Sunday Walk

Last night the Three mobile data was so slow I was unable to load the OS website and plot a route for today’s walk.  Consequentially I decided to walk the towpath to Newbury and perhaps call into Screwfix to purchase a club hammer lump hammer.

This morning we woke to find a clear and crisp day with not a cloud in the sky.  Waiouru was covered in a light frost when I started walking towards Woolhampton leaving Jan with the exciting task of doing the laundry .

The weather had obviously attracted a large number of walkers and cyclists to the towpath whilst the canal had canoeists who looked like they were practicing for an event.  There are some very picturesque canal scenes along the way.

Newbury Dry Dock

An old Tjalk

A traditional Tjalk has a bulbous bow and stern with a flat bottom across the beam.  This gives them plenty of storage but they can ‘skate’ sideways in the wind.  To reduce this effect they were traditionally fitted with a leeboard (the natural timber on the side in the above photo) which could be lowered into the water.

Unfortunately Screwfix didn’t have the lump hammer in the weight I wanted so it appears a walk to Reading is possible.  The return to Aldermaston Wharf was by bus and I took the opportunity to sit in the front row on the upper floor (it was a double decker… something very rare in NZ).

Back at Waiouru Darren was touching up the off-white coachline which deferred my plan to fit the pole racks.  Instead the water tank was filled whilst I scanned the completed application forms to be mailed to the RYA and CaRT.  Each required a cheque to be included so we are now somewhat poorer.

Pole rack tomorrow (maybe) whilst Richard and James will be working on the last of the joinery.