Banbury

Arrived Banbury yesterday, despite a bit of a traumatic journey from the last lock, as the water levels had dropped and there was little water in the 2 mile pound to Banbury. Loads of moored boats were aground and sitting at precarious angles. Too late to go back we continued cautiously hoping not to run aground and that we would get to Banbury. The boaters we met said they think the paddles were left open on the last lock all night and therefore the pound had run very low. C&RT had been informed during the night, but as yet nothing had been done, this was at 9.30 a.m. Water levels must have been down by nearly 2 foot for the whole 2 miles.
We made it to Banbury below the lock by the services and realised the 2 boats here were not aground, so we attempted to moor. Success! We tied up and hoped that the water levels would rise during the day and sure enough they did.
A very wet evening with heavy rain also helped top up levels!

Today James and Karen came for a visit, bringing our post, thanks Steph. James also brought us a new CD/Radio, a Kenwood, as our old one was playing up. After spending an hour fitting and testing it we went out to lunch and wandered around Banbury.
We still have battery problems and Mat from Tooleys Yard is coming tomorrow to take a look. Fingers crossed he can solve the issue.

James installing new radio

OXFORD TO BANBURY

We set off early on Thursday and although we were the inside double bunked with another narrowboat, we managed to escape their clutches and head off up to the last lock that we would be doing on the Thames. We arrived to Osney Lock at about 7.30 a.m. long before the lockkeeper had arrived, so we proceeded to do the lock on our own!! It was slightly overcast and very fine drizzle was falling - they type you get wet in! Anyway we managed to operate the lock 'box' at one end together and opened the gates, Andy bought the boat in and we proceeded to tie her off on the dollies. This takes some time! After about what seems like 10 mins we were ready to fill the lock.I proceeded to push the buttons at the other end control panel and heyho it worked. Something electronic I hadn't broken! (I have previous for breaking things electrical, usually lift bridges!) Nothing went awry and we carried on cruising up the Thames looking for the entrance to the Oxford Canal at Sheepwash Channel. According to the maps it wasn't far from the Osney Lock. We eventually saw an arched bridge to what looked like a small stream. It looked quite daunting, but having committed Josephine to turn we had to proceed. Any minute we were waiting for the sound of her running aground, but having negotiated a tight section we found the small lock (Isis) that led up onto the canal. What a relief! How lovely it was to see a small lock. We hadn't done one of these since May!
We had previously walked this section of the Oxford and new that the services weren't far, so we cruised along a couple of miles and there they were, no queues! We did the necessaries, stopped for breakfast and then Andy cleaned all the debris off the roof that had landed on Josephine since the thunderstorm and also from being under trees for two nights.
Having been refreshed we carried on up the canal. Not far we came upon a CR&T man inspecting a lift bridge, of which there are many on this section of canal. Just as we approached the bridge he lowered it, even though Andy had sounded the horn! I proceeded to get off and go 'do' the lift bridge. This one required a key being inserted to raise the bridge. The CR&T man greeted me and proceeded with making notes whilst I inserted the key and attempted to turn it clockwise as per the instructions. NO. Nothing doing. I then turned it anticlockwise and although it turned it would  not release the bridge. Help! CR&T man just said well it worked perfectly for me a second ago......,   - well it doesn't work now! After a few minutes he turned my key anticlockwise and pushed hard on the bridge and hey presto it worked. 'Funny that' he said, 'someone had put a note on the bridge to say turn key anti-clockwise but I just took it off, I have a marker pen I will write it back on'. Is there any hope for C&RT!
Moored up for the night on a lovely quiet spot near a village called Tackley, very nice with only one neightbour. This morning we set off again quite early for Lower Heyford. We new there was a café here as we had visited it many years ago before boating days. We found a 14 day mooring and walked back to see if the café was still in existence. It was. Kizzies Bistro. We had a fantastic cooked breakfast, but being awkward as we are, we wanted the vegetarian bubble and squeak with our bacon and sausage. The chef duly obliged, and Andy, being the expert on breakfasts rated this 5 star. We will be back when we are ever in this neck of the woods.
After breakfast we carried on up towards Banbury. There are so many lovely old lift bridges on this section of the Oxford canal. I have taken some pictures of them.



