We are trying to confuse you all - an upstream excursion

Sunday, 01 May 2011 11:52

Lovely as it is at Pangbourne Meadow, we fancied a change of scene. Contrary to what we had planned, we turned around!

In Whitchurch Lock

Now why should we do that?

Maybe we are reluctant to leave the River Thames? We will be going onto the Kennet and Avon canal soon and a move downstream would have brought that nearer! It was such a lovely day and as we fancied a bit of peace and quiet for a day or two, we made for a place we had spotted on the way downstream.

I also had to take a photo of the seventh "deadly sin" that I had missed on the way down. You may have noticed that there were only six photos of the villas on this blog! John remarked that maybe the villa below was the deadly sin of Sloth ....

Missing deadly sin villa

It is the third villa going upstream (the third DS is sloth in the current accepted list!) and perhaps the almost derelict boat moored there also made him think of "sloth"! As you can see the villa is well hidden, another allegory?

Pangbourne College rowers were out in force and we had to weave around a bit to avoid them, one poor boy looked as if it was his first time out!

Pangbourne College rowers

We were making for the Beale Park moorings, so did not have far to go on the wide expanse of the Whitchurch Reach of the Thames. There were a few boats moored already, strung out along the long stretch of moorings. We passed a couple of narrowboats, two or three cruisers and a few sunbathers! Was our "spot" free?

Yes it was - an eyot at Beale Park, known to us as Beale Park South Island. We fitted in just nicely!

Moored at South Island

We are pretty sure we pinched a favourite mooring for a cruiser that appeared not long after we had moored up - hard luck mate, first come first serve! We are also moored in a favourite spot for a certain very loud water bird and wondered if we would have a "g" alarm early in the morning. Get the clue?

In fact we had a very quiet night and in the morning the Canada Geese had turned into these!

Young cattle eating willow

Then later these appeared

I think dad is saying "keep away you 'orrible boaters"

As a finale - this one wanted to get in on the act!

"See how calm and serene I am amongst all this mayhem? It is Sunday after all, a day of rest"

River Thames, Pangbourne Meadow to Beale Park South Island
0.46 hours, 1.85 miles, 1 lock