To the Backwater ...

 A bright but cooler morning just before 8 on Tuesday (20th) and it's time to move on ...

I'm walking the towpath ...

passing the pizza boat ...

to Sonning Lock ... the cafe here on the lock island has not opened at all this year

and I can see the moon still high in  the sky

Through Sonning Bridge and past the hotel garden ...

and the Mill Stream leading to Sonning Mill Theatre.

We see a very familiar boat ... it's Gypsy Willow from Hambleden Marina but not being sure who may be onboard and who probably are not yet up and about we prepared to pass slowly and quietly ... but ...

Karin and Peter were up and about (just) and we pulled alongside for a cuppa and catchup ... lovely to see you both ... until November then.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul at Shiplake through the trees ...

where as we leave the lock the river suddenly becomes busy ...

and we pass some beautiful property along the banks of Wargrave ...

Chimneys and a wonderful window

Turning right here behind Poplar Eyot (island) to our destination ...

on Hennerton Backwater where we've never seen it so overgrown

our bow is about 2mtrs from the bank but doesn't look it!

The path along here is hardly recognisable and there are two men cutting it back but have come across a fallen tree so George gets the shears out to cut space for us

We've got good views around us and it's going to be hot, hot, hot 

We'll stay here for a couple of nights and get some jobs done.