September Cruise: Day 8

Last night we went for dinner at The Old Bookbinders on the other side of the canal.  Fortunately we went fairly early, because the place was packed.  It’s a nice place, with quirky stuff everywhere, and the food was pretty good too.  Adrian especially liked his desert of crepe with apple and ice cream.

This morning we had a bit of a delayed start, because the engine wouldn’t start.  It’s been making funny noises for the last few days.  An RCR man came out (the same one we’d seen in Thrupp on Tuesday) and diagnosed the starter battery was beginning to fail.  He checked the alternator while he was there, and showed us a technique for getting the engine going.  All this meant it was almost 10.30 when we finally set off, just a hundred metres or so to Isis Lock.

This leads to Sheepwash Channel, which goes under a road and railway line, with an old rail swing bridge alongside.  Then there’s just a footbridge and you’re on the Thames proper.

It’s a bit narrow at first, then the views open out over Port Meadow, where there were cows and egrets.

At Godstow Lock, the sign said it was self service but there was actually a lock keeper on duty.  She was also able to sell us a licence, which was a bit cheaper than we’d expected.  Going upstream, the navigation arch of Godstow Bridge is right over on the right hand side, and is also overgrown.  Then we went under the A34 again.  King’s Lock was on self service, and is the first manual lock.  Adrian did the winding, pushing, and pulling.

Eynsham Lock was also on self service, and we stopped at the water point above the lock to fill up, with Swinford Toll Bridge beyond.

We got the washing machine going and had lunch, and there was also the first rain shower while we were there.  Above the lock, the meadow moorings were packed with boats, and there was one on its side, a flood victim.  Pinkhill Lock was also on self service.

After Pinkhill, the rain caught up with us, and it was torrential and included hailstone for a while.  It was best described as unpleasant.  We passed all the caravans at Bablock Hythe and arrived at Northmoor Lock.  As we came in, a lock keeper arrived and took over, which was a help.  We were now on a lookout for a mooring; the official one before Newbridge had a boat on it, but a little further on we spotted a potential meadow mooring.  We fitted and we could get ashore; it’s the sort of Thames mooring we like, seemingly quite a way from anywhere and very quiet.  It’s quite chilly though, so we are lighting the fire.

13 miles, 6 locks.  (94 miles, 64 locks)