Entering six sided lock

We cross The river Cherwell twice and there is an interesting lock each time we did. They are almost six sided, this means the boat travels around a bit in the lock! They are very pretty, especially at Aynho Weir lock, where the Cherwell goes over a weir. We have finally moored up just beyond there at Haddons Lift Bridge. Plan to cruise to Banbury tomorrow and find moorings for the weekend as Karen and James are visiting Sunday.

 

Think I had better hold onto her!

Under control, phew!

The weir for the Cherwell at Aynho

Oxford - Ashmolean

Spent today wandering around the Ashmolean. Too much to see in one visit. Have decided to return in the winter and see some more.
Tomorrow we plan to leave the Thames after nearly a month on her. We have thoroughly enjoyed our visit and plan to return. We will be heading up the Oxford canal to Banbury, planning to leave early, rain is forecast but hopefully not too much.

Oxford

Having spent a long very hot weekend at Abingdon we set off cruising again on  Monday morning. We shopped first and let the early birds go, but alas caught up with them at the first lock queue at Abingdon lock! Here were also the facilities which we needed, It seems so did everyone else! Andy hovered the boat mid stream for about 10 mins then we double bunked on another boat and awaited our turn for water. I think we were here for about an hour and a half waiting and filling. Had some nice chats with fellow narrowboaters, like you do, and proceeded off towards Sandford.


Nuneham House

On approaching Sandford lock we noticed the 'self service' sign open and spotting a lady operating the machinery I went to ask her where was the lockkeeper? Gone to lunch was the reply. We decided to brave it and operate the lock ourselves. (Only the deepest lock on the Thames at 8' 10") The lady leaving the lock left the gates open and Andy proceeded to bring Josephine in. I awaited on the lockside and he threw me both the stern rope and then the bow rope which I duly tied off whilst he held the stern rope. Whist organising this another narrowboat approached and followed us in. As it turned out they had done the locks before so I proceeded to ask her to do it and I would watch. Again after having secured their boat another 2 boats came along so the process of tying off boats started again! I then went with the original boater to operate the lock. All went well and I proceeded to fill the lock at the other end and then open the gates to let all the boats out. Phew! All went according to plan. As we had met the crew of one of the 'late' boats "Effie May" we moored up the other side of the lock and lunched at the pub at Sandford.
It was stifling on the boat and we hoped for a thunder storm. We had no shelter and inside the boat it was reaching 36 degrees. We were in luck at about 7.00 p.m it thundered and we had a small storm but a fair amount of rain. We sat on the front deck just getting soaking wet! It was such a relief from the heat.
Morning came and we set off for Oxford. Effie May had already gone and we did not see her again. As we set off for Iffley lock we thought the threat of rain had passed and it was a bit fresher than yesterday. Andy had not long said to the lockkeeper that he thought we would not get rain when a storm bubbled up and hey presto it chucked it down. The rain was so heavy that it was like trying to see your way through fog! I was busy shutting all the doors and rolling the cratch covers down when he spotted what he thought was a mooring big enough for Josephine. We got her in and stood on the towpath in the pouring rain trying to tie her up. After about 5 mins of course the storm stopped. And yes we were dripping wet again!







 

Iffley Lock

Towpath bridge - Iffley Lock

However, there is always a silver lining and these moorings turned out to be the nearest ones to Oxfrord city centre. We would probably have gone by them if it had not been for the storm.
We actually moored by the park along from the Head of The River pub where we met for Caroline's hen party, a few years ago now.
Have been for a saunter around Oxford and attach some snaps of some of the marvellous architecture. We had included a visit to Blackwells (bookshop). The biggest bookshop I have been in. Unfortunately I had forgotten to put my glasses in my bag, so alas another visit is planned for tomorrow. Weather set to be a bit cooler tomorrow so It may be a bit easier for walking around sightseeing. Will be leaving the Thames the day after, having spent 3 weeks on her. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time on the Thames and can't wait to do it again, next year perhaps?

