08.09.15
Arrived in Henley at 1.15pm after a very late start from Shiplake - we didn't wake up until 9.45am, it being so quiet and dark, or was it the excess of wine we'd had the night before?! This mooring near Shiplake College and their rowing base was very pleasant on this sunny day, but had a slightly spooky feel, the towpath being narrow with a tall hedge along it behind which was what appeared to be a boggy wood obviously never visited. The land banks up steeply here and the college buildings and a pretty church are at the top, but can't be seen from the towpath. Just to finish off the strange atmosphere, behind us was a wooden boat: Feral Lass, covered in cobwebs, tree sap and general grime. A young fisherman told us it had been there for most of his life, (possibly about 20years guessing his age) and he can't remember ever seeing it being used. He told us there used to be a cardboard skeleton in the wheelhouse window just to add to the ghostly image! We had probably got it all wrong and the owners do still take it out from time to time. Apologies to its owners if that's the case. It could be a beautiful boat with some extra TLC and has obviously been looked after in it's time. However, despite having a lovely evening, a good meal and those glasses of wine, I still felt inclined to leave the battery light on in the saloon for comfort when we went to bed, I don't like complete blackness at the best of times and this was a spook too far.
After our late start we were further delayed at the Shiplake lock water point as everyone seemed to need water and there was a queue. You don't see another boat for days and then 4 come along at once all onto the same spot. Pete had a conversation with the people who owned a Pedro queuing behind us. He is interested in them and thinks we may buy one to use on the French waterways some fine day. I must admit they look very well suited to hot sunshine - hmmm, dream on.
On to our favourite mooring from last year on the Henley regatta course open field. It's nowhere near as hot today as it was when we were here last, when we bbqed in shorts and set our towels to dry in the sunshine. Never mind it's a lovely spot for £8 a night with a short very nice walk into Henley. Aren't we lucky.
Under the dark trees looming behind us!
Autumn bonfires at Shiplake lock
Richard's?
Arrived in Henley at 1.15pm after a very late start from Shiplake - we didn't wake up until 9.45am, it being so quiet and dark, or was it the excess of wine we'd had the night before?! This mooring near Shiplake College and their rowing base was very pleasant on this sunny day, but had a slightly spooky feel, the towpath being narrow with a tall hedge along it behind which was what appeared to be a boggy wood obviously never visited. The land banks up steeply here and the college buildings and a pretty church are at the top, but can't be seen from the towpath. Just to finish off the strange atmosphere, behind us was a wooden boat: Feral Lass, covered in cobwebs, tree sap and general grime. A young fisherman told us it had been there for most of his life, (possibly about 20years guessing his age) and he can't remember ever seeing it being used. He told us there used to be a cardboard skeleton in the wheelhouse window just to add to the ghostly image! We had probably got it all wrong and the owners do still take it out from time to time. Apologies to its owners if that's the case. It could be a beautiful boat with some extra TLC and has obviously been looked after in it's time. However, despite having a lovely evening, a good meal and those glasses of wine, I still felt inclined to leave the battery light on in the saloon for comfort when we went to bed, I don't like complete blackness at the best of times and this was a spook too far.
After our late start we were further delayed at the Shiplake lock water point as everyone seemed to need water and there was a queue. You don't see another boat for days and then 4 come along at once all onto the same spot. Pete had a conversation with the people who owned a Pedro queuing behind us. He is interested in them and thinks we may buy one to use on the French waterways some fine day. I must admit they look very well suited to hot sunshine - hmmm, dream on.
On to our favourite mooring from last year on the Henley regatta course open field. It's nowhere near as hot today as it was when we were here last, when we bbqed in shorts and set our towels to dry in the sunshine. Never mind it's a lovely spot for £8 a night with a short very nice walk into Henley. Aren't we lucky.
Under the dark trees looming behind us!
Autumn bonfires at Shiplake lock
Richard's?
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