Sunday 31 May 2009

View from our window 31 May

'Phoebe' on her way

BREAKFAST OUTSIDE

Sunday 31st May, Days Lock, River Thames

I will ask this question quietly; has summer arrived?
It was sunny and warm from first thing and we had breakfast outside, the first time this year. An easy day for us, I was watching a narrowboat heading for the lock: it was ‘Phoebe’ with John and Margaret aboard. They had told us by email that they were heading for the Kennet and Avon and would see us somewhere along the way. They moored alongside and had coffee with us, bringing us up to date with news of mutual friends and the Crick boat show. Myra went to the lock with them whilst I sawed and bagged up some wood that we had retrieved from the river.
Myra had her second swim after supper, having proved that our emergency ladder makes climbing onto the boat from water level quite easy.
The forecast looks good for the next few days, let us hope that they are correct.

2009 Totals – Locks 204; Miles 380; Bus pass uses 8

Saturday 30 May 2009

Old world charm!

Dorchester Cottage

Pub Conversion

DORCHESTER AGAIN

Saturday 30th May, Days Lock, River Thames

I awoke to the sight of reflected sunshine on the cabin roof; another good day in the making. Caleb and Madeleine arrived one nanosecond later; I must remember to check where they have installed the video camera.
After breakfast, we walked to Dorchester to have another look at the Abbey and on the way back, to buy a paper. The grandchildren had a free hand wash by courtesy of Barney, an 18 month old Labrador who, together with his owner, was sharing the same path into the village.
We passed by a stall selling plants and free range eggs; displaying two interesting notices. The first one explained that the egg boxes were inside the plastic container owing to the attention of birds that had been pecking them and cracking the eggs.
The second one was giving instructions as to where the money should be placed.
How lovely that such trust is still in evidence in places; even in the south!
At the main road junction, we saw a ‘For Sale’ sign on yet another closed pub that had been converted to housing and by the new fence and gravel drive, very recently.
This highly desirable residence could be yours for a mere £625,000. On second thoughts, this could be a useful second home; I must see about getting myself selected as a prospective Parliamentary candidate.
We arrived at the Abbey; the children busied themselves in the area set aside for them whilst we took in the splendour of the building once again. Outside and back in the village, we discovered that the Post Office does not sell newspapers; we were forced into the Coop shop.
I choose the verb carefully: the prices seem to us to be high for almost everything in stock. Their idea of lollies or ice creams for children has the prices starting at £1.35; you have been warned!
On our way back, we took a different path. This led across the allotments and between two large fields. We had gone a few hundred yards into the field when we heard a Skylark and saw it slowly ascending; the song was beautiful and to us, a constant source of wonder that the clear, pure sound travels so far.
We watched a Kite soaring around the area, effortlessly gaining height very fast.
I managed to slip on the edge of the grass bank whilst climbing onto the boat, something that we had been warning the grandchildren about. A bruise appeared on my shin almost as quickly as in a cartoon; and yes dear reader, it did hurt, but thank you for asking.
Mummy and Daddy collected Caleb and Madeleine after spending the afternoon with us all: Martlet is now very quiet. We will be fairly close to them for most of the summer and we hope that they will be joining us again soon.



2009 Totals – Locks 204; Miles 380; Bus pass uses 8

Friday 29 May 2009

Waiting patiently

Dorchester from Wittenham Clumps

Little Wittenham Wood

Secluded mooring

FRIENDS REUINTED!

