On new ground again.

It got a bit cool last night but once all the boats out for the day had gone back to base it was very peaceful.

The wind dropped and all was still and quiet. The sunset was reflected in the water.

I talked of Great Crested Grebes yesterday and this morning this one drifted past having forty winks. You can see why their feather were prized.

This scene is really inviting you to explore further to see what is round the next bend. A range of hills always means there is something to look at.

We were dive bombed by several brent geese, but as always by the time I had the camera ready they had gone past. This was the best of them

After Mapledurham Lock the railway comes right up to the Thames and on the retaining wall there was this post box. It said on it that collections were 0930 and 1200 but here was no royal crest on the box. I wonder who does the collections. I haven't seen a red painted boat around.

On the approaches to Caversham is this boathouse come home. I bet that it is one of the most photographed properties in the area.

This bridge replaced an iron lattice bridge by the concrete and granite that was opened in 1926 by Edward Prince of Wales.

There is a new cycle and pedestrian bridge between Cavesham and Reading Bridges. It was opened in September 2015 and cost £5.9 million and three years from start to finish of the project. The Mayor opened the bridge with a game of Pooh Sticks with local school children.

I know there has been a bit of rain about but I was very surprised to see Noah's Ark pitched up below Caversham Lock. We had stopped at Better Boating to fill up with diesel at 79p. I was impressed with their chandlery as they had all sorts of stuff, not just stuff for hirers. We are now on new ground as last year we headed west to Oxford after leaving the Kennet and Avon so have not traveled these waters before.

There was a very convenient spot above Sonning Lock so we pulled over and moored up rather than gamble that there would be space below. We hung the washing up and had lunch before heading into the village for a look around. The path to the village takes you through the church yard of St Andrew's and as it was open it would have been rude not to go in. It was extremely well looked after and there were two or three parishoners pottering about. There are lots of monuments and memorials but I like the ones that tell a story rather than just dates and an epitaph.

The church walls are constructed of flint and has three aisles. There must be a lot of money in the parish as they are building a huge village hall in the back of the grave yard.

Almost next to the church is the Bull Inn. It was lovely and just like you would think a village pub would be. We stopped for a drink after navigating round the village. A pint and half of cider came to £6-70. We only stopped for one. We must be getting closer to London now.

We walked back past the lock and called in at the Lock Tea Garden. prices were much more reasonable and it is a nice little spot. Very busy with walkers too. If you are this way on 22nd July the Mikron Theatre Group will be performing there. By the time we got back the sun had disappeared but the washing was dry so it doesn't matter if it rains now.