Burghfield to Woolhampton

Sunday, 29th June 2014

After a restful two days and meeting friends Ceri and Gary for lunch yesterday at the Cunning Man in Burghfield, I get to move on...... Yah!!!

We cruise by the two NBs that have been moored here since Thursday evening - no-one on board.

Mazey has jelly legs today.  Susan tells Pete that at the next lock they will walk so that Mazey can exercise and feel terra firma under her paws.....  She loves this and keeps playing hide and seek with me amongst the weeds, bull-rushes and nettles....  However, at one point Susan was concerned as the path left the canal and they had to cross fields with cows in.  Susan was not sure if they would ever get back onto the towpath but they did..  Susan said that she could see lots of butterflies and dragonflies on her walk.

There is evidence of the recent flooding as many sandbags are placed along the towpath.  There are also large, gravel pit, man-made lakes in abundance along this stretch of river and lush green meadows too.

Garston lock is a very odd lock... No sides..... Makes it difficult for Pete to get off of me and hold me safely in the double lock whilst a torrent of water comes through the front gates.....  Not a pleasant experience..  Not a good lock to do if you are single-handed.

Garston Lock

Works at Garston Lock

At Tyle Mill Pete cruises me to a stop and then fills me with water.  Whilst he does this Susan frantically cooks crumpets and tea for them both.  Just as Susan sits down to have a late breakfast/early lunch, Pete says he is done filling me up and that another NB is coming through the lock.  Susan leaves her food and cuppa then heads off to do the bridge and help with the lock......  She is not happy as when she gets back onto the boat the crumpets are cold and so is her cuppa!!!

There are a lot of swing bridges and power operated bridges.  At one of them 3 men had to move their cycles from the bridge.  Susan struggled to remove the heavy chain and then pull the bridge open.  Thankfully, the men came to her rescue, so that Pete and I could cruise through the bridge.  A few of the bridges immediately precede a lock, so Susan with Mazey has to go and prepare the lock before operating the bridge.  Then I can cruise through the bridge and into the lock.  Clever......

Swing bridge completed

Aldermaston

From Aldermaston lock, Susan comments that there are now a lot of boats either in private moorings or in public moorings.  There also appear to be LOTS of stinging nettles which don't bother me BUT I think the family are a little concerned by them, if they tried to moor amongst them, which they may have to, they could get stung.

Thankfully, Pete manages to moor us near bridge 29 not far from Woolhampton.  Pete has managed to get my bow into the towpath but my stern is well adrift......  Hey ho!! Time for dinner Susan says.  Tonight is paella with garlic mash..... Strange concoction Pete says but manages to eat it.  Night night.

Total 8 Locks, 6 bridges and 6.5 miles (water)