One of the unusual things we saw in Goring was this sign to cottages in the Church Yard and indeed the entrance to them was through a doorway in the in church yard wall. I have never seen such a thing before.
Streatley has some interesting little passages with rows of cottages, a church across the meadow and the Swan hotel over looking the river.
At Cleeve Lock with its trees bursting forth with blossom we stopped to fill with water and then motored on passed the Sailing Club where youngsters were about to be taken out on Toppers.
Again today we had interesting collection of boats, one sunken, one moored below an Art Deco house, an inflatable canoe and a Canadian version.
Just outside Wallingford we saw the magnificent Oxford University Boat House and some of their teams practicing.
We moored up just above the bridge with views over the town wharf to St Peters Church tower and the Boathouse pub. The first Wallingford bridge replaced the ford in 1141 and the current bridge was rebuilt after the great flood of 1809 and now comprises19 arches spanning 800 feet.
Wallingford is a delightful little town with a varied collection of old fashioned shops as well as a very large Waitrose store.
It also has Kinecroft and Bullcroft which are grassed areas being the remnants of Saxon ramparts. Closer to the river is Wallingford Castle whose ramparts include part of the Saxon Town walls and was built on the orders of William the Conqueror in1067 after he crossed the river here.
St Peters Church Tower and St Mary’s Tower.
Walking back to the boat we passed Waters Violin Shop and I could not resist a look through the window. The shop walls were lined with violins and Chellos and double basses stood on the floor. I would have loved to have gone in and had a nose around but they had just closed.
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