50 Shades of Green on the Thames

Day 5 on the Thames. Our day for turning around and heading back to where we came from. A day for heading down river to go back to Maidenhead. An ending of our up river journey opening us for the beginning of our down river journey.  Reminding me to every ending there is a beginning and vice versa.
Yesterday morning was not as perfect as the other mornings. Clouds heavy in the sky obscuring much of the light. Every once in a while the sun tried its hardest to peak through. The air cooler. My children sleeping in again tired from our late night the night before. My husband up and on the deck doing his Yoga stretches with mist curling in the background.
When our son got out of bed, he immediately got on his bike and peddled along the towpath. A man coming to ask my husband's advice about how to get a narrow barge that had grounded off the bank. My husband chuffed that the man thought he was such an expert. Giving him advice and the man was able to get the barge off the bank. Another mission accomplished.
Nearly one hundred ducks and geese flying, swimming, quacking, making lots of noise as they moved by the boat. My daughter racing to the stern to feed them. Using all of our bread. I'm not sure if the locals would be pleased that she fed the geese because we read a Letter to the Editor in the local paper stating that they are sick of the geese and want rid of them. I guess their problem is similar to our feral chicken problem in Bermuda. Only thing is these geese poop everywhere so it's difficult to walk anywhere without getting covered in it.
After a leisurely breakfast and a general clean of the barge, we set off at 11.30 to start our journey back. Still under cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. But better than it could have been so we were grateful. I would rather the clouds to the pouring rain. And then as if  sensing our gratitude, the sun peaked out again. And followed us as much as it could on our down river journey.
Despite having experienced the river on the way up, we discovered very quickly that it is a different animal going the opposite way. At first we were caught out because we didn't anticipate the power of the downstream currents when we set off. We realised that it was easier to control Sancerre on the upriver journey because the river was flowing against us. Slowing us down. Resisting us. But cruising downstream was a whole different experience. This time the river was flowing with us pushing us faster than we had expected. Assisting us more than we needed at times. Presenting an unexpected challenge because we were moving faster.  Causing Sancere to show how powerful she can really be when she is not being resisted. Reminding me about life in general. About how powerful we can be when we go with the flow. When we don't go against the currents. Reminding me how easy life can be if we don't swim against the tide. But at the same time we have to know how to work with the flow so we don't get knocked off course as Sancerre taught us yesterday.
Coming back through our first lock of the day, Cleeve Lock, which was our last lock last night, proved to be quite a  different experience to the one we had the night before. We were reminded that Sancerre does not like to be pushed from her stern. She is a lady after all and prefers to enter bow first so everyone can appreciate her beauty. No lady likes to enter from her rear and Sancerre showed us she was no different.
Luckily for us, my husband has enough water experience to know when to back off and start over again. When to stop resisting and change tactics. So he let us drift back until Sancerre caught herself and then we approached the lock again. This time with Sancerre coming in the way she wanted and likes the best so we were able to ease her into the lock with the grace she deserved.
Not having much time to get over the challenge presented by the Cleeve lock, we had to quickly ready ourselves for the next lock, the Goring Lock, because it was only 1000 yards away. Fortunately for us, the lockeepers were waiting for us so we had no problem getting Sancerre in. The lockeeper and his assistant there to assist us if need be but we were becoming such pros on the river that we were able to get tied on while the lock filled with no problem. Allowing us to look more relaxed and prepared than we felt. Chatting with the lockeeper and his assistant who told us about some of the incidents they have seen in the locks. Chatting away like we were long lost friends. The lockeeper recommending we go to The Swan for lunch in Pangbourne. Coming out of the lock feeling very proud and looking forward to the next part of our journey.
And then our hearts filled with joy when we rounded the corner and there before us was 50 shades of green from what seemed like 50 different types of trees!  The site was breathtakingly beautful. The colour of the trees contrasting against the colour of the river. Against the subtle sunlight. Greens I can't even describe but beautiful and deeply alluring to say the least - lime green, mossy green, murky green, emerald, dark green, silvery green. I felt like we were being embraced by the River Guardians. Showing us the way. Inviting us into their secret garden. A place of pure enchantment - reserved only for those who appreciate its beauty. And we were not disappointed. Instead we were spellbound. In awe.
