I didn't know Reading on Thames was so popular

Sunday, 03 July 2011 18:23

As Reading has spread and modernised it has taken the River Thames and Kennet and Avon Canal to its heart. The canal is right through the centre of the shopping area and the River skirts parkland and cuts Reading and Caversham in two.

Oracle shopping opportunities by the canal

Today Reading has been popular with boaters - lots of cruisers of varying sizes and a high number of those of the narrowboat persuasion .......

Moored just above Caversham Lock, as we are, they all come out of the lock in bunches. So it feels as if lots of convoys are going by - the Lock Keeper is having a busy day with more boats going upstream than down.

I heard a "toot toot" and popped up from my hot computer. Ah ... we have now "met" across the river!

Nb Rock and Roll

Not long after, I heard "ahoy Epiphany" and saw a red narrowboat drawing alongside. It was nb Minty with Glyn and Lyn aboard. Glyn held Minty as we nattered and caught up with Bath Narrowboats' gossip. We are an "exclusive" club now, as they no longer fit out lovely boats on Colecraft shells. We shall look out for "Echo" at Staines, but have lost track of some of the others. (Any of you BN owners reading this, as I know you do, let us know if you know!).

Later, busy with some other job, an older narrowboat passed near to us - it was the Mikron Theatre. I grabbed my camera and here they are

Mikron Theatre

They were due at Caversham Court, just up the river, for a show. We will try and catch their show at Wargrave later in the week.

Carol and George on nb Rock and Roll moored behind us later in the day and kindly invited us aboard for drinks in the evening. We really enjoyed meeting them and as all bloggers and boaters have a lot in common we had plenty to talk about. Thanks!

The sunsets over the river have been lovely for the last couple of evenings, so I thought I would share them with you.

Sunset reflections from our bows

Looking downstream with an obliging swan

The Canada geese at Caversham Meadows are a bit put out by all the boats moored here and after huddling together they take to the water morning and evening with a raucous cacophony. Hard luck boaters - it is time to wake up.

Canada geese - our wake up call

Tomorrow we shall be off - downstream probably, but we shall see ......