Friday 29th May, Days Lock, River Thames

We were moored above Abingdon lock with Nb Bramber; enquiries made of the owner revealed that they had lived in that village, some 5 miles away from Shoreham where I lived from 1947 to 1965. We swapped names of some of the local people that we knew, nostalgia – wonderful!
Filling with water and PortaPotti emptying were the tasks for today to be completed before boating. I was ably assisted by Caleb, who when closely watching the contents pouring down the drain said ‘Yuk’. That said it all really!
Myra and Caleb then went to operate the lock whilst Madeleine held the boat against the jetty with the rope. The sluices worked correctly, the lock filled right up, but the gates would not open when the appropriate button was pressed.
Fortunately, the lock keeper, Roger, appeared at that moment. He said nothing, smiled and opened the office. Emerging seconds later, he said ‘try it now’; the gates opened perfectly. Myra discovered that one particular lock had been converted to self operation some 18 months ago and has required the operating unit to be replaced five times already!
It was a glorious day, the sky and the river were blue, and the sun was hot. In all, a perfect day for boating. My mind was busy soaking up the wonderful smells from the shrubs along the Culham lock cut, when I saw a familiar narrowboat approaching.
It was ‘Coriolus’ with friends Martin and Ann aboard. We stopped and held an impromptu meeting in the centre of the cut; updated each other with news and planned routes for the rest of the year when we could meet up, then general chat.
By the time that we arrived at Culham lock, Nb Bramber had arrived, locking down with us and a small cruiser. When the gates had opened, I had to yell to the temporary lock keeper to ask him to free the front rope which had caught around the bollard, preventing Myra from retrieving it. An efficient lock keeper would have seen it and released it without having to be asked. The quality of some of the temporary keepers is certainly lower than two years ago on our last visit.
By the Appleford railway bridge, we swapped greetings with oncoming Nb Best O Mates who we had met on the Thames 4 years ago and in Limehouse two years ago.
We locked down Clifton with Nb Bramber and then we moored above Day’s Lock whilst they carried on to Wallingford. We walked up the Wittenham Clumps and Castle Hill with Caleb and Madeleine and back down through the woods which we all enjoyed.

2009 Totals – Locks 204; Miles 380; Bus pass uses 8

Thursday 28 May 2009

Its warm here!

A step back in time - Brasenose Lane, Oxford

Oxford, Radcliffe Camera

DRY AND WARM

Thursday 28th May, Abingdon, River Thames

No morning tea in bed for the present; Caleb and Madeleine woke me at 7.10am. I didn't mind at all, there is something wonderful about beginning the day with two chuckling grandchildren who wear their innocence on their sleeves.
We moved down to Kings Lock, the first of the day where we bought the licence for the Thames. Both children opened the sluices to fill the lock, Madeleine then held the back rope on the boat whilst I collected the licence. Her job in the locks was to hold the back rope, when the pull was within her capabilities.
At Osney lock, I was handed a leaflet by the temporary lock keeper as today was one of the days of the Oxford Eights Regatta. I asked him if they were racing at the moment as it was 10am. He replied 'Yes'. He was wrong. One novice crew was making its way downstream catching sufficient crabs to supply Claridges for a week. Apart from one eight and one four at a boathouse, no other boats were afloat.
This was a good thing as I was able to look at the wonderful buildings that Oxford can offer close to the river.
We had a picnic at the rear of the boat as we moved towards Abingdon, passing families of Ducks, Coots, Moorhen and a swan with three singlets.
Mooring above Abingdon lock, I wandered down to watch boats going through and to chat to Roger the lock keeper and his summer assistant. Returning to Martlet, I replaced one of the cabin downlighters with a much reduced power consumption 17LED version. This boating lark can be tiring at times!

2009 Totals – Locks 201; Miles 373; Bus pass uses 8

Wednesday 27 May 2009

GRANDCHILDREN

Wednesday 27th May, Yarnton Mead, River Thames

Where dancing is concerned, I have been blessed with two left feet.
I attempted to prove this using a boat, in public this morning as I backed from our spot within Thrupp Cruising club moorings, in order to turn around. The wind was blowing hard at right angles to the boat; I managed to back it across the canal and into some shelter provided by the moored boats on the windward side of the canal, and turned to face the lift bridge after a few, contactless, shunts.
The bridge was promptly lifted by a kind boater who had been watching our manoeuvres; thus saving Myra getting off the boat and me from getting it off the bank – thank you, whoever you are!
We met No.2 daughter, Clare and her two children Caleb and Madeleine this morning and have taken charge of the grandchildren until Saturday afternoon. Mooring up on the 7 day moorings made the unloading of the car easier.
We had tied up and were stopping the engine when they arrived. Smiling faces and waving from the rear of the car; they enjoy the boat as much as we enjoy having them with us. It is easier for me than for Myra, I can simply turn off my hearing aids!
Clare has said that she thinks that a bag of washing in exchange for three child free days is a good deal as far as she is concerned.
The rain eased after lunchtime and we moved off for the trip of 2 ½ hours to reach the river, both of the children helping at the locks, Caleb watched with interest, three moorhen chicks and their mother. By the time that we arrived on the river at Dukes Cut, the wind was quite strong and the rain was starting again. I managed to get to one of our favourite spots at Yarnton Mead and tie up before the rain became heavier.
After supper, they asked me to read Cinderella; my legs will vouch for the fact that both children are getting heavier.

