Well we've got a bit of catching up to do. No signal last night means we've fallen behind with our updates.
So, back to Monday morning. We were away before 9am from our mooring at Abingdon, hoping to meet the lock keeper as he arrived for work to get a pump out card. We entered the lock shut the gates, but before Louise could open the paddles she could see another boat approaching in the distance and so opened them again. It just happened to be nb Waiouru with Tom & Jan aboard, so we were finally able to meet after all this time. We both stopped at the services and did what we needed to do whilst talking boats etc before we both headed off towards Oxford.
We were soon passing Nuneham House again before arriving at Sandford Lock, one of the larger and the deepest lock on the non tidal Thames, raising us 8'10". For the amount of water involved, it was surprisingly smooth and quite quick too.
We arrived in Oxford around lunchtime, passing Nb Waiouru on the moorings above Osney Lock. A quick blast of the horn brought Tom to the side hatch to wave us through. Good to meet you folks and we'll look out for you 'up north' later in the year.
Having passed under Osney Bridge, we turned sharp right for Isis Lock and sadly our Thames cruising was over for this trip. It certainly been fun, relaxing and most enjoyable, but we were now back on our beloved 'dirty ditches'.
The weather was changeable (I think that's what the weatherman said) and we had a few sharp showers to endure on the run out of Oxford towards Thrupp. Even the swans felt sorry for the cygnets and gave them a ride.
Thrupp was very busy, so we moored for the night just before Shipton Lock, and sat out a very windy night.
Tuesday morning was wet so we stayed put, only getting going after midday as the sky threatened to brighten up. It was still windy, but we had a good run up through Lower Heyford. This hire boat won the prize for stupid mooring of the day. We thought he must have broken down, but were amazed to find deck chairs out on the towpath when we got closer.
We took it in turns to steer and do the locks which are quite nicely spaced along here, although Louise would rather walk and lock than steer.
We moored for the night at Somerton Meadow on a lovely evening. Jasper fully enjoyed the open space (and the cow dung !!!!)
Today has been lovely, and shorts have been the order of the day. We were soon at Somerton Lock, the deepest on the canal at 12' and a lovely location.
Louise and Jasper walked all the way up to Aynho Weir Lock so missed my close shave with a hire boat approaching Aynho, although she did comment later how quickly they'd been travelling when they passed her and she told them I was coming. I was passing a moored boat some way back from a bend to the left when it appeared. Two ladies in the bow saw me and one decided to go into panic mode and waved her arms about as if trying to take off, which obviously confused the hell out of the poor steerer who automatically hits reverse (mistake). Due to the speed, the boat didn't stop very quickly and careered across my bow into the bushes as I also hit reverse to avoid it. More pointles arm waving follows from the bow, as the boat reverses back, and then back some more until it dawns on them that there's actually room to pass quite comfortably. As we do, the steerer looks across sheepishly to apologise. My parting advice was that he did two things wrong. Firstly, he hit reverse when actually there was more than enough room to pass, and secondly he took advice from the woman in the bow.
We stopped for a shop in Banbury where there is a big Morrisons very close to bridge 168 which is very useful. Then on through the lock and lift up bridge in the town centre and out the other side. This house always gets spoken about when we pass, although, if I remember correctly, the picture used to be quite a lot bigger. Each to their own...
It's a real shame to see the lock cottage at Bourton Lock in such a state of disrepair. It's a lovely location and hopefully one day someone will take it on and restore it to its former glory.
We've moored for the night below Slat Mill Lock in a quiet spot. We can just hear the M40 in the distance when we think about it, but it's been a deck chair evening out on the towpath, one of many to come over the next few days we hope.
 |
| Nuneham House |
 |
| Feeling a little dwarved in Sandford Lock |
 |
| Osney Bridge |
Isis Lock
Tuesday morning was wet so we stayed put, only getting going after midday as the sky threatened to brighten up. It was still windy, but we had a good run up through Lower Heyford. This hire boat won the prize for stupid mooring of the day. We thought he must have broken down, but were amazed to find deck chairs out on the towpath when we got closer.
We took it in turns to steer and do the locks which are quite nicely spaced along here, although Louise would rather walk and lock than steer.
Louise and Jasper walked all the way up to Aynho Weir Lock so missed my close shave with a hire boat approaching Aynho, although she did comment later how quickly they'd been travelling when they passed her and she told them I was coming. I was passing a moored boat some way back from a bend to the left when it appeared. Two ladies in the bow saw me and one decided to go into panic mode and waved her arms about as if trying to take off, which obviously confused the hell out of the poor steerer who automatically hits reverse (mistake). Due to the speed, the boat didn't stop very quickly and careered across my bow into the bushes as I also hit reverse to avoid it. More pointles arm waving follows from the bow, as the boat reverses back, and then back some more until it dawns on them that there's actually room to pass quite comfortably. As we do, the steerer looks across sheepishly to apologise. My parting advice was that he did two things wrong. Firstly, he hit reverse when actually there was more than enough room to pass, and secondly he took advice from the woman in the bow.
We stopped for a shop in Banbury where there is a big Morrisons very close to bridge 168 which is very useful. Then on through the lock and lift up bridge in the town centre and out the other side. This house always gets spoken about when we pass, although, if I remember correctly, the picture used to be quite a lot bigger. Each to their own...
It's a real shame to see the lock cottage at Bourton Lock in such a state of disrepair. It's a lovely location and hopefully one day someone will take it on and restore it to its former glory.
We've moored for the night below Slat Mill Lock in a quiet spot. We can just hear the M40 in the distance when we think about it, but it's been a deck chair evening out on the towpath, one of many to come over the next few days we hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment