Good morning. Thank you very much for watching. Well I finally left the River
Thames at Reading. I turned to my starboard and headed west on the Kennett
and Avon Canal. Now, as you go through the centre of Reading
it's all very built up and there's lots of food and cinema outlets but the
navigation itself narrows. Ever so slightly. It wouldn't affect a narrowboat
at all but it would affect the larger cruiser style boats or wide beams and
because of that, it's quite unusual. You press a traffic light system. You go over
and press a button, as though you were at a pedestrian crossing and you wait for
the green light and you travel through. I can imagine it getting quite busy in the
summer months or in the evenings but I went really early in the morning and
there was absolutely nobody about.
[Music]
The first lock Molly and I came to was Whitchurch Lock and it was strange
navigating with such quiet surroundings.
[Music]
I'll continue past Mapledurham House down into Reading. After filling with
fuel, I turned west onto the Kennet and Avon Canal passing through the built-up
town along the river. I was eager to move up outside the hustle and bustle at
Fobney Lock.
[Natural water sounds]
The river continued to be popular for rowers and unlike my experience on the
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, everyone was very polite and followed the whole
engine gives way to sail, and paddle gives way to engine rule.
Just past Caversham Bridge there is a Fry's Island where I filled up with fuel,
which was probably the most expensive I have ever purchased. [off mic] Molly you need to
remind me not to buy fuel on the River Thames okay {Woof woof woof}
Just before the final lock
on my Thames journey I needed to wait as workman past building supplies across
the water on a floating pontoon. When doing my house up it was hard enough to
get a time delivery, let alone one that required to cross the Thames.
[Water sounds]
Then it was time to finally leave the River Thames and head west under a
railway bridge and up onto the Kennet and Avon Canal. The K&A as it's known, is just
over a hundred miles in length, has a hundred and seven locks and 26 movable
bridges, of which two are usually left open.
The initial section follows the River Kennet through the town of Reading.
Between Blake's Lock and County Lock there is a traffic light system, as the
river channel narrows. Make sure you navigate right up to the side of the
river so you can press the button. I miserably failed and needed to reverse
and try again. Then just like any other traffic light system, wait until there is
a green light. As it was still early in the morning, it changed right away and
off we went. With very little designated mooring and quite high walls,
you're almost deterred from stopping and spending your hard-earned money here.
The navigation does narrow a bit but nothing like on a canal, so easy to navigate.
Just after Berkeley Avenue Bridge there is a very strong flow of water entering
the river from the right. It is signposted so I pointed Alice my narrow
boat towards the flow a little more, which in turn pushed the boat back
towards the centre of the channel.
[Music]
Here at Fobney Lock 105, be careful as you approach and leave the landing-stage
below the lock.
There is a strong stream of water falling down from the weir here. I had
read about this in my Collins Nicholson Waterways Guide, so moored
up right at the start of the landing. In reflection, I should probably have opened
both locked gates to allow Alice to drift a bit. Instead, I put the engine to
work and with a sudden burst of thrust, quickly navigated past the flow of water
into the lock with little time for the stream to cause too much of a problem.
[Music]
It was here that I decided to moor up for two weeks. The river travels around
this section, so it was protected from flood.
Despite this section being so close to the centre of the town of Reading, it
turned out to be super quiet at night and with a nature reserve neighboring
the cut, it was a great place to stay and relax. I'd like to give a big shout out
to Bruce Boschek who has just become a top-level Patreon supporter. Thank you so
much Bruce. Don't forget you can also follow Molly and me on Facebook and
Twitter. Links are in the description below and if you're not already
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clicking the bell icon you'll be notified about future releases. Until
next time, see you later.