Long, busy and expensive!

 It was barely above freezing when we got up yesterday morning

 ... but the sun was brilliant as we left our mooring in Reading just after 9.

The winds on Tuesday didn’t trouble us too much as it was blowing straight down the Thames; our ropes were fairly loose and so Still Rockin’ was quite gently pushed forwards and back without bashing us about as we would have been if the gusts had been broadside. 

 At least we were moving this morning!

 Looking back at Caversham Bridge in the bright sunlight

 Pair of Black Swans on the River Thames near the junction with the Kennet and Avon Canal.

I took these pictures after I’d done a humungous shop at Tesco’s to refill the cupboards and freezer (over £250).  we then winded (turned around) and went to Better Boating for fuel and gas (over £220).  So glad this doesn’t happen often.  It was about 1pm by the time we’d winded once more and started on our way again downstream.

 Passing Uri Geller’s small pile

 We stopped to take on water and use the facilities at Shiplake Lock  but as we set off again it was clear that the propeller was fouled - I think that’s the remains of a boaters flag which George is pulling from the prop.

There are some beautiful houses downstream of Shiplake Lock ...

 I love the chimneys on this one.

By the time we’d reached our destination for tonight at Wargrave opposite Poplar Eyot (island) it was just after 5pm, a very long day for us. We had then still got to put away all the shopping and sort out the wash loads that I’d done after we’d collected water.  I was so glad I’d picked up a ‘ready meal’ from Tesco which just needed heating up and very welcome it was.

We’re getting a ‘bit of a shift on’ at the moment, the lock stoppages start on the Thames on 3rd November so we need to be at Teddington before then.