Abingdon - Swan Upping

Arrived Abington today. Another hot one, but after using services at the lock we obtained diesel from  a local chandlers and found a mooring near the town by pastureland with 5 days FREE mooring - unheard of on the Thames. There is a nice breeze blowing today so the heat is not so severe.
Andy heard from another narrowboater that they were Swan Upping at the bridge. (Unfortunately I had just started painting my toenails, so he went on his own, really!). Apparently Swan Upping is the capture and ringing of young signets. There were 3 boats with crews dressed in either red, white or blue. All swans are the property of the Queen  and at the end of the day, the crews toast the health of the Queen. Unfortunately Andy missed any signets being caught but he managed to see the boats and witness the toast to the Queen.

Swan Upping Boats

Toasting The Queen

Scorchester Dorchester

Yet another very hot day, mustn't grumble but wouldn't it be nice to have a thunderstorm! Anyway had another adventure moor today. After having stayed two days at Wallingford in some shade we decided to venture further upstream and finding mooring scarce we plumped for a high bank just before Day's lock as we wanted to visit Dorchester. Andy did his athletic jumping into bushes bit to get a rope ashore and we managed to tie onto a tree at the stern.




Adventure Mooring - handy tree


Then we had the problem of getting off the boat! Andy managed to get the plank across onto the bank so then all we had to do was get on the roof. I am not keen on climbing on the roof and walking the plank, but heyho I made it!!

On walking from the Thames into the village we saw a pillbox with a large opening for a gun, probably an anti tank gun. They seem to be common place in this area as we have seen several of them along the banks.

Inside pillbox

 

Don't tell him your name Pike!!!





 

 

The Abbey at Dorchester was worth a visit. Had some beautiful stained glass windows and an original lead font. The village is quaint and set in a time warp. After an expensive pint  of shandy in 'the George' we popped into the small museum to disturb a couple filming a documentary. The village has been used many times to film episodes of Midsomer Murders and an Agatha Christie.



Jesse tree Window

Dorchester Abbey

We returned to the very hot boat and walked the plank back onboard. Too hot to sit inside we lugged the chairs and sunshade up onto the roof and over the plank to find some shade, at least there was a bit of a breeze. 33.6 degrees inside the boat.

Wallingford - Rant Day!

Hello reader. Before I go off on a rant, I thought I would share these photos with you of Goring/Streathley taken on an evening walk. After finding a mooring at Goring and returning Pat and Chris to the train station we strolled around the village of Goring. Found a fabulous hardware store that sold just about everything, and alas spent a pretty penny! In the evening we went for another stroll as it was still so hot inside the boat. We walked across the bridges that separate Goring from Streatley and looking back from the Streathley side the bridges that cross the Thames made the road look like it had buckled and melted in the heat, just like us!

Goring Lock

Has the heat melted the road!

The tower of St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Goring

The church in Goring has an unusual tower in as much as there is a smaller round tower attached to the main square one. We thought it looked quite interesting. However when we ventured inside the church, we were disappointed to see that it had been modernised, with modern pine benches and a newly tiled marble floor that would have looked good in any kitchen, but not a church. No character (except the rood screen) remained. The one unusual thing was that both entrance doors had been backed with what looked like leather, so no wood was visible, soundproofing?????

The Gardener!

