16th October
A pleasant cruise this morning at the bottom end of the K and A, past Kate Bush's Shenfield Mill; an atmospheric derelict building and wheel as well as a huge house which suits her but sets me off singing 'heathcliffe, it's me' in a startling shriek. (Not so good). Back to Reading and the scuzzy mooring by Tescos. It's nice to be back on the big wide Thames though and knowing the pretty stretch we have to look forward to with manned locks (yipee).
The traffic light system on the last bit of the K and A made sense to me today. We set it to green to go through, but by the time we had manoeuvred out of the weir stream flow, the light had gone red again worryingly. The canal is wide enough for two boats, so I was puzzled. Pete, more knowledgeable than I, full-throttled ahead past the Reading eateries and shopping centre and through the last bridge; an original therefore low and which you have to pass under in the middle with no view ahead as it is on a bend. As we came through, another boat was patiently waiting for their light to turn green. Now I understand.
Once moored Pete leapt to the rescue of 2 canoeists who announced as they paddled past that they were the entertainment for the afternoon and, as if on cue, promptly capsized!
They and the boat needed hauling onto the bank, which Pete did, but we're not quite sure what he's doing in this photo just beforehand, some kind of ritualistic mincing dance perhaps?!
A pleasant cruise this morning at the bottom end of the K and A, past Kate Bush's Shenfield Mill; an atmospheric derelict building and wheel as well as a huge house which suits her but sets me off singing 'heathcliffe, it's me' in a startling shriek. (Not so good). Back to Reading and the scuzzy mooring by Tescos. It's nice to be back on the big wide Thames though and knowing the pretty stretch we have to look forward to with manned locks (yipee).
The traffic light system on the last bit of the K and A made sense to me today. We set it to green to go through, but by the time we had manoeuvred out of the weir stream flow, the light had gone red again worryingly. The canal is wide enough for two boats, so I was puzzled. Pete, more knowledgeable than I, full-throttled ahead past the Reading eateries and shopping centre and through the last bridge; an original therefore low and which you have to pass under in the middle with no view ahead as it is on a bend. As we came through, another boat was patiently waiting for their light to turn green. Now I understand.
Once moored Pete leapt to the rescue of 2 canoeists who announced as they paddled past that they were the entertainment for the afternoon and, as if on cue, promptly capsized!
They and the boat needed hauling onto the bank, which Pete did, but we're not quite sure what he's doing in this photo just beforehand, some kind of ritualistic mincing dance perhaps?!
Location:Reading
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