Leaving our very quiet mooring at Wargrave on Wednesday morning …..
…. it wasn’t long before James’ interest in riverside properties got into full swing. This old, thatched cottage built on stilts and out of reach of most major floods has survived the test of time and is in superb condition.
Further upstream and Sonning Court holds a prominent position on the river we cruise past the village. (all the spoons in this house are probably bent!)
The narrowness of Sonning Bridge limits quite a few of the larger craft from going any further.
Black swans at Reading.
Approaching Caversham lock with part of the Reading skyline in view.
Leaving Caversham – they don’t build houses like this any more!
The sign at Mapledurham Lock reminds us how far we’ve travelled and how far we have to go on the Thames. (the half mile seems to be VERY important!)
Wednesday’s mooring at Goring-on-Thames, just below the weir.
A very pretty cottage on the backwater in Goring – very typical of this beautiful village.
We ate out on Wednesday evening – taking the advice of John and Louise on nb “Plodding Along”. we very much enjoyed the food and the atmosphere of this lovely old pub – The Catherine Wheel.
On our way today, Thursday, and the Middle Thames becomes much more rural and the bridges start to take on a different character. This one at Wallingford has seventeen arches (!) but the river flows through only four of them.
Just past the bridge the visitor moorings at Wallingford hold a special memory for us. Back in 2008, in our previous boat, we held on for dear life here for a fortnight after the river rose five and a half feet over night! Since then, we hold great respect for this river.
You have to keep your eyes peeled to spot the River Thame quietly entering the Thames. The River Thames above this point is often referred to as both the Thames and the Isis.
The distinctive spire of Culham village church.
Only three of the cooling towers of the disused Didcot Power Station remain after the recent demolition of the other three.
Approaching the ancient town of Abingdon where, below the low bridge to the left, the River Ock (again very quietly) enters the much larger Thames.
A closer look at the very attractive waterfront at St Helen’s Wharf, Abingdon.
Our mooring this Thursday evening is at Sandford Lock close to Oxford where, tomorrow, we’ll be leaving this lovely river.
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