Theale to Reading in good company

Monday, 08 September 2008 19:37

6.08 miles, 3hrs 25m, locks 6, swing bridges 1, 3.52 lock/mph

We both had a bad night so woke up later than usual this morning. As forecast it was dry, cloudy but warm.

John fitted the new chimney and then we set off, just in front of Nb Parsons Passage who it transpired were also going down to Reading. So we shared all the locks and it was great to have some congenial company.

The second lock of the day - Garston, is a turf lock (102) and it was a bit difficult to keep the boat in to the side as there was no where to take a rope off so John had to manoeuver a little to let in Parsons Passage.

There were two boats below on the lock landing. One was a broken down hire boat from Kennet Cruises at Burghfield, the other was their trip boat which had come to rescue it! They were breasted up and left just before the lock emptied and we needed to use the lock landing.

Passing under the M4 we were glad to be on the canal instead of shouting "canal" as we went across the bridge in the car.  As was our wont

However they were extremely slow through the next very bendy bit of the river/canal. We caught up with them well before the next lock - Burghfield (103) where they got stuck going in as the gates wouldn't open properly. Parsons Passage asked to pass but got short shrift! So we all moored up and Peter and Janet from Parsons Passage helped them sort things out and eventually they left the lock!

Next was Burghfield and it's interesting bridge with 3 arches.


Two too small for a narrowboat to go through, so it was obvious which arch to take! Fortunately Burghfield Island is Kennet Cruises' home so we passed the "floating canal block".

Southcot lock  and then Fobney lock brought us into the outskirts of Reading - the busy Bath Road and the ever-present railway not too far away over the water meadows. Fobney lock has a fierce weir stream just outside the bottom jaws - fun for the steerer when picking up crew. it takes a little thinking about but both boats negotiated it well.


Reading begins to encroach on the canal pretty soon and County lock (106) appears under the bridge and around the corner. Dwarfed by the Reading road system. The weir here can be impressive with a strong current after the lock. This lock is the last of the British Waterways locks on the Kennet and Avon.

From here on in the canal is lined by cottages, shops, cafes and as bit of light industry. The section known as "Brewery Gut" is controlled by traffic lights, creating a one way system. Suddenly the Oracle appears, a section lined with shops, restaurants, cafes etc with plenty of people to gongoozle.


The stream through here can be very fast but was not to bad today. Last time we came through here in 1999 the Oracle was not long opened and it was still a novelty to see a narrowboat going through - we felt as little like royalty as we waved to all and sundry!

Not long after the Oracle and High Bridge the loop to the moorings by Reading Jail peels off left. We took this left turn and moored next to Parsons Passage who had secured the last mooring but had very kindly said that we could breast up with them if necessary.

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