Too long, too far and too hot

Friday, 06 May 2011 19:34

As there is supposed to be rain tomorrow (I will wait to look out of the porthole before I believe it!), we decided to move on from Reading. Theale sounded a good place to be for a couple of days.

Turning onto River Kennet at end of Gaol Loop

However, the best laid plans can always be thwarted by other factors ......

This footbridge marks the start of the Kennet and Avon Canal "proper". In other words, be it the River Kennet, canalised sections or actual canal we were now in BW land.

Welcome to the Kennet and Avon Canal

We did our "royal progress" through the Oracle after pressing the button before High Bridge to change the traffic lights on the one way working section between there and County Lock.

High Bridge

The Oracle curved footbridge

County Lock has an open weir and we allowed a small cruiser (single hander) to descend first; I pressed the traffic light button for him, it changed to green and yet he seemed reluctant to continue and "fussed" around below the weir. By the time he left, the light was red again!

County Lock and weir

After the lock it is a bit shabby as we passed the permanent moorings and the gardens descending down to the water. It felt really strange to be back on a canal again. I was not looking forward to Fobney Lock as I remembered it had a waterworks and pumping station beside it. The weir from these works is at a right angle at the landing stage and extremely fierce. Ever the coward, I let John stay at the tiller and went to do the lock, getting a shower from the weir as I went.

On the lock landing below Fobney Lock - weir to the right

Just to prove it, here I am sitting on the gates having a rest after opening the paddles. Actually they were not too bad - the bottom gates needed a real heave to get them shut though!

In Fobney Lock

By now we had picked up the two slow narrowboats ahead of us that made the cruise "too long". We caught them up at each succeeding lock and had to wait for them. What was going to be a just over three hours cruise turned into nearly five hours.

We were still in Reading as we came to Southcote Lock, although the urbanisation is a little way away over the railway. We contemplated stopping here as it was lunch time and we had been going for over two hours. But we didn't and carried on past Burghfield Island and the moorings there. The Kennet Cruisers Trip Boat is moored here and one of our blog readers skippers it sometimes. Sorry to miss you Simon! Maybe you could pop over?

Kennet Cruisers Trip Boat

Our cruise was becoming too long - but it was only three more locks, a swing bridge and about 2½ more miles to Theale. However, it was hot and muggy and I was beginning to tire. I am not good in heat and humidity; it was so still there was "no air". But we pressed on.

Garston Lock is a "turf-sided" lock - one of two on the K and A. We were not sure where the turf was, more like weeds; the sides are now lined with metal.

Garston Lock

Sheffield Lock is different too. Here we encountered one of the very wide boats that the K and A attracts: one that takes up most of the canal and heaven knows what happens if two like this meet. The lock was originally turf-sided too, but was enlarged to take "Newbury Barges" which were 109' by 17', carrying 120 tons, pulled by 12 horses and worked by 6 men. The brick lock now has 11 scalloped bays. 

Wide boat exiting Sheffield Lock

Almost immediately after the lock is Theale Swing Bridge and John walked on to open this electrified bridge. Phew, the end was in sight! We just hoped that there was a mooring left above it.

Theale Swing Bridge

Yes - there was! That's our spot, whoopee! Lots of trees so no satellite signal but we may just stay put for a couple of days anyway. Maybe Theale was a bit too far, but it is a very nice mooring with the gravel pits alongside and lots of bird song.

Moorings above Theale Swing Bridge

Kennet and Avon Canal, Reading to Theale
6.06 miles, 4 hours 50 minutes, 6 locks