A tiring day yesterday, but better this morning

 Leaving the very expensive posh boats behind as we pull the pins at 09:30 yesterday from Pangbourne

 There’s Geoff on Seyella pulling out in front of us to wind (turn) to continue downstream

 passing Derwent 6 once again ...

 ... and this very pretty dutch barge.

 Geoff and Mags happy to be on the move again!

The Lock House at Mapledurham is nowhere near as pretty as others on the Thames that we’ve passed recently ...

... but the slightly overblown look of the gardens were very pleasing.

Waiting for the water tanks to fill ...

Six in a bed lock!

You may be able to see the upper part of a large cruiser in the picture - he was not at all happy when the lock keeper told him to move up (closer to those nasty steel boats) so that another boat can also come in...

As we left Mapledurham Lock this little powered boat lost it’s engine so we all slowed down until he could sort himself out - there were also boats coming towards us ...

... but not this idiot with road rage he was the ‘one’ in the lock and is now filling our vision beyond our stern ...

... as he rocketed past caring not at all about anyone else the lady turned to say something to us but I only caught the words ‘sorry’ and ‘but’ before they were past - stupid and ignorant to say the least (of him that is).

Approaching Caversham Bridge ...

... where the trip boat Caversham Princess has her mooring ...

... and on the other side of the bridge is the smaller Mary Stuart - full to the gunwales with passengers ...

... and under Reading Bridge where just beyond to the right is Caversham Lock ...

Anyone who knows ‘Tesco at Reading’ will recognise this picture - I’m sure that at least 3 of these 4 boats were here last year and that injunctions had been taken out agains them continuing to moor here.  

Once shopped we pulled the pins and moved down to the Kennet and Avon Canal Junction to wind (turn)

and saw what was obviously once a lovely boat but now held together with string and sticky tape! 

We moored up by the park and once again I ventured out into Reading to look at the ‘proper’ shops returning to R’n’R at 5:30pm  absolutely worn out with the heat and humidity - and with not being able to find what I wanted to buy!

Fully recovered this morning - woke up to this fantastic view out of the side hatch ...

... the sun is trying it’s best, it’s a bit cooler with a wonderful breeze!

 As I was sitting writing this post Ann and Chas on Moore 2 Life arrive and Mags steps off to help with the ropes ...

It’s alway good to see Mags on the towpath - she’s not too steady on her pins these day getting on and off Seyella unless she is confident that she can step off the gunwale onto a level surface - today without any help at all.  Good on yer Mags!