Anyway back to this morning and the rant! Why is it these plastic noddy boats take up all the mooring big enough for us narrowboats, when there is smaller mooring spaces available to them! In question today was a plastic noddy moored at Wallingford in a space long enough for a narrowboat but sitting slap bang in the middle hogging all the space. I politely asked him if he could move forward so we could get Josephine in the gap behind him and another noddy. Only to be told by plastic noddy owner that  'another boat was coming'. Andy attempted to moor between these two boats, but we know it was too small a gap by about 6 feet, but you should have seen their faces as we tried to crush their boats! Don't they know we are 18 tons.
Anyway we gave up (should have persevered but it was too hot to argue) and found a mooring about half a mile further on along a rough edge under some trees. At last some shade! We have termed this adventure mooring! (Grandson Jack has adventure wees, out in the open, so we have termed the phrase from him) You just don't know if you are going to run aground or hit something hidden, but this time ok. with just about enough water under us.
Off into Wallingford this afternoon for a mooch.

Found a mooring at Goring this morning, time now for some snoring!!

After a lovely day spent with Stuart, Caroline and the Grandchildren celebrating Samuel's first birthday we set off early from Sonning to get the first lock operation of the day and headed for Tesco at Reading. After getting re-provisioned we set off again, not sure how far we would aim to go, but just after passing under 'Reading Bridge' we saw a lovely mooring alongside Caversham Park. The only problem was that we were in direct sunlight all day, and boy was it hot. Never mind, we are not going to grumble about that after the last few summer's!!

Saturday morning came with lovely hot sunny windless conditions, so we set off before 8am heading for Pangbourne meadow. very glad we set off early as the numerous rowing clubs were already filling the river with 'sculls' with anything from single rowers to teams of eight. The one thing they all had in common was they appear to be unconcerned regarding rules of navigation, and totally blind indifference to any other vessels that are on the water. The fact that we are making better speed on the Thames than we have ever achieved on any canal, yet still get overtaken by these rowing boats I can live with. But when you get one ramming you in the stern you start to think they have a Kamikaze madness about them!!!, then there was also the boat with four women rowers in it that turned and stopped broadside to our approach as we made for Mapledurham lock landing, I signalled them that I would pass them to the left, so they move right in front of me again, there is no hope for some people!!!

Josephine waiting at Mapledurham Lock

Finally got to Pangbourne meadow and got the last space available. Very hot again, but set up our own little camp alongside the boat with parasols and pegged sheets to get some shade. Jean's Sister and Brother in law arrived late afternoon to stay with us. The boat was so hot even with every door and hatch open, and with all curtains closed that we ate outside, and stayed outside until turning in about 10:30pm


Sister Pat and Brother -in- law Chris

Sunday morning came and what a surprise, we wake to bright sunshine and hot temperatures, that makes a change!!!
Pat and Chris kindly offered to take us by car to visit the new marina at Cropredy on the Oxford canal. We have been interested in it for some time but have never been to see it on any of the previous 'open days' so, as this was the final one, and it is advertised as being ready to open in a matter of weeks, we were keen to see it with a view to taking up our future moorings there. We were somewhat disappointed on arrival to see it was far from complete, and despite their firm commitment that it will be fully finished and operational by September/October of this year we find it hard to see it happening, so we think we will stay at 'Aston' for this winter then look again at how Cropredy pans out next spring.

Cropredy marina entrance

Jetties at Cropredy

This morning ( Monday 15th ) we turned the boat around and went back to Mapledurham lock to use the facilities, ( water up, elsan and rubbish out ) then turned again and cruised up through Whitchurch lock and on to Goring where Pat and Chris departed. We walked with them up through the charming village shops on the high street to the station where they caught the train back to Pangbourne where they had left their car. We will stay here for the day and head off again tomorrow.   

Mooring at Goring! Nice cup of coffee.

Sonning - Samuel's 1st B'day

Left Henley On Thames and headed to Sonning. Lovely cruise in lovely weather, although there was a bit of a breeze.
Caroline met us at Sonning and we went to The Great House for a drink with her and the boys. Then we went with her home to have tea with the children and watch Samuel (with Jack's help) open some of his presents. Heather arrived late afternoon as well at Stuart. We all shared tea with the boys in the garden. Happy Birthday Samuel.