2009 Totals – Locks 196; Miles 360; Bus pass uses 8

Tuesday 26 May 2009

Fine Cotswold stone buildings, Witney

Alms Houses, Witney

Tracery above memorial, St Mary the Virgin, Witney

The War Memorial, Witney

BLANKET ANYONE?

Tuesday 26th May, Thrupp.

The stagecoach was on time for the short hop into Oxford this morning; no,we have not discovered a time machine, it was Stagecoach Oxford service 59a from Banbury.
On arrival, we made for the Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street. Science must be a slow discipline here in Oxford for the museum did not open until 12noon.
I proposed Plan B and it was agreed. We would catch the bus to Witney and instead, have a wander around there. We bought some pasties from a butcher in the covered market and went for the bus. Part of the outward journey was known to us as it passed through Eynsham, to which we had walked from the lock some 4 years ago.
Witney was bigger than I had remembered from my transport days, there were some interesting looking buildings and a nice green leading up to the church, where there is a row of Alms houses forming one of the boundaries of the churchyard
After a picnic on the green, we had a look around the church of St Mary the Virgin. The roof is under repair at present, there were other areas of the church that were in need of repair. We could not think of having visited a church in regular use that had such evidence and a feeling of neglect, we left feeling a little disappointed in the PCC. In contrast, the war memorial was a credit to the town, neat flower beds and well maintained.
Plenty of shops to look both at and in; including a personal favourite, Robert Dyas which began life as an Ironmongery and has branched out widely; both in location and stock. I did not buy anything. For me, this was a first.
We caught a different bus back to Oxford and enjoyed the scenery and the buildings on the outskirts. I wasted time in Waterstones until the Thrupp bus departure time, Myra did the same in Debenhams.
Back at Thrupp, we had finished supper when I heard the all too familiar bleat of a lamb in distress. On leaving the boat, I saw two people that had just cycled past Martlet; they had gone down the grass bank to the River Cherwell which flows past the canal there with just a hedge separating them. The lad (in his 20's) had shinned up a tree and crossed the river by a fallen branch. The lamb was reaching the opposite bank but was unable to climb out. The lad grabbed the scruff of its neck and heaved it out. It laid on the ground for about 30 seconds, then with a shake of the head, clambered up and scampered off to find mum. He did well and a good result for the lamb.


2009 Totals – Locks 192; Miles 356; Bus pass uses 8

Monday 25 May 2009

Hampton Gay, St. Giles Church

Hamton Gay Manor House

EXPLORING

Monday 25th May, Thrupp.

A cup of tea in bed this morning; as we were remaining here for the next two nights.
When the few spots of rain had stopped, we lounged about and decided to have a walk after lunch. We headed for the redundant church of St. Giles at Hampton Gay, a pleasant stroll across fields and alongside the River Cherwell. The Manor took its name from the early holders of the land, Robert De Gay.
The church was first recorded in 1074; by 1535 the chancel and nave had become dilapidated. It was rebuilt between 1767 and 1772 on the original foundations and has been described as ‘a very bad example of the meeting house style of gothic architecture’. I liked it.
We wandered around the churchyard and saw the ruins of the manor house close by.
an exploration was indicated and we did just that.
The manor house was built by the Barry family in the 16th century in the shape of a letter ‘E’; the central section was crenulated. The two outer wings had fine windows and the whole building very well proportioned. There was a major fire in 1877 when the roof collapsed and the hose has remains in a ruined state.
Local legend has it that a curse was placed on the owner of the manor after his refusal to allow into his house, the injured and dying from a train crash on the bridge over the Cherwell at nearby Shipton on Christmas Eve 1874. Carriages had fallen from the bridge into the river below; 34 people died and 69 were injured. It has remained one of the worst losses of life in an accident on the Great Western Railway. The attitude of the Lord of the manor was in sharp contrast to the villagers who did all that they were able to assist.

2009 Totals – Locks 192; Miles 356; Bus pass uses 4.

Dukes lock and Dukes cut

Goldfinch, from the boat

A HOT, DRY DAY!

