Rediscovery Cruise: Day 10

We had used the measuring tool on Google Maps to estimate that the river where we were moored was about 75ft wide — so we could swing round from our mooring to head back.  The engine went on just before 8, but before we could do anything we waited for a couple of swimmers to come past.  The Adrian pushed the bow off, I held onto the stern for a bit, and the current gently took us round.

It was a lovely morning, before the wind got up a bit.

As we arrived at St John’s lock, a widebeam was just going in.  We paid a visit to the bins while we were waiting.  We would see them at almost every lock today.  That lock and Buscot were on self service, but once we had crossed from Gloucestershire back into Oxfordshire, Grafton Lock had the lovely lock keepers on duty that we’d seen at St John’s yesterday.  The old Radcot Bridge is now over a backwater, and is difficult to see because of moored boats.  The one over the main river dates only from 1790.

The camp site by the glamping place, which had only one camper van in it yesterday, was packed!  Many people seemed to be making the most of the weekend before the Rule of Six comes in on Monday.  There were lock keepers at Radcot Lock and at Rushey.  Next comes Tadpole Bridge.

When we got the Shifford Lock the widebeam was only just going in; the lock keeper then turned the lock for us and saw us down, but as it was now 1pm he also turned the signs to self service as we descended, and imparted the news that it was his lunch break, to a couple of boats now waiting below.  It was a very busy scene at Newbridge, with pubs both sides of the river, and lots of boats about.  They included some electric punt type things, rented from beyond the bridge.

There was a lock keeper at Northmoor Lock, but Pinkhill was on self service.  We thought we’d better get some diesel at Oxford Cruisers, but (apparently due to the pandemic) they are currently closed at weekends.  We’re not desperate.  We pulled in shortly afterwards on the meadows above Swinford Toll Bridge.  Here we have more opportunities to spot military planes, of which we’ve seen lots over the past couple of days, as we’re on the approach to Brize Norton.

24 miles, 8 locks.  (128 miles, 75 locks)

Autumn Cruise - Day 16

The moorings above Day's Lock are excellent, and we slept well.  When I looked out this morning, the field was full of cows, but a few minutes later they'd all moved on.  We set off just after 8am, on what started as a nice morning but soon clouded up.  There were some very large houses set way back from the river as we passed Burcot, then we reached Clifton Hampden Bridge.

The lock keeper hadn't yet come on duty when we reached Clifton Lock, so I went to press the buttons.  We passed the new junction of the Wilts and Berks Canal (there's not much to see), and then went through Abingdon, which looks lovely from the water.

Abingdon Lock was very noisy; it sounded as though the lock keeper was watching a Grand Prix in his little office, or there was a swam of wasps close by.  In fact, it was a Professional Motocross race taking place a mile or so away at Culham.  As we passed the site, which was full of motor homes, we could see the riders doing spectacular jumps.

The next section of the river is, frankly, the least interesting we've travelled.  There's not much to see, and very little of interest.  Sandford Lock is the deepest on the Thames at 8ft 10in, but was also one of the calmest as we went up.  The lock keeper was being very careful, as we were sharing with a canoeist.

Iffley Lock, on the outskirts of Oxford, is very pretty.

The approach to Oxford is nothing to write home about.  Then the University boat houses appear, followed by Folly Bridge - where you wonder where you're supposed to go.  It becomes more obvious when you get closer.  In the past, I've seen dozens of punts moored the other side of the bridge; today there were none.

Beyond Folly Bridge, Oxford could be any town - there are no dreaming spires to be seen, just houses and a railway bridge.  We shared Osney Lock, which was self service, with a trip boat which seemed to be electrically powered.  Four of those on board were having lunch; the rest appeared to be there just for the ride.

We stopped above the lock for lunch.  Osney Bridge was our first after setting off again, and we took the chimney off as it's the lowest bridge on the Thames, and stops all the gin palaces.

We passed Sheepwash Channel, the entrace to the Oxford Canal.  If you didn't know, you'd never imagine that it led to the canal.

At Port Meadow, we found ourselves involved in a sailing race.  There are a few spires to be seen as you look back towards Oxford, and there are horses and cows grazing on the meadow.  But Adrian had a full time job avoiding the sailing boats.

The Lock Keeper at Godstow Lock told us that the lock in three inches narrower than all the others.  Even so, she managed to fit a wide plastic boat in the lock with us.

Beyond King's Lock (the first which hasn't been powered - the Lock Keeper said he preferred the more reliable manual method), is another entrance to the Oxford Canal, at Duke's Cut.  This one at least has a sign (visible from the other direction), but still doesn't look like much.  But we stayed on the Thames to Eynsham Lock, where are large Dutch barge was coming out of the lock.

We went up, stopped at the water point to fill the tank, then went through the very attractive Swinford Toll Bridge.

With useful info from the Lcok Keeper that the first field beyond the bridge charges £5 a night but further on it's free, we picked a spot in a field of cows.  It's popular round here, with boats at almost every available mooring.  The sun had come out but the wind had also got up, so there was no problem getting to the side.  There's a great view from the side hatch, as there's also the occasional intesresting plane heading into RAF Brize Norton.

25 miles, 9 locks.  (250 miles, 150 locks)