CRUISING RIVER THAMES by boat

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We depart Wallingford and make our way south mooring in Goring for the night. The next days travel ends beside a quiet passture with Edgars best fishing success to datre South of Shiplake Lock, Mile 49.5.

Monday, September 1,1997

Another beautiful morning dawned as we spent the morning picking up some supplies we had forgotten in Wallingford pausing at Town Arms beside the river for a fine lunch of fish and chips and several pints of ale. It was 14:00 hrs before we pulled our mooring stakes and nosed south past Maidenline marina into a a part of the Thames that we had not yet seen.

As one progress south from Wallingford the hills rise unexpectedly giving way to deeply forested banks on either side.

As the sun dropped below the hilltops we approached Goring Gap, then the picturesque town of Goring peeked over the hedgerow that lined the weir moorings. The east shore Mile 65.5) held a long line of the middle of town which we took advantage of. Small boats and fishermen dotted the pool below the wier as I settled down to making supper. This is a perfect spot for the Thames cruiser as it is located within a block of Goring high street.

Tuesday, September 2

Robin waiting by provision store in Goring Gap

This morning we set off to explore the village and to find a post office so thatwe could send our many postcards to our friends back home. Approaching the centre of the village one walks past the old town mill into the high street lined with its black and white half timbered buildings, reminiscent of the Tudor style.

We began the search of a good butcher and matches which we had forgotten to stock up on, we found the matches but the butcher did not have what we were seeking, a good roast of lamb. However we did find a friendly general provissioner with an excellent variety of cheeses, and since we are both lovers of good cheeses we did our best to reduce his stock in hand.

By 11:00 we were under way again making our way through the deep cut and woods of Lower Basildon, Mile 63 past Beal Wildlife park which sports a mooring complete with a park entrance for those of you with children becoming bored with uneventful shipboard life.

( Mile 63) By mid afternoon we were passing through the first of the southern industrial cities, Reading. Tour vessels moored along the banks are now becoming more numerous and larger in size.

At each lock we entered we were now enquiring constantly in our search for good fisherman's supply shop.

A proliferation of marinas and services abound the southern edge of Reading, near Frys sland, and the traveler will find a complete of services including some of the cheapest fuel on this part of the Thames tucked away at Caversham Boat services on the north eastern bank accessible via a narrow canal.

Mile 55

Passing through Caversham lock the river widens considerably as it is here that the Kennet and Avon canal joins the Thames. Unfortunately we were unable to make our way above the first lock due to our breadth and so we returned to the Thames.

Edgars fishing with his cup of tea on the aft deck

Continuing south we passed through

Sonning Lock, Mile 52.2
and
Shiplake Lock, Mile 49.5.

Just below Shiplake lock we and moored next to a pasture Edgar took his place on the stern, cup of tea in one hand, fishing rod in the other. Edgars trusty maggots, fish pacifier and spare rod at the ready in case of any further requirements.