Thu
21st Sep Lechlade to Eaton Hastings
We had
discovered on Facebook that some people known to Tim and Tracey were moored on
a boat called Festina Lente just
upstream of us. We had seen the boat arrive earlier. James went to make contact
but the curtains were all closed, so we set off upstream to do the final
navigable mile of the river.
Festina
Lente
Through Halfpenny Bridge
Riverside at Lechlade
Inglesham Round House
We turned
with care, as it was shallow. The willow trees obstructed the view of the lock
there that is under restoration at the start of the Thames and Severn Canal. On
the way back downstream we managed to have a passing word Sue on Festina Lente. They are travelling in
the same direction as us, going up the Oxford Canal. We are all hoping to
coincide with Tim and Tracey, who are going the same way on Sola Gratia.
Miniature houses at St John’s Lock
We had a
pleasant but uneventful journey down through St John’s Lock and Buscot Lock,
past Kelmscott. The river twists and turns as can be seen from this short real
time video (2m.39s.)
Cruising the zig zags
Moored at Eaton Hastings
Hugo spying out the land
We found a
mooring on a field opposite the tiny hamlet of Eaton Hastings. The field had
cows, and they were very curious at one point, coming to look at our boat.
Curious cows
James went for short walk along the
Thames path, where there are few landmarks – just meadows and willow trees, and
an occasional WWII pill box.
Thames Path
Pink flowers
Inside a pill box
Open skies and stormy clouds
Cow in the sunset
2 locks, 5
miles
Fri
22nd Eaton Hastings to Rushey
The dew
was heavy in the morning mist, making the boat roof soaking wet, and showing up
the spider’s webs on the nettles and teasels.
Dew
Morning mist
Wet roof
It was
quite chilly as we set off, wrapped up warm. It brightened up later
Hazel and Hugo
Flypast
We saw large
flocks of swallows and several kingfishers today as we cruised downstream. We
also spotted a raven being chased by crows. The difference in size is obvious
when they are together. Not so easy on their own.
We took a time-lapse
video of the day’s journey through Grafton Lock, Radcot Bridge, Radcot Lock,
and the zig zags, finally mooring on the meadows at Rushey.
Time-lapse video
Moored at Rushey
Yellow Flowers
James went
for a walk and discovered that Festina
Lente had moored up round the next bend, so he had a chat to Andy and Sue.
He saw two
skylarks, but still no curlews. Probably the wrong time of year.
Rushey Lock area
Back at
the boat, it was warm and dry – a good time to take up the mats in the bows and
clean the front deck.
Deck cleaning
This is a
lovely mooring, but the peace is occasionally disturbed by military aircraft
going through their paces.
B-52 bomber
2 locks, 5
miles
Sat
23rd Rushey to Farmoor
Our water
heater did not start this morning. We realised that it was because we were low
on fuel. We emptied our two fuel cans into the tank to avoid running out.
A boat
named Tiree had moored nearby
yesterday. They left early going up stream.
Festina Lente went down past
us to the lock.
When we
finally set off there was a cruiser heading downstream. He stopped by the
facilities, where we also emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish. The cruiser turned round and went back
upstream, so we were on our own in the lock, which was self service.
Rushey Lock
After a
cloudy start, the day brightened up, and we had glorious warm sunshine.
There were
a few more boats about as it was Saturday and the weather was good. We noticed
that Tadpole Bridge had a glorious red creeper, which was not as red when we
came past a few days ago.
Tadpole Bridge
Tenfoot Bridge
We found Festina Lente moored up somewhere in the
wilds just before Shifford Lock. We will probably see them later somewhere.
Festina
Lente
Shifford Lock
Newbridge
A floating hot tub at Newbridge
After Northmoor
Lock we took turns to have lunch on the go as we passed Bablock Hythe and
headed for our mooring at Farmoor.
James phoned
some diesel outlets as we were running low.
We had seen it earlier for 65p on the Kennet and Avon, and 78p on
Ozzie’s fuel boat. Here we were quoted
by Oxford Cruisers 95p, and College
Cruisers at Jericho £1. When we queried the high price we had verbal abuse over
the phone. This was a boatyard that the boaters had supported in their campaign
to resist a housing development. Now it seems all they want to do is fleece
their customers.
We decided
to get enough at Oxford cruisers to keep us going, and fill up at Aynho where
we established it was 85p. When you get 140 litres, 10p makes a difference.
Fuel pontoon at Oxford Cruisers
The small marina at Oxford Cruisers
As we
passed the moorings at Farmoor Reservoir, there were two narrowboats occupying
the best spots, but we noticed other places available.
