A quiet River Thames as we cruise and how to remember channel markers

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 19:13

Our departure this morning was pretty early for us! We had both had a bad night - so it took me a while to get going. I am most definitely not a morning person! We took a photo of the channel marker that was missed or ignored by the narrowboat that grounded.

Channel marker north of the island

They had tried to turn right around the island, between the red marker and the island.....

By the way, we have a memory trick for buoys:
   Going downstream: "GRR" - Green (left), Red Right .
   Going upstream: "RUG" - Red (left) Upstream, Green (right) .
Well - it helps us!

Anyway, we got around it OK, by going upstream of the buoy before turning. We cruised on down towards Whitchurch Lock - they were pretty familiar waters now - but it was cold and still windy, more like our usual May weather. Still, the sun was shining and we were cruising again! Pangbourne Meadow was empty - only one narrowboat moored and in "our spot"!

The Bozedown alpacas had been shorn and moved away from the river. I took these last week.

Pre shearing

Post shearing

A young male alpaca could set you back about £350; however a female would cost around £3,000 - that says it all girls!

Mapledurham Lock was opened in 1777, it was then known as Purley Pound Lock, but local preferences prevailed and the lock became Mapledurham. There was no lock house and by the 1830s it was in a dangerous condition and so needed rebuilding. A brand new larger lock was built in 1908, alongside the old one and in 1955 it became the first powered lock on the River Thames.

Mapledurham Watermill is just visible above the lock

From below, the weir and lock are impressive

Below the lock is very picturesque, with Mapledurham House and St Margaret's Church. The house was built by the Catholic Sir Michael Blount on the site of the old manor house in 1588. The house was not actually completed until after his death.

Mapledurham House from the river

The house had had a number of alteration since then and is now owned by the Mapledurham Trust and open to the public on selected days. Access is difficult and moorings are only provided if boats are paying to visit the house.

St Margaret's Church peeps through the trees

Most of the houses below the lock on the edge of Purley have end of garden moorings and Purley Garden Moorings are hidden away in a small private marina.

Riverside houses at Purley

The river now begins the run into Reading, passing Tilehurst, now part of Reading, on the west bank. There are a couple of islands to negotiate before the open and wide reach before Caversham Bridge.

To be continued .......