Location: -
N51*50.315 W001*18.195
Mls - 7.1
Total Mls - 414.8
Locks - 3
Total Locks - 210
Bridges - 4
Total Bridges - 22
| Left at 09:00 arrived at 14:40. Set off at 9 for the last lock on the Thames, there were lots and lots of canoeists out practicing and the boat was banging about a lot, it had been the same every evening for a few hours and Jess really doesnt like it, she stays in the back of the boat only coming out for a drink, poor dog. Osney lock was approached through a low bridge so we had to take a couple of ornaments off the flower pots but managed no to decapitate the geraniums. As we went through the channel under the bridge we met a couple of hire boats full of young men, they had to ask the way to Abingdon as there were arrows pointing from there approach two ways with no wording on of course! and obviously hire boats dont have maps!!!! There were a few boats coming down through the lock but we went up by ourselves. We knew we had to take a turn off the river to go through a lock onto the canal but after negotiating a narrow wind channel of water came to a winding hole with no signage again, Derek went slightly passed the bridge off to the left and realised that wa s the turning, we reversed and shouted to the locals, as we thought, but they didnt know if we were right or not either? The bridge was very low and the approach was scruffy and dark it is called, sheepdip lane and we could see why. The Lock was our first narrow one and looked like toytown. A German family were there taking photos and the little boys helped me push the gates open. As we went out from the Thames on to the Oxford Canal we approached tons and tons of moored boats mostly scruffy and obviously lived on, it felt quite industrial and city canal like, we even passed a nb with a full veg garden covering most of its decks and roof and it had UPVC windows. We met our first lift bridge, it had a key on the towpath side and then I had to walk over it and pull the balance beam down and sit on it, it was very heavy and not as easy as it sounds. The second lift bridge was even more problematical, it is being shut at the end of June to be replaced, and we could see why. We were under the motorway and where Derek had to pull in to drop me off had a very high wharf with rusty metal bolts sticking out and he was worried that it might break windows, there was evidence of this on the side as large sheets of broken glass lay there. I got off and Derek had to fend the boat off the wharf whilst I approached the bridge. The bridge was very dilapidated and try as I might I couldnt get it to go down , the wind kept catching it and making it fall back shut, Derek had to change places and pull the beam down and I had to leave the boat and dash back to sit on the beam, fun or what. Derek set off, the boat being blown crossover in the space and another boat started to appear and go under the bridge, cheek or what!!! Derek signalled to him to go back but of course he just ploughed ahead Derek carried on manouvering and they crossed over, D was not a happy man but hey ho fun and games on the cut. At the next lock we met the tug that had been moored behind us a Long Wittenham with a lovely man and woman, he came up and chatted to us his final destination was to be Tamworth. The next lift bridge was opened for us so no probs. at Kiddlington Green lock met a lovely group of kids they asked lots of questions and helped with the gates and then went of their way. We managed to moor at Thrupp just outside The Boat Pub right in front of a row of cottages with roses round the doors. it was lovely, we had tea in the pub at 6 Steak and chips and sticky toffee pudding.. |
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