25/5 – 28/5/2018
We decided that as we had been to Henley-on-Thames before, and that the Grand Prix was on television this week end, we wanted to find somewhere we could moor up, do nothing for a couple of days, and enjoy the F1, so we left Henley and travelled onto Sonning. We had
Transporting the canoes
met a few canoeist on route transporting all their various boats, and whilst we were in Sonning lock we found out that there was to be a Regatta for the children on Saturday, so decision made, we are stopping.
The weather was fine, we walked all around the village expecting to find some shops, but nothing, we have very little food, no milk etc.,but with pubs and a bistro in the village I am sure we will manage. We contacted Trevor and Jill, hoping to catch up with them, as Jill lives in this lovely village, but they were in Lymington. We stopped at the Bull, and had a couple of drinks, before we returned to the boat, just in time, the heavens opened and another thunderstorm and torrential rain.
Think they are enjoying themselves
Slept really well on our mooring, and awoke to more rain, what a
The children enjoying the races
shame, for the Regatta, but by the time it started the sun was out, and the fun on the water started. We watched the F1 qualifications and then caught the ferry to the Regatta, they had lots of stalls, local beers, local pies, and so many children enjoying themselves, it was lovely to watch, we had a great time, went to catch the ferry but it had broken down, so we went and had
Come on you Reds!
another pint, they said it would be fixed by 5.30pm, we asked the Thames Rescue, if we could have a lift, and he kindly dropped us at the boat, which was just as well, as they couldn’t fix it.
On Sunday, we had breakfast at the Coppa restaurant, the food was lovely, but the service was shocking, whilst we were waiting Jill came in, we had another coffee, and caught up with all the news, bless her she offered to get us some milk and eggs and call in later, which she did, plus she bought us some fresh strawberries, very tasty.
The village apparently do a scarecrow weekend, and this was the
Sonning Church goes back to 909AD
weekend, the locals open their gardens, and dress up scarecrows, all the children can go round and see them, the village certainly has a really good ambiance we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We watched the F1, which was not that exciting, then in the evening we went back to the Bull, and had a really lovely evening
The Bull, dates back to 16th century timber framed building. Owned by the church!
meal, what a lovely place this is, not surprising that George Clooney, and Uri Geller live her.
In the morning we went back to Shiplake lock, to empty the looe, get rid of the rubbish, it added five miles on our trip, but worth it, we then made our way to Reading and stopped the night, on route, we found a TESCO Extra on the river, to enable us to provision the boat.