Sunday 24th May, Thrupp.

Talk about rubbing it in; we awoke to the best morning for a long time, a clear blue sky which remained that way all day. Just because we had taken our leave of the Thames.
From our mooring near Dukes lock and south of the junction we had a grandstand view of the boat traffic. We had planned to stay put until early afternoon as it was a sunny Sunday. At one point, owing to a single handed boater being very awkward, a queue had built up of five boats below and wanting to go up the Oxford canal.
That was just about manageable until the arrival of another boat from the Thames.
The (boater 1)jumped some of the queue and got away with it owing to the kindly laid back boater that was now behind him. Next, whilst rushing down the steep brick abutment of the lock, he (boater 1)slipped and very nearly went into the canal. We had seen this same man at Eynsham with his boat across the river and his wife jumping onto the fore end to use the engine to get back alongside the staging. It is strange how often first impressions are correct!
Eventually all of the boats went up the lock; having given them a 20minute start, we followed and apart from the very shallow water and running up on two obstructions on the bottom, which we got off easily.
One of the boats had tied up just before Roundham lock; they had managed to get a load of 6mm flat twin and earth electrical cable wrapped around the blades. I was told later that there was 17 metres in all, perhaps it was as well that we had waited before we set off. We arrived at the Thrupp cruising club and we were directed to our previously arranged mooring spot. There were two spaces on the 48hr moorings, however had we not organised one, they would have been full I am sure.


2009 Totals – Locks 192; Miles 356; Bus pass uses 4.

Saturday 23 May 2009

Pitt Rivers Museum

Column spandrel detail, Pitt Rivers Museum

Last day on Thames - fine weather!

OXFORD VISIT

Saturday 23rd May, Dukes Cut

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Yesterday, I asked for a dress rehearsal of good weather; today- we had good weather! I will now ask for three months of good weather. Thanking you in anticipation.
We moved down to Eynsham Lock for water and to empty the Porta-Potti; then we moored on the visitor mooring; we then caught the bus to Oxford. It was interesting to look at the landmarks that we knew from the river, from a different perspective.
We alighted in the City centre and walked to the Pitt Rivers Museum.
The museum is named after the snappily named Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers; rolls off the tongue easily does it not? He was a career soldier, in the Grenadier Guards from 1845 to 1882 retiring in the rank of Lieutenant General. He collected a few items during his service abroad, although the bulk of his collection came from dealers and auction houses.
Initially housed in the South Kensington museum, Bethnal Green branch, it was transferred to Oxford in 1882 when a purpose built extension to the University museum of natural history was constructed.
We had a picnic in the grounds, bathed in sunshine, before going inside and looking around. It was very interesting, we spent nearly two hours inside before we began to suffer from ‘museum eye’ and will need to visit again at least once, possibly twice to see and absorb all of the exhibits.
The building itself is beautiful stone and brickwork, together with graceful steelwork arches supporting the fully glazed roof.
We had a wander around Oxford with a visit to a café in the covered market before catching the bus back to Eynsham Lock. Casting off, we headed for Dukes Cut and the Oxford canal.

2009 Totals – Locks 188; Miles 352.5; Bus pass uses 4.

Friday 22 May 2009

Steam launch 'Sultan'

LOW WATER AND WILDLIFE

Friday 22nd May, Pinkhill

After breakfast we listened to Desert Island Discs on the wireless; this week’s guest was Peter Sallis, his choice of music was mostly to our taste and we enjoyed the programme.
Moving off, the wind was strong from the West; yet again I was togged up for the winter.
I think that summer has been removed from the seasons without our knowledge, Technically I know that it does not start for a month or so – but would a full dress rehearsal hurt anyone? At least the rain kept away which makes things more pleasant on the blunt end. The levels were well down as we wound our way along the series of sharp bends between Tadpole Bridge and Shifford lock; it needs a bit more concentration to stay afloat when the useable part of the river is reduced still further.
The two canoes that locked down with us at Rushey caught us up at Shifford, they confirmed that the levels were well down, with shallows in areas new to them.
We stopped for the day at Pinkhill and went to the lock to chat with Tim the lock keeper and his wife; it is amazing what subjects were covered in the space of an hour or thereabouts.
A traditional launch passed us,it was called 'Sultan', it is 23' in length, coal fired steam launch built about 1890 and restored by Peter Freebody at Hurley in 1977.
We saw a Barn Owl sweeping across the tall grass as evening fell and there was a Cuckoo in the tree above us. A Pheasant was shouting out, letting everything know that he or she was about to roost for the night, how rural can you get?

