Popular mooring to exclusive mooring on the River Thames

Saturday, 22 October 2011 12:35

Today is our "rest day". We only cruised a short way yesterday, but it was glorious.

Whitchurch Bridge between Pangbourne and Whitchurch

We were surprised by the number of boats on the move, but popular moorings were almost empty .....

There were only three boats overnight on the moorings at Pangbourne - bags of room for anyone! We set off with Jen and Rod and up through Whitchurch Lock. The bridge (a toll bridge) has had a reprieve. It was to be reconstructed in 2012, but now it will be 2013. 

Leafy lock cut

Above the lock it was glorious and we cruised past the houses known as the Seven Deadly Sins, reputedly built by D.H. Evans (he of department store fame) for his mistresses. The rowers were not around on the river, but getting ready to launch their boats. It can be very busy with young rowers here.

Above Whitchurch Lock

As we approached Beale Park there were a few narrowboats well spaced on the rough moorings - but the 24 hour Beale Park moorings were all empty. It is a long stretch of moorings and the fishermen had the bank all to themselves! 

River Thames at Beale Park

We were dawdling along as we had plenty of time and it was great to have a good chat with Jen as Rod took the tiller, with John supervising. Brunel's 1839 Gatehampton Bridge is the next landmark. I caught a Virgin as it passed over the bridge - that was us a week ago on our way back from Lancaster!

Gatehampton Bridge

Beyond is Goring Gap and the beautiful wooded run to Goring bridge, lock and our potential "exclusive" mooring.

Cattle and "The Grotto" house, Goring Gap

Goring Gap is the divide between the Chilterns and the Berkshire Downs and leads to the villages of Streatley (Berkshire) and Goring (Oxfordshire). The visitor moorings below the bridge that joins the two villages were almost empty. 

Goring visitor moorings

As we approached the bridge a work boat came out of the lock beyond

It was towing two floating platforms that are used when repairing locks and these took up the whole width of the lock. The stoppages on the Thames begin on November 1st, so as long as we are above Day's Lock by then we will be OK. 

Rod took the bow rope ( he was getting the hang of throwing it around the lock bollards!)

As the top gates opened we could see that our mooring was free - yippee! I have called it an "exclusive mooring", but I suspect we are not the only boaters who know of it. We have been here a couple of times and it is certainly a lovely place to stop for a while. 

Goring Lock and river beyond

A day or so here and then it will be time to move .....

River Thames, Pangbourne to Goring
1 hour 32 minutes, 4.51 miles, 2 locks