And then the greens were replaced by civilisation again as we came out of the serenity of the River Guardians to the town of Pangbourne. Trying not to lose the magic of the moment, I looked back at the Enchanted Garden we had just come through and thanked the Universe for its gifts. Closing my eyes to store that vision in my brain. And then opened my eyes to face what was coming.
We decided to go through the Whitchurch Lock because all the moorings in front of the Swan were taken. When we arrived at the lock, we were taken aback by the fact that the lockeeper was talking on her phone. She did not even acknowledge we were there. She didn't make eye contact. She just went about her job. Closing the gate behind us then opening the sluices. Walking to the other side waiting for the lock to fill. Still on the phone. My husband and I thinking she was quite rude. Very different from the other lockeepers. However once she finished her call, she immediately apologised to us for being on the phone. She explained that she had had a difficult morning with some unruly teens who had been jumping in and out of the lock, running through people's gardens and in general creating havoc for her. Explaining she ended up having to call the police. How the word had spread quickly about what had happened to her so her phone had been ringing nonstop with people trying to verify what had happened. She turned out to be a friendly person. Teaching us both that we should not judge others until we know their circumstances. If we had remained closed to her, thinking she was not polite, we would have lost out on the opportunity to connect with someone who was good at heart.
Moving out of the lock, we wished her well and the Pangbourne Meadow came into the view. Luckily this time we were able to secure a coveted spot alongside the Meadow. Fate being on our side this time because this was the very spot we had hoped for on our way up the river but failed to secure. Telling me that the Universe wanted us to save the best for last because Pangbourne turned out to be even more beautiful and lively than we thought.
The meadow we moored against was a lovely wide open green, where there were lots of families, young people, old people enjoying the warm weather. We had a walk along the green and through the Riverwalk to the Swan, which turned out to not only be picturesque but had wonderful food and an ambiance unto its own. The staff friendly and helpful. We sat outside on the verandah overlooking the River, the very river we had just navigated down, enjoying a wonderful meal and great conversation. Sitting relaxed with each other for several hours. Enjoying our time together.
We came back to the barge and decided to stay moored where we were instead of chancing moving further downriver just in case we couldn't find a place to moor. Recognising if we made that decision, we will have to leave early in the morning in order to get supplies and water. Still we chose to stay put. My husband taking a much needed nap. The children relaxing watching a movie. Enjoying a very peaceful and tranquil afternoon with no demands or stess.
Later we decided to watch the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics. Discouraged when we could not get a signal. But my husband would not accept there was no satellite signal so he went out to ask the neighbouring people whether they had satellite. When he discovered they did, he moved us to see if he could pick up the signal. To no avail. Then he came in and put the TV through its sequence again. And once again my husband who never ceases to amaze me fixed our problem because BBC 1 popped on the screen for us. All of us cheering. So grateful for the diverse skills of my husband.
And we spent our last evening in Pangbourne watching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics as a family. Grateful we were able to watch it. Pleased that we were in the same country as the Olympics. My husband proud of his native country for hosting the Olympics. Grateful for everything. My children fell asleep before the ending. My husband and I struggled to keep awake but desperate to see the ending. And we were glad we did. So worth it. The unity represented by the ending scene with the flames of the many different countries coming together as one was a poetic ending to a wonderful ceremony and a wonderful day for us as well.
Such a day of endings and beginnings. Of fate and faith. Of togetherness and family. Of being reminded that life changes depending on whether we are in the flow or not but it is up to us to adjust to it. To harness it to the best of our ability. As Sancerre taught us. Going against the flow is not the same as going with it. And how important it is to know the difference. In gratitude once again for a day full of life lessons out in nature. Namaste.