2009 Totals – Locks 186; Miles 349; Bus pass uses 2.

Above Rushey Lock

Thursday 21 May 2009

THE BUS RIDE

Thursday 21st May, Rushey

‘But Scientists, who ought to know,Assure us that is must be so...’
Hillaire Belloc, when writing the above, could have been thinking of the weather forecast on Radio 4 this morning. The broadcast was a classic and had Myra and myself laughing out loud. The forecaster’s exact words were ‘There is a lot of weather about today’.
We were reassured to know that not even one part of the country would have to make do without weather for today; after all, fair is fair.
We caught the free bus from Lechlade to Tesco at Cirencester; we make this trip each time that we visit the Thames. All the passengers apart from us are regulars; they know each other and the driver well. It is a small, friendly community which is extended to anyone travelling with them. A road closure that the driver had not been warned about caused him to turn around and make a large detour; he telephoned his depot and told them in no uncertain terms what he thought of them. We were all laughing as we could hear both sides of the amplified conversation. He explained that he had to call at one hamlet because ‘Pauline would be waiting for me to collect her’ – and she was!
The return journey takes a little longer – the driver helps with the bags and shopping trolleys as far as the passenger’s house front gates.
Having boosted the profits at Tesco; on our return we loaded Martlet with the goodies. Fortunately, grandchildren Caleb and Madeleine will be joining us on Wednesday to help us reduce the food stocks as we head northwards along the Oxford canal.
Leaving Lechlade, we decided to keep going for a while as the weather was dry and at first, not too windy. We chatted to the lock keepers on the way and will see some of them in two years time on our return; some will have retired together with their vast knowledge of the river and the associated bird and wildlife.
We stopped above Rushey lock and will probably make for Pinkhill Lock tomorrow; our last day on the Thames is Saturday.


2009 Totals – Locks 183; Miles 335.5; Bus pass uses 2.

Cast iron sign, Buscot Lock

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Looking good for tomorrow

KELMSCOTT MANOR

Wednesday 20th May, Buscot

A late, leisurely breakfast at 9.30am was the starting point for this morning; Kelmscott Manor did not open until 11.00am, we were some ten minutes walk away.
The name Kelmscot is spelt that way on the OS maps, but the manor house has two ‘T’s.
The Manor house is a grade 1 listed Tudor farmhouse built of limestone in 1570 by a wealthy farmer, Richard Taylor, with an additional North east wing added in about 1665.
William Morris, founder of the arts and crafts movement, whilst at Oxford, met Edward Burne-Jones and the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rosetti; with whom he signed a joint lease on the manor house in 1871. William is said to have loved the unspoilt honesty of the building from which he drew inspiration for his poems and fabric designs.
William Morris developed serious Kidney disease in 1891; eventually he died on 3rd October 1896. He is buried in Kelmscot churchyard.
In 1913, his widow Jane purchased the house, which remained in the family until the death in 1938 of May, their daughter.
Having paid our money (No concessions, apart from ½ price admission for helpers of wheelchair bound people), we were handed timed tickets for 12 noon; had a wander around the grounds and a cup of tea before looking around the house.
There were some very nice pieces of furniture, including a lot of plain well built oak tables. We were told that William Morris had asked for plain tables to enable work on cloth to be carried out and for ease of cleaning afterwards. The house had homely feel about it, with a myriad of interestingly shaped garret rooms.
The garden was a passion of William’s and its ordered structure was to his design.
There is a large Mulberry tree which dates from around 1660, which still produces some 200lbs of fruit each year, most of which is lost to birds and over ripening, which can take place in a matter of hours.
We returned to Martlet and moved off, heading for the moorings above Buscot lock which was today in the charge of relief keeper David. He had remembered Myra from Grafton lock two years ago when the resident keeper, Keith, had given her some Rhubarb, amazing the things that remain in the memory!
We tied up above the lock, from where tomorrow, we can reach Lechlade in about 30 minutes.

