Last day of summer ...?

We left our mooring above Fobney Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal just after 9am on Monday; the forecast is for another lovely warm day .... the last one maybe of the summer?

 There's a strong current flowing across the bottom gates of Fobney Lock ...

 ... it comes from this waterfall, the overflow from the lock which rushes under the lock landing and into the channel, but luck was with us, there was another boat waiting to come down and the crew offered to close the gates for us so George got on board, the engine was revved and we were through - no problem!

 Arriving in Reading and we have to wait for the traffic light to turn green before we can proceed ...

 ... through the town centre ...

 ... and under what I think is named High Bridge - very pretty ...

 This is a beautiful building just under that bridge

 Anyone for tea and a biscuit?

 Blakes Lock takes us off the K & A canal and back onto the River Thames ...

 ... where the ducks and geese are enjoying a feeding frenzy ...

 ... as we approach the Railway Bridge and onto ...

 the River Thames real - it's so wide!

 I've never seen black swans before - they are apparently native to Australia and were brought to the UK as ornamental birds like Peacocks etc., were, and some have escaped into the wild

 After filling the store cupboards from Tesco we set off once again passing NB Epiphany moored by Caversham Bridge ...

 ... and whoops - near Reading Marina!

 Leaving Mapledurham Lock - one of our favourites, it has all amenities and a friendly lock keeper too!  We heard that vandals had stripped all the metal from the elsan, pump-out and water facilities recently - for scrap metal - unbelievable! They have now been all been replaced except for the elsan point.

Hardwick Stud Farm in a beautiful setting bathed in beautiful sunshine.

We arrived at our destination - Beale Park - at about 4pm - having cruised 12 miles and 6 locks today.

We've thoroughly enjoyed our 13-weeks on the Kennet and Avon particularly Bristol, Bath and Bradford on Avon and some really good moorings; we've learned to accept that not all mooring have pilings, or rings and that sometimes a plank is necessary, a matter of pointing the nose into the bank and letting the rest follow!

We've had a great summer cruise; we've been in no rush at all; if it's raining we've not moved unless we've had to and took full advantage of the dry sunny days to get out and about either being typical tourists or cruising on - brilliant!