We left  Woolhampton at 8:30 with Toby providing boat handling tuition to Romy, and Peter and Sarah working the lock and swing bridge – all managed beautifully.

The lock at Aldermaston is a little unusual as it has scalloped sides.

Once we had passed the long lines of hire boats at Aldermaston we were out into some very pretty stretches of countryside, which we had very much to ourselves.  It was easy to imagine being in our own secret world for a while.

There was even time to take a rest at the locks which were so much easier and quicker with four of us on board.

Romy was now feeling very confident and helming us through locks all on her own even with torrents of water pouring through the gates behind her.

At Garston we passed through the second of the turf locks, a somewhat smaller lock than the one at Monkey Marsh.

We are looking forward to another day of speedy progress tomorrow thanks to Toby and Sarah .

Peter faffed about, as usual, trying to find the perfect mooring between Southcote Lock and Fobney Lock but did succeed in finding a really beautiful spot.