2009 Totals – Locks 178; Miles 324; Bus pass uses 2.

Tuesday 19 May 2009

A picture for Gerald

A lot of Bull

KELMSCOT (OR KELMSCOTT)

Tuesday19th May, Kelmscot

We started off at 7.40am in an effort to beat the rain. The wind was quite strong, but less than the last few days. Radcot lock appeared and there was a narrowboat waiting to come down. The steerer kindly opened the gate as we approached; Myra got off and went up as we open both gates on the river, the lock keepers are very protective (rightly) about their gates and not having the base plates on narrowboats wearing a groove in them below water level. On past ‘The Swan’ pub and at the narrow arch of Radcot Bridge, there was a good stream running; an increase in revs was needed to get through safely.
Chatting to the keeper at Grafton, we admired his newly planted beds of Lavender and the general very tidy aspect of the whole lock area.
We topped up the water tank at the top of the lock and travelled the mile upstream to Kelmscot, where we tied up for the day at 10.20am. Some 45 minutes later, the first shower arrived; hopefully, my soaking yesterday will appease the rain god for a while.
Tomorrow, we will visit Kelmscott Manor.

2009 Totals – Locks 177; Miles 321.5; Bus pass uses 2.

The main colour of today (Sunday)

Short stay visitor

Monday 18 May 2009

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY...........

Sunday 17th May, above Rushey lock.
I had been reading the weather forecast for Sunday morning; it seemed that the possible way to remain dry would be to move off at 7am. We managed to do that and although the wind was getting stronger by the minute, we managed Shifford lock in the dry. The rain started at 8.40am as I went under Ten Foot Bridge and was on and off for the next hour as we approached Rushey lock.
We were going to moor on the meadow above Rushey lock; we had stopped, both of us were on the bank when the heavens opened. No spits and spots, just a sudden downpour!
Mooring completed we clambered inside, after a short while, I suggested lighting the fire as the weather was miserable and looked set for the day. Myra lit the fire and within twenty minutes, the sun was shining, albeit without a great deal of heat.
I kept the fire going until late evening with wood, gleaned from our travels last year. We had very threatening clouds all around, but only a small amount of rain fell.

Monday 18th May, above Rushey lock.
Yesterday, I had spoken to our friend Phil from NB Huffler, who was at Lechlade in company with Richard on NB Tempus Fugit. They would meet us on their way back to the Oxford canal; we had decided that Rushey meadow was to be the spot.
Having a static boating day, some branches had been cut down and heaped up against a hedge. I approached them, log saw in hand and proceeded to cut them into Squirrel stove sizes and split them. These filled two carrier bags, and will be used when they have dried out. We had finished lunch when the two narrowboats appeared, when they were moored up, Myra put the kettle on whilst they brought their snacks onto Martlet. Richard had his mate Ernie with him, so it was a cozy tea party on board.
We had a good old chinwag until about 4pm when they decided to make a move, I went with Phil to help in the lock and the heavens opened. By the time that I was waving goodbye as they left the lock, my trousers were wetter than they had been all year thus far. I was wearing a waterproof jacket, but I was only going to be a few minutes so did not bother with overtrousers. Oh well, I should have know better.
We had a couple of really heavy showers over the next few hours, and then it dried up.
We plan to move to Kelmscott tomorrow, the Manor House is open on Wednesday and we will go and have a look, we have managed to miss the opening days on our previous visits to the area.


2009 Totals – Locks 175; Miles 316; Bus pass uses 2.

Saturday 16 May 2009

Hart's footbridge

PROBLEMS WITH WIND (GENERALLY, NOT PERSONALLY)

Saturday 16th May, Hart’s footbridge.

Plan A for leaving Pinkhill mooring was abandoned almost as soon as it was implemented. The wind was blowing very hard on the side and was too much for the engine in reverse to warp the boat off the bank, even for the small amount of bank clearance at the fore end that I needed to move forward.
Plan B was then evolved. This entailed moving back, tiller hard over lots of revs and backing across the river to gain clearance at the fore end. Then move towards the lock and turn around in the wide part before the weir stream. At this point, a hire boat came out of the lock; I waited for him to clear and was blown aground at the back end, not too badly as with full revs (again!) I managed to get off and to turn around.
That was more than enough excitement for today; we followed the hire boat up to Northmoor Lock and talking to the steerer, it was his first time on a canal boat.
As he said, ‘A baptism of fire’! He thought that if he could cope with today, then it would be all downhill from here. I did not tell him of the weather forecast we had heard today, strong winds until at least Wednesday. Who needs good weather, we are boating!
Thinking about it, it would make a nice change if it was good for a while.

