To Henley and beyond ...

A red kite and a cormorant sharing the space at Medmenham

The sheep made us laugh, they watching and baaaring at their reflection in the side of Still Rockin’!

Leaving our lovely mooring on Tuesday morning

… along the wide and tranquil Thames on a very chilly morning

Pretty house and boat and the property is for sale

A very pleasant setting as we leave Hambleden Lock

… and Molly, in her usual place, has decided that it’s far too cold be be looking at the views!

Approaching Henley on Thames where the famous Cambridge/ Oxford boat race has been held  since 1829 and the ‘ Royal' Regatta is held in June each year since 1851

Henley's arched  road bridge.  The current bridge replaced a wooden structure built in 1786

… and has five elliptical stone arches with sculptures of Tamesis (downstream) and Isis (upstream).  Lots more information here.

In 2010/11 the bridge was damaged by a boat named Crazy Love and resulted in a £200,000 repair but it looks as if another boat has come-a-cropper since then!

… and old buildings line the river front.  The Thameside Apartments (right) was once the Little White Hart Hotel, the resident/publican of which can be traced back to 1839

This house intrigues me, I’d love to know/find out a bit of its history but don’t know what it’s called, any ideas out there?

Arriving at Marsh Lock the first of the day

… and following the channel 

… past what I think is Uri Geller’s house

… before we arrive at Sonning Lock and have to wait our turn to ascend

Drying his wings far above in the tree tops

The very uninspiring entrance to the Kennet and Avon Canal

Colourful dragon boats waiting for a challenge!

… and the Tesco moorings at Reading look chock-a-block, no room for us then!

… but we spied a familiar boat and came alongside, there was no-one at home so there were no complaints! I went off to spend some money whilst George stayed aboard and the rain came down in bucket loads and Lesley returned with the dogs having forgotten to take her key and Joe was still in Reading.  We all got very wet transferring Tesco's from the trolley on the path to the boat and putting the covers on the hood!

This was the view opposite the Tesco moorings.  If I remember correctly there used to be a very old boat moored in this spot and something had definitely sunk over there.  I wonder if this is the boat owners new home and if it is, it’s very sad and a real mess.

Normally we would never moor at these moorings for longer than it takes to do the shopping, but because of the continued heavy rain we stayed the night (they are actually 24-hour moorings), we have an appointment to keep tomorrow.

Sunday stroll and swim

Saturday dawned a bit chilly but promising and as promised the sun came out and Lesley and Joe arrived. We spent a pleasant hour on Yarwood late morning and a few even more pleasant hours on Still Rockin’ with nibbles and few tipples in the evening!

Sundown over the River Thames on Saturday evening

 … and its effect on the clouds over our meadow mooring at Medmenham.

Sunday we took a stroll with the dogs to The Dog and Badger; apart from being the only pub in the area it was one we wanted Lesley and Joe to see.  It really is an impressive place and well worth a visit, but beware … it is expensive!  The welcome and service is second to none, as soon as we arrived a plate of biscuits arrived at the table - for the dogs, not us! and fresh water was also supplied for them.  Between us we drank five pints of Doombar, one G&T, one Latte and one glass of iced tap water and the bill …  drum roll please … was just over …. £30!!! (the water was not charged for thankfully!).  There were plenty of people/families eating inside and outside and judging by the menu they were not short of the readies!  But having said all that we had a lovely time and it’s well worth a visit for look see!

We took the long way back to our moorings seeing Culham Court as we approached the river

… and sloes galore on the bushes

 Hide and Seek

Molly actually swimming was a first and I hope within the three photos of the Yarwood dogs I’ve got one of both Fletcher and Floyd!

Just after 8 this morning in the rain … we’ll meet up with them again in a few days in the Reading area … if we can find moorings!

Visitors and a triumph in the water!

After a very atmospheric start yesterday morning

… the sun burned away the mist and made the river sparkle

… and we set off to walk into Mednemham

… along the footpath and lane … to a dead end!  We turned back and after collecting blackberries took a left turn

… and arrived at St Peter and St Paul’s Church which was unfortunately very firmly locked up.

The stained glass was visible from the outside, inside it must look brilliant in the sunshine

George looking back to his childhood - what a good find!

Just over the road from the church is The Dog and Badger and what a wonderful place it is; old charming exterior, lovely outside seating area, and the interior is plush to say the least; no expense spared throughout!

… and just for the ladies - behind the pink door is extravagance indeed!

We continued our walk back down Ferry Lane 

… past the most amazing assortment of properties, many of which were for sale, now I wonder why that is?

At the end of the lane we came across this warning sign, which actually indicates a slipway into the Thames

Here we turned right alongside the river and came to this monument

(Inscription …)

This monument was erected to commemorate the successful action fought by Hudson Kearley

first Viscount Devonport which resulted in the Court of Appeal on the 28th March 1899 that Mednemham Ferry is public.

I couldn’t see any sign of a ferry, public or not though.

Fantastic moorings, and the visitors ...

The sheep have visited us regularly several time each day traversing up and down the length of the meadow much to Molly’s consternation! 

The Swan Family try their luck too.

And the triumph in the water ……

!!!