The Wells' at Wallingford!

This is why we're still stuck on the Thames!

Lock gates being replaced at Benson Lock. What's more, it's only 1 mile from where we're moored BUT somebody decided it would be better to walk the other side of the footpath to get a good view of the work. It was 5 miles. You couldn't get near. I'm owed a treat...

 And here it is, my treat!!
 An unexpected visit from Karen and Lee, who even braved an overnight stay on board!

Lee in charge, and he didn't hit the bank or run aground, perfect!

 While Karen and I sat and chatted, even though it turns out, we were supposed to be making tea. Oh well, what a pity, never mind...
                                                                                                                                                                                   

All too soon it was time to say goodbye BUT
Lee had one more trick up his sleeve..

"I'll just show you how to tie a sheepshank knot..."

"...I think that looks right...."

"...and now pull... YAAAY!!!"

A great day Karen and Lee, thanks for the visit, and hopefully we'll see you again en route!!!

Wallingford

Le pont medieval a Wallingford,300m de longeur et 17 arches.

Rowing on the Thames under the medieval bridge at Wallingford. No, not us, we're moored just a bit further along!
The bridge is 300m long with 17 arches, quite impressive!The spire in the background is of Saint Peter's church.




The town centre, market square and town hall. Wallingford's history can be traced back to the Saxon times.


Centre ville , place du marche et Hotel de ville. Et, express pour Gilles P.la photo dessous qui explique que la ville de Wallingford est en fait la ville de Causton dans les emissions de Barnaby!! 

De plus , c'est  la ville ou habitais Agatha Christie.


As well as being used in Midsomer murders as the town of Causton, Wallingford is also where Agatha Christie lived from 1934 to 1976.

Shopping!

The George Hotel , frequented by Dick Turpin
Hotel George qui etait visiter par Dick Turpin, un bandit de grand chemin, comme Claude Duval 

Another way of getting around on the Thames. We prefer the blue boat in the background!
Une autre facon de naviger la Thames. Nous, nous preferons le bateau bleu au fond!

Pangbourne and Whitchurch

The Weir at Whitchurch Lock

The Swan, Pangbourne.

"Twenty minutes later, three figures, followed by a shamed-looking dog, might have been seen creeping stealthily from the boat-house at the "Swan" towards the railway station, dressed in the following neither neat nor gaudy costume:

Black leather shoes, dirty; suit of boating flannels, very dirty; brown felt hat, much battered; mackintosh, very wet; umbrella." from "Three Men in a Boat".  Jerome k Jerome.

Fabulous place, just been refurbished and only re-opened on Friday!

John has been reading the aforementioned book (again!) so here we are at Pangbourne AND Whitchurch which is the other side of the river. 

To get from one side to the other you have to cross the Toll Bridge, which has been operating since  "the thirty-second year of the reign of His Gracious Majesty, King George III " And it's very busy!

View of Whitchurch from the bridge.

When it's Cold

And it wasn't just this window either...

So, it's the middle of February. There's ice on the INSIDE of the windows. It's cold.We're on a narrowboat in the middle of the Thames and are going nowhere.AFTER the heating has been switched on and we're all thawed out, what to do?

Paint the doors,obviously.

 It took two days to get from the first chalk drawings to this.....




                               
               ....a couple more for this

And then a quick polish of the brass and we're done!

So now it's off to the fair!

                                         Good Night!

Voici nos Amis, une Vraie "English Village"!

 La neige est arrivee a Shiplake, la petite village pas loin de notre peniche.

Pour chercher du pain  il faut marcher 2km.  D'abord, on passe au bord de la Thames et puis par le petit chemin vers le "Corner Shop"en centre ville.Le Corner Shop vends tous et aussi sert comme la poste! Les proprieters sont tres gentil et connais tous les personnes qui habitent dans le village. Ici on discute n'importe quoi!

 Telephone Box, mon frere, Peter, a achete une comme celle-ci! Il veut l'installer a Le Montet!!!!

Une boite postale au style anglais,

Et le retour,2km au pied avec nos provisions.

C'est jolie n'est ce pas?! C'est comme dans l'emission "Barnaby", mais n'inquietez vous  pas, John est toujours vivant, je n'ai pas encore lui tue...

Watch Out Reading!

Who's in charge now?!

Yes it's me! it's me!!!!

Reading Bridge,beautiful at night.

So, off we went to Reading. Six miles, two locks, two hours by narrowboat, fifteen minutes by car; welcome to life in the slow lane! And, yes, I can steer the boat AND can do the knots to moor it. I have also learned not to lean on the bankside and push off with both hands leaving feet on boat and an impossible stretch, well, not unless I WANT to fall in...

War Memorial and the Blade

Reading Gaol

 "Mr. Wilde , we have come for to take you
Where felons and criminals dwell..."
Oscar Wilde was imprisoned here in 1895 in Block C landing 3 cell 3

 The back of the Thames Water Offices. Loved the whirly staircases, even better at night...

And so, on a very cold and frosty morning , it was back to Shiplake to retrieve Misty the cat, who was lost and is now found! Yay!!!!!!

Brrrrrrrrrr!

Scruffy Noddy, boat next door.

Winter on the Thames..




Well it's been quite cold for the last few days, you may have noticed! So we have been busy finishing the inside of the boat and keeping warm.And, as promised now that it looks a bit better, here's what the inside looks like...

The 'lounge'.Floor finished, very comfy chairs installed, bookcases re-positioned.

Dining room!

Cosy kitchen, just a bit smaller than Grand Coudrais but it does the same job!