Glorious Goring on the Thames

Saturday, 22 October 2011 21:03

Although this is the third time we have moored at Goring, I still find pleasure in wandering over the bridge into the village...

Moored above Goring Lock back in April

...particularly on a sunny day as it was today, yet again .......

Crossing Goring Bridge gives a good view of the lock and as I left Epiphany I had seen a large boat turning above the lock.

Goring Bridge as we arrived from downstream yesterday

The large boat was the African Queen which moors above Mapledurham Lock. It advertises a "dream cruise on the beautiful Thames river while you enjoy fine food, scenic views and the best the Thames has to offer". So aren't we fortunate? We don't have to pay a fortune to live our dream and cruise the beautiful Thames, enjoying home cooking, scenic views and the best Epiphany and the Thames has to offer!

The African Queen exits Goring Lock

You can just spot us on our "dream" mooring in the above photo to the left of middle at the top.

I popped into the church, mainly to check the times of the services are as it said on their website. They are!

St Thomas of Canterbury, Goring

I am not sure about the modern addition on the south side, and inside the pews and choir stalls have been "modernised". We will see what the service is like tomorrow.

Wandering on, I came across the John Barleycorn pub. We ate here back in our narrowboat hiring days with John and Carolyn when we went up to Wargrave, before turning around and back onto the Kennet and Avon Canal.

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The John Barleycorn

Goring is well endowed with pubs and eateries - just nearby is the Catherine Wheel.

Catherine Wheel

The Miller of Mansfield

I called in to the small private supermarket, Nappers, which is full of an interesting range of food including superior Indian take away meals.

Nappers

McColl, the other small supermarket, is not so nice, but does all the usual basics and is the Post Office too.  Pierreponts, by the bridge was doing a brisk trade, as usual. They do a great breakfast as we discovered last time we were here in June, moored with nb Petroc and Gill and Geoff.

So back to Epiphany, resisting the temptation of tea and cake at Pierreponts, for tea and cake with John! We hope to move on tomorrow so it will be a sad farewell to one of our favourite places. There is more about Goring and its neighbour Streatley from our other visits here and here.