Lechlade to Oxford

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

Next a few days