There’s dire weather predicted for this afternoon, so once again we left our mooring just before 9am catching the lockie just changing the signs from self service to Lock Keeper on duty.

In no time at all we had done the days 2 locks, 1 for Elsan and 1 for Water, and slipped into Wallingford just as the rain started 5 minutes too early. We are moored in front of a monster…….its bow is towering over ours with a very large anchor hanging from it. The owner complimented our boat, I suggested it could be used as a lifeboat for him. Something to go with the hot tub on the top deck.

As the rain settled in we wandered into town for a bit of shopping and browse around the Lamb arcade with all its antiques in little shops…..like you see on Bargain Hunt.

Suffice to say a vintage camera, Olympus Pen EE, and some sapphire earrings were successfully negotiated for. An Italian style coffee provided a proper cup for lunch, none of that foul americano stuff please. Reading books and relaxing are this afternoons duty, tomorrow who knows…..Goring ? Ciao

One of my favourite moorings on the Thames tonight, for 2 reasons….nostalgia (I used to see them from my cottage in North Moreton) and peace ( something to do with England vs Germany in a football match). Last night was noisy enough in Oxford with an all male hire boat crew returning at 2am !

As we had to get thru a lot of rowing courses leaving Oxford we were the first boat out of the lock as the lockie came on duty. Then thru riverside Oxford and Folly Bridge….as we had taken the northern side coming upstream we tried the southern…

Once thru Folly bridge it’s open playing fields, rowing clubs and a WIDE river…..feels strange after the confines of the Oxford Canal

Our second lock wasn’t manned, so we helped 3 narrowboats go thru upstream, not helped by the rowers blocking the exit as they turned around. Repeated blasts on my horn didn’t do much but a much older and wiser narrowboat owner just put the power on and shot thru…..which moved them quicksmart….after all they are worth 5 points each !

The next couple of locks were all manned and shared with the same boats. One couple’s old 1971 cruiser was powered by a 1954 Ford Anglia engine..with an SU carb from the petrol fumes it left !

So we are settled in nicely, only 1.5 hours upstream of Wallingford, perfect for the thunderstorms predicted tomorrow.

We are back on the Thames again in Oxford, but this time via Sheepwash Channel rather than Dukes Cut. After using the facilities a final time at Thrupp, we headed off for the final 5 narrow locks. Most of the traffic had been coming the other way, so the locks were in our favour, even if the swing bridges weren’t.

One thing that can catch you out are the stop locks. In case of a canal breach planks can be inserted to restrict water loss, but they are very narrow and frequently overgrown. As you do the final bit of tiller waggling the blackberry usually makes a grab.

As you enter Oxford there are a lot of residential moorings, along with the overgrown weeping willows and oncoming boats there is little room to manoeuvre.

After a few hours cruising we turned right thru Isis Lock onto the short Sheepwash Channel. Under some road and rail bridge, with very restricted headroom, and then a left onto the Thames and back to Osney Bridge moorings. Plenty of time for shopping

Tomorrow we will gradually head downstream towards the River Wey. As we are going with the current travelling times will be much shorter, but a laundry is required along with a little more sight seeing so plenty more to blog about.

We are back in the land of internet signal again ! Currently moored at Thrupp after deciding to gradually wend our way home, via the Oxford Canal, River Thames and Wey.

After yesterday’s text blog I thought I’d just post some pics today. The crossover bridge was used when the towpath switched sides. It’s a smooth curve with lots of grip designed for horses without interrupting the pull of a boat.

Most of the locks are 10’ plus in height, but unlike the River Wey the flow of water is very controlled with little turbulence. Indeed there is no need to rope up when going down, and only a centerline is used going up. Some of the paddle gear and gates are very hard to operate though, H has done an excellent job with either myself or other boaters giving her a hand when required.

The River Cherwell has unusual locks either end. It was very calm, Green Indicator, but can flow can increase rapidly, disrupting traffic for the short time it connects the Oxford Canal

Venturing back into Thrupp one has to negotiate the lift road bridge, luckily there was somebody on hand to do it this time.

Tomorrow we will head back to Oxford, a short day, but there will be lots of fresh hire boats to negotiate……

I’m wandering up and down the canal trying to get a signal tonight. So sorry no photos, it’s too slow to upload them. We had an early start this morning, and got thru Thrupp services before the rush. Then onto an unusually shaped turnover bridge lock prior to a short run on the Cherwell River. The countryside has been beautiful, as has the weather, and we’ve moored up on Heyford Wharf. Hopefully tomorrow the internet connection will be more forthgiving.

We had a leisurely start to the day this morning, hoping the weather would improve, but no it started to drizzle.

Leaving the excellent Osney moorings behind us, we immediately went past Sheepwash Channel. This is one of the ways to get onto the Oxford Canal, but we opted to stay on the Thames for 2 more locks, and use Dukes Cut instead.

Leaving central Oxford behind we emerged onto the meadows. Unlike most towns there is no mooring permitted, instead it was full of wildfowl. Of course during winter it would be flooded.

After 30 mins or so Godstow Lock, and Nunnery emerged, the later being ruined. As usual the lock was unmanned and is last automated one on the Thames going upstream.

The river twists and turns now, quite unlike downstream. Numerous sunken boats sighted during this cruise are testament to its power, you can’t just leave a boat moored up unattended all winter. The mooring ropes require constant attention, something we don’t have to do, being on a canalised part of the Wey.

All too soon we were thru Kings Lock, turned to starboard and entered Dukes Cut. Immediately things narrowed down, and there was no current ! Time to throttle back.

