When I was planning my original Thames canoe trip I contacted Marsport to inquire about renting a canoe. They were very helpful with information but I could not get them to reply to my request for the cost of hiring a canoe for two weeks. I tried several times to get a reply but none came. As a result I stopped here on my way by to let them know that I ended up buying a canoe instead of giving them my business.
0 Comments
I set off this morning at 8:53am which was a good start. There was an opposing wind all day but I still made good progress paddling just over 12 miles to Shiplake Lock. I passed through Reading a town that you may have heard on the CBC evening news programme, As It Happens. As I paddled along I was amazed by all of the swans and Canada geese lined up all the way down this riverside mooring. What you can see here is only part of their parade.
After leaving Whitchurch there weren’t any campgrounds available for a long way so I had to “wild camp” on the river bank by the Thames Path. I moored by the bank at 4:00pm and set up the campsite you can see here. It was a perfect spot. As you can see the path went right by my tent so I talked to several walkers who walked by. After making supper I packed as much as I could into the canoe ready for a quick start the next day
I met a family paddling in two canoes just before the lock at Whitchurch so we travelled along together for a while. Johnathon, the father, took these pictures of me and then emailed them to me that same day.
I got up at 5:00am because the meningitis group were planning on an early start because they had a long day ahead of them. They had a long way to go to meet up with a reception 30 miles further down the river. After we had taken our group pictures and they had left I went into Wallingford where I bought two egg and cress sandwiches for my lunch and had breakfast at Catherine’s Café. I was on the river by 9:50. One thing I remember about this campsite is how slippery the bank was after the rain showers had turned the river bank mud into a treacherous grease.
I walked across the bridge into Wallingford and I was fascinated by the unusual church spire I saw as I approached the end of the Bridge. On the way back I took a picture of the approach to the bridge and the traffic lights that controlled the one-way traffic on the narrow bridge.
I camped with the meningitis guys at the Riverside Park and Pool campsite across the river from Wallingford. As you can see from the picture we had had some rain so everything is spread out to dry. For the most part the weather was sunny so our stay at the campsite was pleasant. Many of the locals were at the park either enjoying the swimming pool or relaxing by the riverside.
There is a great variety of recreational users along the Thames. The two examples here show the smaller outboard cabin cruisers moored alongside their recreational lots some with holiday trailers on them and the much larger cabin cruisers moored at private docks with their holiday cabins behind.
As I travelled closer to London the type of properties along the river changed. This imposing property with its drive-in boathouse under the house was available for sale. I imagine you would need to offer a 7 figure price in order to become its new owner. Along the way you can see many different types of boats but this one was unique – a very sleek rowing boat being propelled along by two gentlemen enjoying an afternoon on the river.
This was a very special day for me, not just because it was my birthday but also because Jenny and I spent the first two nights of our honeymoon at the Barley Mow at the end of July 1968. It turned out to be even more interesting because I met up with the six meningitis paddlers in the pub and I spent the evening with them. And what an evening it was. First they drank many beers before moving into the restaurant for a meal Now I should explain that the four guys were what in England are known as working class drinking buddies. So supper was an entertaining, raucous affair with much loud, colourful language. So much so that a couple at a table nearby asked to moved to a quieter location.
|
Hazel's PoppaI'm a grandfather who lost an infant granddaughter and who wants to help Gillian, her mother, provide support for other grieving parents through Hazel's Heroes. Archives
April 2020
Categories |
Proudly powered by Weebly