reading

Slept well, despite bilge pump going off sporadically during the night, which is quite normal but can be avoided by a purge the night before. Obvs didn't do that quite enough. Beds are comfy and it was cool at night. I slept with earphones in (as usual) and had crazy dreams about Russians. Lisa slept well, as did Rob. Angelique went to sleep about 3am and we woke her up at 7 😃.

Cork balls

Flock after flock of Canada Geese fly past. We have a cuppa, and Rob M announces that he needs to poop. I turn up the stereo. His top toilet tip is to aim for the hole - shit sticks apparently. In the briefing in Benson we were told not to add too much paper, so generally it's a multi-flush operation. 

The shower needs the engine to have run for 10-15 mins for hot water, so the girls decide to have theirs after we've set off, which works out well. 

We set sail from Moulsford, and go through 2 locks fairly close together (Cleeve, Goring). Rob M is driving. The locks are an electric system - sometimes manned, often not. Cleeve is not. A nice couple pull-up behind and we go through together without incident. We let them overtake after and we're into Goring lock behind them and another boat Goring is manned and the lock keeper advises. 

Next lock is Pangbourne, unmanned. We try to park up behind some old couple before going through. I'm on rope duty and secure the front but back of boat drifts out and is nearly at 90 degrees to back before I get the rope to the back. Old-boy up ahead is barking orders, we're on a very narrow platform and Ange is pulling the rope, pretty precarious, old-boy is shouting for me to help her saying something like "you have more body mass, help her pull!", the cheeky old sausage. I didn't hear this at the time but help pull anyway. Lisa says that she hates boat people. After some intense tug of war we get boat back in line. I go over to lock to old-boy and win him over with my charm and he's not a bad old stick. We've learnt - secure the back of boat first; we have bow thrusters to sort out the front. All locks after this go pretty well, with us Robs switching roles. 

Something Rob M notices is that we pass huge garden after garden of rich peoples houses. Which also means there's few places to moor - all private. It all makes for picturesque viewing though. There's also a lot of other random boats that look like wrecks. We want to stop at Caversham which should be nicer but no where to stop.

We've been going for about 3 hours non stop at this point and it's bloody hot 🥵, with no parasol of course! 80's radio is on, Sinitta's "Toy Boy" pollutes the peace and tranquility 😁. 

We stop at Reading to restock provisions. Le Boat people told us to keep going through but we have found a good mooring spot. I'm pleased with my parking, which is a confidence boost and then happy to take on the locks after that. After mooring up an official instantly emerges from the shadows to say that we need to pay for mooring but he'll let us stay for 2 hours for free. We use the full 2 hours. Reading festival is on next week and preparations are being made. I have a dump in town for old times sake, just like '92. Caversham lock is straight after stop, which is manned and it goes ok.

The stretch of river after that is lovely. Wide and quiet, that's how I like it. Ooer missus. This is the Sonning area, where George Clooney has a house, apparently. Lisa drives boat for this stretch. I park up and we more for the night. Pub is a 10min walk, choice of 4. First one, which is some sort of  theatre - bar had just closed. Choice of 3. We got for The Bull which is lovely and we stay from 5 until 10. This time we get food - thank the gods. I ask about paying for mooring but they reckon we're on a free one. Lock keeper is no where to be seen so sod 'em. Apparently Uri Geller owns a lot of land around here, the spoon-bending prick. 

On the way back down the river path, loads of little frogs are jumping across to the river. Then back to boat. The night finishes with more gin rummy and then to bed.

More pics from the day: