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Appendices - Trip Reports 2006.

Trip Report - Reading to Thrupp, September 4/5th 2006 David Vickers with youngest son, Shaun and partner Caroline Judge crewing.

On the Sunday evening just before sunset David and crew Shaun & Caroline arrived at the TESCO Hypermarket car park by the Thames at Reading. Nuneaton and Brighton hade been moored there the previous day by John Fevyer and crew after delivering coal at the marina. Keen to get aboard they stacked their gear into supermarket trolleys and ignoring the sign “NO TROLLEYS BEYOND THIS POINT” pushed them towards the river. Then the wheels jammed; they tried pulling, pushing sideways to no avail. An excellent innovation to stop trolleys ending up in the navigation had been installed by TESCO.

Monday morning David was about early having been woken by the diesel electric trains thundering though towards Wales and the West Country. At 8am into Tesco for some provisions and full English breakfast. Some time was spent preparing the boats and checking the gear; explaining some basic safety and how the Thames locks would be operated. A late departure with 19 locks and 46 miles ahead to Thrupp. Optimisticly they hoped to make Culham or even Abingdon by sunset. Inspection of headlamp on the motor found the lens had been in meltdown and could no be coaxed into illumination so late navigation was out of the question. Apart from some work at locks and providing the steerer with refreshments the crew had a relaxing time enjoying the scenery and wildlife. A few boats were moving but there were no delays at locks. After passing the Edwardian houses along the riverside at Pangbourne they reached Beale Park where various craft were still moored since the National. Caroline saw three Kingfishers or maybe one three times. Then there were the Alpacas grazing in the water meadows. They look like big woolly sheep with long necks. This is just another example of the successful diversification of our farmers. No not Alpaca stew!!!!!!!!! Goring gap is probably one of the most scenic parts along this stretch of river and Gatehampton Railway Bridge providing a photographic frame. Grotto Wharf, where N&B wintered in 2002/2003, was crammed with a variety of craft and in the shallows on the opposite bank, marked by the green buoy, young children were bathing while mothers sat on the meadow bank chatting in the warm September sunshine. Some lock keepers asked to see the Toll tickets or just wanted the numbers but most were not bothered or confused if offered them. They were mostly friendly and chatty and interested in the pair of Grand Unions working their way up river with coal to deliver. By the early evening the boats had only reached Days Lock where the steerer favoured the request from the captain of a trip boat to pass and take the lock ahead of them. With no passengers they were trying to reach Oxford that night with the next day off work if achieved. After Day’s the pair pressed on heading north, reading all the “Private Mooring” signs and for 3 miles slowly rounding the long bend in the river until heading south under Clifton Hampdon Bridge a mooring was found for the night on the left bank. A quiet spot you may think until as the sun was setting skein after skein of Canada geese came flying over honking on their way to roost for the night. Shaun and Caroline prepared supper while the boats were being mopped down and the engine checked ready for the morning start. It was clouding over as darkness fell with the chimney red lights of Didcott power station and cooling towers on the southern horizon; or were we on the Trent & Mersey near Rugeley! The reflection of the floodlit church and old bridge across the reach were viewed from the back cabins before slumber land. An early start next morning and locks to be worked manually before keepers arrived and 60 bags of coal to deliver. Abingdon lock keeper remembered David from three years previously when they had chatted over tea and chocolate biscuits in his office while filling in an incident report form. Having delivered the coal in the blazing September sun the crew washed; Shaun bathing in the cool river; followed by lunch at a tavern. A wooden Josher butty restoration still under way after several years dedicated work by a man who was working as relief lock keeper to pay for the oak timbers reminded the crew of Ice boat Samson being rejuvenated in a Kentish orchard. Beyond Oxford were acres of grazed water meadows with cattle and horses paddling in the shallows viewing the breasted pair motoring by. From Godstow lock came a motor loaded with coal heading downstream; the captain viewing the nearly empty holds of Brighton and Nuneaton with interest and exchanging a friendly wave. Through King’s and round the sharp bends; butty onto cross straps before entering the Duke’s cut; through the lock under the railway bridge and onto the Oxford canal. More uphill locks and a new technique to be learnt by Caroline remembered by Shaun who was last on the Oxford with Samson in 1989 and some years before that on the Wey with Badsey & Barnes. Probably at bridge 227 was where mast decided to stop whilst the butty continued on cross straps behind the motor. Fortunately it was not the first time this had happened and next morning saw it back in place. Keith said moor them south of the Jolly Boatman and so they tried. After half an hour in the fading light pushing and shafting with some assistance they were under way again and found a mooring beside the pub where a hearty meal was consumed before bed. Next morning the pair were moved up onto 14 day moorings, cleaned, washed down and clothed up. Guided by her “Tom Tom”. Julia arrived mid morning to collect the crew and return them to Surrey. David Vickers

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