2009 Totals – Locks 173; Miles 308; Bus pass uses 2.

Friday 15 May 2009

Pinkhill Lock

Below Farmoor reservoir

THE WEATHER, WHAT ELSE?

Friday 15th May, Above Pinkhill Lock

The heavy overnight rain did produce an increase in the level of the river – of one inch!
The ground had been so dry, that a lot of the rain was simply absorbed; we had apparently some 18mm (3/4 inch). At Benson over the same period, they had 63mm (nearly 2 ½ inches). At least I was not standing out in it.
Exciting things were planned for this morning, empty the Porta-Potti and then some diesel. They were very honest at Eynsham in pointing out that their diesel had been bought when prices were high; the base price was 85p, with the 60/40 split it worked out at 110p. We bought 30litres; this will be enough to get us to Banbury after the Bank holiday where it is a lot cheaper.
We passed some time with Tim Brown, the lock keeper at Pinkhill; he showed me his copy of ‘The weir and lock keeper’s lament’, a parody on ‘Death in Leamington’. It had been sent to him by Roger, the lock keeper at Abingdon. I had fun constructing it, intended as a bit of nonsense; it is nice if it produces a smile or two.
We moored on the visitor moorings below Farmoor reservoir; after lunch, I had finished filling the stern tube greaser when it began to rain.
We had a walk along the nature reserve and back by the reservoir when the rain eventually stopped after supper; there was a barn owl hunting along the foot of the embankment as we made our way back to the boat. The wind had got up again, I think that we have had our share for this year, perhaps it will moderate tomorrow.

2009 Totals – Locks 172; Miles 303; Bus pass uses 2.

Thursday 14 May 2009

Myra opening gate the Thames way; Kings Lock

Sandford lock filling up

LAUNDRETTE

Thursday 14th May, Above Kings Lock

An early start rewarded us with a slight mist on the river and the sights of young ducks, coots and today, young grebes hitching a lift on the back of a parent. We operated Sandford lock ourselves. I timed the whole thing purely out of interest; it was 25 minutes.
It would have been less, but the top gates had been left wide open.
We stopped at Osney for Myra to visit the laundrette and on her return, to go for an all day breakfast at Micks caf̩ opposite the YMCA Рwonderful!
Ray, the Osney lock keeper told us of the forecast for heavy overnight rain and to be careful of our choice of moorings.
We plumped for the meadow above Kings lock; from here we could be back on the canal system in 15 minutes if need be and always assuming Yellow boards rather than Red ones!


2009 Totals – Locks 176; Miles 299; Bus pass uses 2.

Church Of St Peter, Little Wittenham

Appropriate guttering detail, Little Wittenham Church

Wednesday 13 May 2009

MIST AGAIN

Wednesday 13th May, Abingdon Lock Mooring

It was patchy rain since waking this morning. I moved off and arriving at Clifton Hampden Bridge, I saw a narrowboat moored on the far side; the steerer was checking down in the engine hole. I slowed down and went by closely, to ask if he wanted us to wait at Clifton lock for him. As he stood up, I recognised Andy from Hillmorton; he was moving a boat from Foxhangers on the Kennet and Avon to Whilton Marina for sale.
He was glad of the company; the locks are easier when on ‘user operation’ in company.
We shared the locks until Abingdon, where we stopped for water and to moor up, he carried on; the next five locks would have the keepers on duty which would help him to get a way up the Oxford canal tonight.
We went into Abingdon for a fish and chip lunch; afterwards, I went to the ironmongers for a pair of cupboard latches, Myra went food shopping and we met up for the pack horse bit back to the boat. The drizzle continued most of the afternoon, it is only May after all.
We had a phone call from Phil on Nb Huffler who has arrived on the Thames; we will be meeting him next week somewhere.


