Showers on the River Kennet

Friday, 05 September 2008 20:22

The rain eased at about 3 pm so we got ready to move. We put our wet weather gear on "just in case" but as we set of the sun came out.

It seemed that we were meant to cruise in the dry but at each of the first two locks the rain descended again. Colthrop lock (91), restored with money from the Reed Group was slow filling. Even though the top gates were full of holes that the water poured through.

Midgham lock (92) was also showing signs of wear. The top gates had this plaque on them.


We wondered if Lord Boston of Faversham was still alive - if so he would not be happy to see the state of his gates - a veritable seive.

I was not looking forward to Woolhampton lock but we had one more lock and a couple of swing bridges to do first. A couple of light showers, in between the sunshine, accompanied us. At Oxlease swing bridge (33) we encountered our first "new" hirers from Reading Marine who closed the bridge as they left and we approached!

Finally the dreaded lock was upon us! I have heard so many horror stories caused by the fast running current below the lock that I was determined that I would work the lock and John steer the boat.

We had to wait as a couple more hire boats came up the lock. Moored behind us were a couple of working boats, beautifully looked after.

The guy working at the chandlery at Greenham Island owns them and he was telling me that the coal he has on board has sold very quickly and he is on his second delivery!

Well, despite my fears Woolhampton did not produce any disasters for us, in fact it was quite "tame". I went ahead to open the swing bridge and John hung back and then easily negotiated the current and the bridge!


We continued towards Frouds Bridge as the heavens opened and the rain poured down again. It is a very wooded and bendy section of the River Kennet and not many places to moor. However once past Frouds Bridge (29) and the eponymous named Marina before it,  we were able to moor fairly soon.

It continued to rain hard but at 8.30 ish it stopped! We are now wondering whether we are going to be stuck in Reading for a while as the Thames has red boards up. The news from other river navigations is also bad. The River Severn is actually closed.

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