Friday, August 08, 2014

Farewell K&A–it’s been fun

Thursday 7th August

Up and at-em for 9am and a very pleasant run down the last of the K&A.IMG_0590 County Lock had caused me some distress in past years, and on the way out this year, but with little rain recently it was a pussycat. Some junior paddlers, who had come up through the Oracle centre, waited for the lights to change to green and then followed us back down through again. They grouped as we appeared out of the Prison loop and IMG_0591then asked if they could share Blakes lock with us. Whilst we were working through G went fruit picking, adding apples and plums to the blackberries he gathered in the Cunning Man carpark last evening. Once out of the Kennet mouth they turned right whilst we turned left and headed upstream towards Oxford.

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Our free food haul was supplemented later in the afternoon when he also prepared the six crayfish he caught last night. We had an easy run up to Wallingford in glorious weather seeing a few IMG_0607kingfishers, one with a fish in it’s beak, and a mink amongst the usual collection of wildlife. The mink was swimming near the bank in amongst some tree roots and frightened off a heron that was sat under the tree. I wonder if that was what the mink was after?

We decided on Wallingford as a good overnight stop, convenient for car IMG_0615shuffling, but would there be a place for us? The official moorings were all chocca but we found a secluded mooring, in the shade, under a couple of trees alongside Wallingford castle. RAF Benson’s helicopters gave us a wonderful display as they hone their skills. We suspect that we’ve nabbed the last reasonable mooring spot as we’ve watched boats pass and repass going up and down the river obviously looking for somewhere to stop. I say mooring, we are actually tied to two trees.

IMG_0612A very elegant launch passed as were eating on the front deck. “Are you moored or parked?” the expensively attired crew enquired, all panama hats, white jackets and frothy frocks. “We are having our dinner” we replied. “Bon appetit” & “ can we come over and join you” was the cheery reply. Beef and red pepper in a black bean and ginger sauce with noodles for 10! I don’t think so.

Brenda

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