We had to do 2 narrow locks, with boats appearing all around us…..frantic tiller waggling and Hazels experience helped some hirers thru before it was our turn. I’d forgotten just how narrow they are ! Our boat is 6’10” wide, the lock 7’….yes I have 1 inch spare each side, with the fenders up !

I’d obviously not lost the touch, no loud bangs or crashes ! Next up Hazels favourite…….hand wound pedestrian lift bridges. It took 70 turns to wind up…..17 to let down….slow hydraylics

One of the joys of the canal are reflections and bridges. With the sun out, and a nice twisty course, there were plenty of both.

I decided to push onto Thrupp. Last time coming thru I’d had an abscess under a tooth, today was a lot better, and our late lunch mooring has morphed into an overnight stay. It felt good to finally get Prime Thyme onto a canal after 5 years ownership.

First the good news, Cooper is home, eating well and on the mend. This is mostly due our fantastic Housesitters, who promptly got him to the vet, and have followed up with lots of tlc. We are forever in your debt guys, Cooper is easy to capture your heart with such a gentle and loving nature, plus his dog smarts.

Other good news is our successful arrival at Oxford. Desborough Cut to Oxford in a week isn’t bad going, especially with a strong current against us most of the way. Must be due to the lock labourer………

We filled up with water at Abingdon Lock, and chattered to a couple, older than us, who lived aboard a 20 ton 80’ long Dutch barge. He had just spent an hour filling the water tank! And it costs just under £1000 to fuel it up !!! A serious bit of kit, on a lighter note we passed a converted lifeboat, which still had markings “for 70 persons”. Slightly squeezy me thinks.

All too soon we were entering the outskirts of Oxford, more rowing boats and people meant more careful steering culminating in Folly Bridge. This split bridge, around a corner with ferry’s and punts can get interesting. Thankfully the weather, yes it’s raining again, had kept most away as we slipped past the Head of the River Pub. Due to its low height it also restricts most of the “Gin Palaces”, it’s mainly narrowboat territory from now on.

We moored up just above Osney Lock, in the far distance below.

It’s very handy for a short walk into town….apart from provisions some wool was purchased, and a Hasselblad lens leapt into my bag ! Tomorrow we shall go past the Sheepwash channel entrance to the Oxford Canal, instead using Dukes Cut after 2 more Thames locks. We shall go past Inspector Morses pub, no doubt bumping into the odd body or two ! “Make mine a pint Lewis“.

It was a short stroll from last nights mooring into Wallingford for a bit of shopping and some books before setting out again. Unlike the last couple of days a clear blue sky greeted us.

It was a day of bridges, varying sizes and styles, but always a good reference marker in plotting your course.

We had been warned about Benson Lock and potential silting problems, sure enough a dredger was out as passed slowly. Above the lock is home to the Le Boat hire fleet. We had watched them returning to base yesterday, fortunately the new hirers hadn’t been released yet, so no collision damage done as they master the art of controlling a boat in a lock. Not always as easy as it looks !

Next up Shillingfold Bridge, and some lovely riverside properties. As we are in the countryside now the numbers are decreasing.

For the last 2 locks the rain set in again, but fortunately we teamed up with a Caversham HireBoat, swapping duties around as the 2 final locks were self service. Finally Abingdon after 6 hrs.

Just a short blog tonight, Cooper our dog is poorly and at the vet. I know our house sitters are taking great care of him and we couldn’t wish for better people doing so, but we always worry when away from them and he is in our thoughts tonight.

We’re listening to the Church bells in Wallingford as I write this post. We sadly said goodbye to Penny this morning, as she has had to turn around and start heading back to Cartbridge.

Our first lock was unmanned and against us, no worries Hazel has got this sorted. Then along some classic riverside residences.

Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse, more rain pelting down all the way to Goring. I’d had enough, and as there was a mooring pulled over for morning tea and then lunch. The weather radar showed a thunderstorm coming around 1pm, but as the sun was out we decided to try and get to Wallingford. If so we should make Oxford in 2 days, allowing more canal time.

At the next lock my left ear popped, and finally cleared after a week. Phew, I didn’t want to fly again with it blocked as our descent into Heathrow had been painful. As we motored on I could see the storm, but our 21hp 3 cylinder diesel engine pulled us ahead of it ! Well the wind blew it crosswise behind us 😁, and we had sunshine into Wallingford. No moorings in town …. so we just moored downstream of the bridge, ready for a run into the town tomorrow.

We had some torrential rain last night, and it was still drizzling when we decided to make a run for Pangbourne.

Unfortunately the rain increased, Hazel retreated to the cabin whilst I steered in full wet weather gear. This does keep me dry at all times, but as the wind increased as well, so the temperature dropped. What happened to the hot July days of last year. By the time we got to Reading all was wet and cold, but we managed to top up the fuel in a brief respite at Caversham Boat Services. £30 of diesel will last most of the holiday ! With a headwind and increased river flow the long stretch to Mapledurham Lock seemed to take forever. Thru the lock and use the services, but then the heavens opened again. Nothing to do but push on….

The rain abated on the run into Pangbourne, but the wind was very strong making manoeuvring difficult. I slid into the first mooring possible, whilst Penny found one ahead. At last out of the wet weather gear, just as the sunshine came out ! Typical…..

We’ve had a walk into town and have provisioned up. A nice afternoon off now, we’ve made it Pangbourne and Penny is happy, the water tank is full and elsan empty…what more could you want 😁