The sound of silence

This morning we went for an early morning wander up to the limit of navigation at Inglesham roundhouse. Here, the Thames is joined by the River Coln, and is also where the Thames & Severn Canal used to join the river. This was once part of the busy trade route between London and Bristol, but today is unnavigable. 

Inglesham Roundhouse

After breakfast we headed into town once again for a look around. Louise was excited to find this unique shop, the sign outside reminding us it is just 232 days until Christmas !! Oh what joy. Although tempted to go in, she refrained, much to my delight. 

We set off late morning, winding just through Ha'penny Bridge. Jasper was the centre of attention at St John's Lock as the lock keeper was also a Border Terrier owner and took a real shine to him.  When he finally remembered why he was there, he locked us down and we made sure we still had Jasper with us as we waved goodbye. 

A potential accident averted at Radcot Lock. We shared the lock with a day boat and the lock was on 'Self Service' as the lock keeper was on his lunch. We secured ourselves and they followed us in. As they started to open the sluices, I noticed their bow rope secured around a post...not a good idea when going down a lock !! I shouted for them to close the sluices, which they did just in time.

We had a pleasant journey and the going much easier with the wind behind and the flow now with us. We have ended up mooring just before Rushey Lock in one of the best mooring locations we have ever found. We had a bit of a 'heads up' from our friends David & Sarah on The Hodma'dod who stopped here recently, but if you want peace, tranquility and remoteness from a mooring, this is the place to be. Not a sound other than nature. No road noise, the occasional walker and that is it. 

Panorama shot of tonight's mooring

So it was deck chairs out, wine out and a lovely afternoon was had. We did hear an unusual bird song this afternoon which neither of us recognised. Louise is multi lingual where bird song is concerned, but even she had no idea. The mystery was solved later in the evening as a curlew flew overhead. A fine and unusual looking bird and a first for me. Unfortunately Louise was inside at the time and missed it.

Update Monday Louise wasn't disappointed for long, as we spotted this curlew on the roof of a pillbox whilst cruising back to Pinkhill Lock today, where again we've been lucky to see a Barn Owl quite close to where we are moored.