Rediscovery Cruise: Day 11

We’ve done a long day today, but of the nine hours we appeared to be cruising, the engine was actually on for only six.  We set off at 8, and found wild swimmers above Eynsham Lock.  That lock, and King’s Lock were on self service, as was Godstow Lock, but that’s the first of the electrified locks so only button pushing was needed.  Then it’s out to Port Meadow, a vast expanse off open land with the skyline of Oxford in the distance.

Osney Lock was also on self service, and it takes 5 minutes to fill.  Then it’s through Folly Bridge, and past the University rowing club houses.

At Iffley Lock we had a long delay.  Some boats were waiting to come up, but couldn’t get the self service lock to do anything.  One of the guys phoned the EA who sent a lock keeper to sort things out.  We were waiting for about an hour, but at least it was sunny.  There were a couple of guys diving into the river from a parapet behind the lock landing; speaking to them, they said they always tested the depth of water, and it was at least 7 feet.

Above Sandford Lock we had an appointment arranged.  We moored alongside Susan and Toby on Baleine, to have a look at their recently stretched boat.  It was great to see them, and see how well it’s been done.  (There’s also a magazine article in it...).

As we left, the lock keeper was just going on his lunch break, but there were plenty of boats waiting to come up so we didn’t have to do much.  Before Abingdon Lock there was some sort of music festival going on in a field.  Whatever the permitted number of people gathered at the moment is, this was likely much bigger.  At the lock, a big widebeam was going down, then a boat and a rowing eight came up.  The lock keeper had help in the form of a little lad who was overjoyed at being allowed the press the buttons.  There’s a great sign at the lock.  Abingdon itself looked lovely.

We needed to get through Culham Lock, because divers are working on the bridge over the approach during the week, severely limiting use.  This lock was also on self service, and because of the way the system is set up when there’s no lock keeper on duty, it takes 20 minutes to fill.  Boats were going down, then four came up, so we’d already been there a long while before we could go in.  It’s a fairly big lock, though, so once we and another boat were in, a huge hired boat also came in behind — and a little rib went sideways behind it.

By Clifton Lock, the rib and the other boat were in front, but the huge one hadn’t overtaken us, and because of the way the other boats had gone into the lock, it wouldn’t fit and had to wait.  Once out of the lock, we started looking for moorings.  The ones marked on maps upstream of the bridge don’t seem to exist, so we went through the bridge.

We found a wild mooring on a well used field with the Thames Path going through it.  It was gone 5.30, so a chicken went straight into the oven to roast.

21 miles, 9 locks.  (149 miles, 84 locks)