Spring Blossom
Late this afternoon we walked along the Thames by Osney. Although the weather has been miserable, spring is still making progress. This prunus, photographed with my old Nokia N95, had some lovely blossom.
Introduction to boating
We had Chris, Lucy and our first grandaughter, Amelia join us at Oxford. Amelia is just over three months, we thought she had better get used to her grandparents obession. She wasn't phased by her new surroundings although we didn't start the engine (maybe another day).
Welcome aboard
The morning was sunny, as it should be, but by the evening we were again into heavy rain. Local river levels appear to have dropped a little but the flows are still strong particularly along through Osney Bridge.
Osney Lock Boards
Osney Lock Weir
Osney Bridge
There are still red boards on the Thames at Culham, Sonning, Goring and Caversham so there is no immediate prospect of us getting down the Thames to Teddington. Tomorrow we head north to Enstone and our temporary mooring. We shall go home to Northants and wait until flows have reduced.
Welcome aboard
The morning was sunny, as it should be, but by the evening we were again into heavy rain. Local river levels appear to have dropped a little but the flows are still strong particularly along through Osney Bridge.
Osney Lock Boards
Osney Lock Weir
Osney Bridge
There are still red boards on the Thames at Culham, Sonning, Goring and Caversham so there is no immediate prospect of us getting down the Thames to Teddington. Tomorrow we head north to Enstone and our temporary mooring. We shall go home to Northants and wait until flows have reduced.
Message Board at Cropredy Lock
When we passed through Cropredy Lock we found that a local resident had mounted a message board onto the fence near the top gate. The theme they started, which is apt given the weather, was "what floats your boat?". At least one person had picked up on the theme and added "water". We added "rain". What a great idea.
Cropredy Lock messsage board
Cropredy Lock messsage board
Oxford Jericho
Good Friday started dry. We left Thrupp and stopped by bridge 224 to pick up water. It appears to be the only BW tap with the wrong thread for our hose. It took me some time to discover where I had put the adapter. It was the usual problem, you know it's on board, but you can't remember where.
Louth, Stephen Goldsborough's personal boat, came through the bridge just as were casting-off. They followed us for the rest of our journey to Oxford. It turns out that the boat has been sold and is being delivered to its new owner in Reading. At Kidlington the weather got decidedly worse. The rain was heavy and cold and the whole experience was just rotten! Wolvercote swing bridge 233, which is the middle of the large construction site for the new A34 bridge, was incredibly difficult to operate. In fact Maggie was unable to get it open. Somebody has added to the instructions which state "pull down the chain to operate the bridge" the handy comment "but only if you are over 14 stone!". Luckily two rather wet walkers appeared. They were able to help and even kindly operated the next swing bridge. At Wolvercote lock a wet duck decided that the best approach to get to the other side of the lock was to use the direct route across our boat roof which was level with the lock sides. He passed within a foot of both of us!
We arrived at Jericho where there was plenty of mooring. We moored up right opposite the wharf. We look out onto the grotty boarding that "protects" the site from trespass. What a tragic situation; the future of this important site is still in limbo. Louth moored up behind us. They are probably going to try getting down the Thames and hope that the red board, around Culham gets lifted. At the moment with the strong stream it looks unlikely.
Wet and muddy crew at Jericho
On Easter Saturday we are hoping to meet up with Chris, Lucy and our new granddaughter, Amelia, for her first visit to Albert. Yes, you have to start them young.
We now have got the magic 3G so I will be going back over earlier blogs and adding images.
Louth, Stephen Goldsborough's personal boat, came through the bridge just as were casting-off. They followed us for the rest of our journey to Oxford. It turns out that the boat has been sold and is being delivered to its new owner in Reading. At Kidlington the weather got decidedly worse. The rain was heavy and cold and the whole experience was just rotten! Wolvercote swing bridge 233, which is the middle of the large construction site for the new A34 bridge, was incredibly difficult to operate. In fact Maggie was unable to get it open. Somebody has added to the instructions which state "pull down the chain to operate the bridge" the handy comment "but only if you are over 14 stone!". Luckily two rather wet walkers appeared. They were able to help and even kindly operated the next swing bridge. At Wolvercote lock a wet duck decided that the best approach to get to the other side of the lock was to use the direct route across our boat roof which was level with the lock sides. He passed within a foot of both of us!
We arrived at Jericho where there was plenty of mooring. We moored up right opposite the wharf. We look out onto the grotty boarding that "protects" the site from trespass. What a tragic situation; the future of this important site is still in limbo. Louth moored up behind us. They are probably going to try getting down the Thames and hope that the red board, around Culham gets lifted. At the moment with the strong stream it looks unlikely.
Wet and muddy crew at Jericho
On Easter Saturday we are hoping to meet up with Chris, Lucy and our new granddaughter, Amelia, for her first visit to Albert. Yes, you have to start them young.
We now have got the magic 3G so I will be going back over earlier blogs and adding images.
Thrupp
A sunny morning greeted us at Lower Heyford. A young robin gave us a song from the hedge bottom right outside our windows. If only the weather had been like this over the last week.
Young Robin in the hedge bottom
The views along the Cherwell valley in the spring sunshine were marvellous but it didn’t last past lunchtime. We stopped at Enslow wharf and arranged with Kingsground Boats to moor up Albert there while the Thames levels subside, hopefully. We shall return early next week.
As we dropped down onto the Cherwell at Baker’s Lock the rain started. It stopped shortly and then turned to driving hail as we left the river at Shipton Weir Lock.
Hail at Shipton Weir lock
The lift bridge at the Thrupp turn was very difficult to operate and appears to be out of balance. We later found out that there are suggestions that it will soon be electrified. We did wonder if this was linked to today’s date.
There were plenty of boats moored up all throough Thrupp but we managed to find the last empty visitor mooring; right outside The Boat Inn. We spent some time washing the mud off the boat but even more chatting to the crew of Comfortably Numb, who are waiting to go down the Thames to get on the Kennet & Avon, en route to Bristol.
An evening visit to The Boat was obviously on the menu. It did not disappoint. Maggie had a great sirloin steak and my liver & bacon with bubble & squeak was very tasty. We also liked the freshly baked focaccia and olive oil with balsamic vinegar served as a complimentary appetiser; a nice touch. The beer and cider were also up to scratch. No wonder the pub was busy on a wet Thursday evening.
Young Robin in the hedge bottom
The views along the Cherwell valley in the spring sunshine were marvellous but it didn’t last past lunchtime. We stopped at Enslow wharf and arranged with Kingsground Boats to moor up Albert there while the Thames levels subside, hopefully. We shall return early next week.
As we dropped down onto the Cherwell at Baker’s Lock the rain started. It stopped shortly and then turned to driving hail as we left the river at Shipton Weir Lock.
Hail at Shipton Weir lock
The lift bridge at the Thrupp turn was very difficult to operate and appears to be out of balance. We later found out that there are suggestions that it will soon be electrified. We did wonder if this was linked to today’s date.
There were plenty of boats moored up all throough Thrupp but we managed to find the last empty visitor mooring; right outside The Boat Inn. We spent some time washing the mud off the boat but even more chatting to the crew of Comfortably Numb, who are waiting to go down the Thames to get on the Kennet & Avon, en route to Bristol.
An evening visit to The Boat was obviously on the menu. It did not disappoint. Maggie had a great sirloin steak and my liver & bacon with bubble & squeak was very tasty. We also liked the freshly baked focaccia and olive oil with balsamic vinegar served as a complimentary appetiser; a nice touch. The beer and cider were also up to scratch. No wonder the pub was busy on a wet Thursday evening.
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