Progress was a little slow today – we certainly notice the difference going upstream on the Kennet compared to downstream on the Thames. The locks along here are enormous, and the gates big and heavy along with it. Sarah found the “stirrup” steps for getting up / down from the lock beams a bit tricky too, missing a couple of times on the way down!
The boat got knocked around a fair bit in the locks; we found the centre rope just wasn’t enough so ended up using both bow and stern lines to keep Oliver steady.
On the plus side, the scenery is very pretty, with most of the river / canal surrounded by countryside up until Thatcham.
We moored up around 4pm, which gave time for Sarah to nip to the co-op to buy even more food supplies, and Toby to give the boat roof a bit of a much-needed wash.
No chicken dinner tonight – but a lovely lamb tagine instead – and then some more America’s cup sailing to watch in the evening.
I hope all that knocking about in the locks didn’t do too much damage to Oliver’s paintwork and the stirrups didn’t do too much damage to Sarah. Looks like another bright sunny day.