We went
down through Pinkhill Lock, where the lock keeper was excited about going to
see an international cricket match the following day. At the boatyard, we backed onto the fuel
pontoon for the diesel. It was all very
laid back, and the guy had another job to finish first. They didn’t have the
gas hose that we are still looking for. The diesel pump was very elderly but it
did the job. We filled the two 5L cans
and put 70L into the tank.
We turned
round and went back up through Pinkhill Lock, and we found that the moorings
were now empty – the two narrowboats had left.
We like this mooring as it is easy to moor, there is no traffic noise,
and there are walking opportunities and great wildlife.
We walked
up on the reservoir. We realised that we had not seen any coots between here
and Lechlade. There were lots of them here, as well as thousands of gulls.
Farmoor Reservoir
It’s about time we had a selfie
We tried
to get into a bird hide by the river, which was locked, although the RSPB website
says it is always kept unlocked. There
was also a boardwalk with a plaque to show what interesting things you might
see, but there was a padlocked gate to prevent you going there. We walked round
the outside of the reserve, which is in the shape of a triangle, formed by a
bend in the river. We saw some very tall
poles with high platforms, with what looked like nests on the top, for storks
or ospreys. It would be interesting to know what uses them.
Stork nest?
Moored at Farmoor
Still a
few swallows today. Then at dusk, over the meadow across the water, we saw a
barn owl for several minutes, searching for prey. It was a lovely sight. We have seen them here before, as well as
cuckoos in the spring. It was a great
way to end a good day.
Dusk
5 locks,
12 miles
Sun
24th Farmoor to Oxford
Dawn at Farmoor
Our mooring
The barn owl meadow
We made an
early start today in lovely sunshine, and were soon in Pinkhill Lock, which was
self service.
Pinkhill Lock
The landing stage
Then we
were heading back down the river towards Oxford, past all the familiar
landmarks.
Oxford Cruisers
Erosion at Swinford Bridge
We filled
up with water, emptied cassettes, and disposed of rubbish at Eynsham Lock
The water point at Eynsham Lock
As it was
Sunday, we encountered a fishing competition.
They were all concentrating hard, and we had no eye contact from any of
them. We passed them slowly, and as
Duke’s Cut went off to the left towards the Oxford Canal, we carried on through
King’s Lock and the bendy section to Godstow Lock
Fishing competition
Duke’s Cut
Sharp corners and shallow areas
Under the A34 Oxford Bypass
The skew bridge at Godstow is easier
in this direction
Godstow Nunnery
Godstow
Lock is the first powered lock as you travel downstream. As we left the lock, some rowers came from
the weir stream on the left, overtook us and then stopped in front of us. We
had to go into reverse gear to avoid a collision. We couldn’t pass as there
were other rowers coming upstream. Then
the two boats rowed ever so slowly in front of us, side by side, so there was
not enough space to pass. The river is shallow at the edges here, and we had to
keep in the middle. When we did finally
manage to pass, a man with a megaphone shouted at us from one of those training
double hulled boats with an outboard that create huge amounts of wash. He said
“watch your wash”. Further down, we had
to stop again for some other boats, and the ones we had overtaken came slowly
past, and then turned across the river in front of us, blocking the whole channel. Our vow of not moaning at people was on the
verge of being broken. Unbelievably bad boating etiquette, and either total
lack of awareness of other boaters or deliberate occupation of the river. I had to repent later of river rage.
Rowers stopping in front
Slowly side by side
Blocking the channel
We left
the usually peaceful Port Meadow area to head for our intended mooring beyond
Osney Bridge, We passed the Sheepwash
Channel, the other entrance to the Oxford Canal, and continued through Osney
Bridge where we saw Sola Gratia
moored up.
Sheepwash Channel
Osney Bridge
Sola
Gratia.
Tim and
Tracey had been at a church in Oxford, and when they returned they came on
board with Oakley for a cuppa. Hugo was banished to the bedroom.
Tracey, Tim, Hazel and Oakley
James had
taken the back off his laptop to clean out some dust, and one of the tiny
screws had gone missing. Later he felt it in his shoe!
We caught
a bus into town and made a necessary visit to Sainsbury’s, where we
restocked. There are no easy shops
between Lechlade and Oxford. We went for
an early meal at Bill’s, and then arrived at St Aldates for their 6pm
service. Once again we had excellent
worship, and a good welcome. The talk
was the same one we had heard at the 1030 service the week before.
Worship and communion at St Aldates
Bus back
to the boat where Hugo was pleased to see us.
3 locks, 7
miles
