Before I get into this, it might sound like I’m complaining—but I’m really not!
The early morning start didn’t quite happen; I eventually set off around 11. The plan was to moor opposite RAF Benson, a lovely little spot. Sure, you get the occasional helicopter or aircraft taking off and landing, but otherwise it’s fairly peaceful.
As I approached Benson later in the day, the rain was absolutely hammering down. I was soaked through, which I didn’t mind too much—but on a boat, wet surfaces quickly turn slippery, and I had no interest in repeating past mishaps. Unfortunately, there were no spaces left at Benson.
So, I pushed on to Wallingford, only to find it packed with boats and narrowboats. Turns out “Buck Fest” was on, and the whole place was rammed. With no other choice, I ended up doing a wild mooring in a farmer’s field.
Despite being drenched, it still turned out to be a good day—made even better by a hot shower, dry clothes, and a well-earned beer to finish it off