2009 Totals – Locks 171; Miles 286; Bus pass uses 2.

Tuesday 12 May 2009

The Spire of St. Helen's Church, Wallingford

Wallingford Bridge

ANOTHER WINDY DAY

Tuesday 12th May, Days Lock

I am making a diary entry today; one of the rowing coaches in his fast outboard powered canoe WAVED TO ME and called out Hello! I was leaning on the upstand at the time; otherwise I might have fallen from the boat. A round of applause for a fellow river user, who was from Oxford Brookes University.
We approached the bridge at Wallingford with the intention of mooring up at the town moorings for a shopping trip.
They were full up; one of the boats occupied exactly the same place as it did when we passed through on 30th April. We moored further upstream in amongst the trees and walked back from there.
A successful visit to a charity shop produced more reading matter and Waitrose did the same for our stomachs. I took a photograph of the Spire of St. Helen's Church, funded entirely by one Judge Blackstone 'of the Westminster Circuit' and was built in 1774.
We had a snack lunch on the move, pausing briefly to retrieve a baseball cap from the river. I had seen it blow from the head of the steerer of the boat in front and managed to hook it up before it sank too deeply.
I returned it to him in Day’s lock; he was very grateful as it was of high sentimental value.
We tied up on the meadow above the lock; the gusty wind once again had been the main weather feature today, perhaps it will moderate tomorrow.

2009 Totals – Locks 168; Miles 279; Bus pass uses 2.

Monday 11 May 2009

First Moulsford Railway Bridge

Corbelled brickwork on second Moulsford Bridge

Moulsford bridge and Refurbished HST

Brunel again (Yawn)

Monday 11th May, Moulsford.
What a difference a day makes; bright sunshine this morning but with a very strong wind from the North East. Rounding the bend below Days lock, the wind was against the current and was whipping up waves of about 15 to 18 inches in height with spray blowing off the tops. I was in full winter rig with gloves - it was cold although the sun was shining.
On we went through Benson Lock and Wallingford, the wind now from the side and noticeably warmer, the waves all but disappearing. We stopped to look at the chandlery at Moulsford and to buy some calor gas. Two of the staff working outside passed us without a word or even looking our way. Perhaps our reception would have been different had we tied up a Freeman cruiser instead of a Narrowboat. We did not bother with the chandlery, paid for the gas bottle and went on our way.
All of two hundred yards and across to the other side of the river where we moored up for the day, well, we had done 8 miles!
We went for a walk and to look again at Moulsford Railway Bridge.
It was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Great Western Railway between 1838 and 1839, at the same time as he built Maidenhead and Gatehampton railway bridges. It is constructed of brick faced in Bath Stone, with four arches of 62 ft span and a headway height of 21 ft 8 inches.
A second replica bridge parallel to the first was built when the tracks were widened in 1892. This second bridge has wonderful corbelled brickwork facings in place of the Bath Stone of the first one. Some of the Stone has flaked away and is looking in need of some restoration.

2009 Totals – Locks 166; Miles 271; Bus pass uses 2.

Sunday 10 May 2009

Looking North from Castle Hill

Wheatear, Castle Hill

Traditional meadow, Day's Lock

Steam powered river launch

The Abbey, Dorchester on Thames

Tea at the Abbey

Sunday 10th May, Above Days Lock, Dorchester.
Clear blue sky, sunny and the promise of a warm morning, what a perfect start for the intrepid 13 on their skiffs. We chatted to them all again as we ate breakfast outside, standing around taking in the beautiful scenery. We enjoyed the company of each other and yes, I managed to find a railwayman in their midst! He works at Laira depot, Plymouth and is involved with the warranty claims on the new MTU engines in the HST125 fleet.
We waved them all goodbye as we went off to walk around Castle Hill and taking in the views from the top before repeating the exercise with Wittenham clumps; one of the highest points in Oxfordshire, where there is a view indicator.
We could see clearly, the tower at Stokenchurch close to the M40 which is 31 miles away; the all around views were wonderful and made our walk even more enjoyable.
Returning to the boat we had a chat with the lockkeeper who seemed glad of the company as we had only had the skiffs and three other boats all morning.
After a snack lunch, we walked to the Tea Rooms at Dorchester Abbey: we have been there before and it is now included in our list of compulsory visits. The cakes are delicious and the seating is around a large circular table, which encourages conversations with your neighbours. It was a very pleasant way of spending part of the afternoon.
On our return to Martlet, we spent the remaining time merely relaxing in the sunshine.

2009 Totals – Locks 166; Miles 263; Bus pass uses 2.

Saturday 9 May 2009