An interesting first day on the Thames

I left my mooring at 9:30 this morning and cruised the last bit of the Oxford canal to Isis lock, for a shallow lock (3’- 6”) it took some time to empty, I think a badly leaking top gate was the problem but eventually I managed to open the bottom gate and exit, it was also slow going on Castle Mill Stream, the short shallow link between the Oxford and the Thames but I was soon out and going with the flow.

The approach to Isis lock

Leaving Castle Mill Stream and joining the Thames

 Next business was to purchase a visitors license for the Thames at Osney lock, having parted with the £61 fee I was seen through the manned lock by the very helpful lock keeper.

Leaving Osney lock

Wide water now, following a trip boat past all the boat houses for rowers and punt’ers.

This chap has an interesting looking boat; do you think he’s trying to evade something?

Past the Four Pillars hotel with this fine looking vessel moored out front.

And then in and out of Sandford lock, its nice not having to get the windlass out.

A couple of nice little boat houses.

I caused a small issue at Abingdon lock, there was quite a queue of boats on the service point and I couldn’t see the situation at the lock landing so I just went for it only to find I had jumped ahead of a large boat who was waiting to go in, but I got into position in front of him anyway and then apologised to the owner and allowed him to go first when the time came, he was ok about it but I was slightly embarrassed.

The weir at Abingdon lock

I spotted Karl moored alongside the park but there were no spaces and the lock keeper had told me there were spaces on rings after Abingdon Bridge so I carried on only to find they were all full as well, so I resigned myself to continuing on until I found somewhere, not easy on the Thames and it was another 5 or 6 miles through another two locks before I found a suitable spot just before the weir at Days Lock, it was just after 4pm, a long interesting day for me.

Tonights mooring:

Totals today: 16 miles : 7 locks