Into Oxford

Karl had moved on on Friday, he wanted to be somewhere on the Thames for Saturday, so I'm solo again for now.

I spent Friday morning preparing the bow deck area for painting, it was hot, metal filler takes a lot of rubbing down and by the time I was reasonably happy with my efforts I was exhausted. After a rest and allowing the midday sun to cool a bit I washed the roof. On Sunday I finished off the preparation of the bits I had left and put a coat of paint on it all, I then walked the mile into Kidlington and bought some provisons, late afternoon I put a second coat of paint on, it’s great fun this painting lark J

This morning I moved on myself, setting off around 8:45 and putting a load of washing in the machine, the engine needs to be running whilst using the machine.

The bridges are not all attractive but this one (230) certainly looked like it could support its load.

Lift bridges continue to be a feature of the Oxford canal but the ones on this section are nice and easy to operate for the solo boater, they are heavily balanced to the open position and are kept closed by a locking mechanism which is on the towpath side, so it’s easy, tie up, unlock and allow the bridge to raise, take the boat through and lower and secure the bridge, if only all of them were like that! This one is number 233, not the prettiest setting with the A34 flyover just behind it.

Another feature of this last section of the Oxford is Agenda 21 moorings (the name given to rural residential moorings along this stretch), boat after boat for long lengths of the canal, interspersed with conservation areas, so moorings for the visiting boater are limited.

Agenda 21 moorings.

In Wolvercote lock (45) 

More Agenda 21 moorings.

I stopped on the service point just after the open lift bridge 238 and did the necessary fill and empty before mooring up just after bridge 240, it seems to be a reasonable mooring with rings to tie up and a play area just beyond the towpath.

Tonights mooring:

Totals today: 4 miles : 3 locks : 3 lift bridges.

I sorted myself out and went for a stroll, cities are not my thing, I didn’t venture into the centre, instead walking along the fairly busy road running parallel with the canal, not much worthy of a pic, this caught my eye though.

It was then back along the towpath, this is Isis lock, taken from the bridge, the last lock on the Oxford canal, turn right for the Thames, these days Isis is not a name we enjoy hearing about but Isis is what the Thames is called in these parts (it’s literary epithet), the water to the left in the picture is the Oxford continuing on to come to a, now, rather unimaginative finish with a small winding hole suitable for boats up to 30 feet to turn around just a few hundred yards along, previously it had a grand basin overlooked by the Castle and was busy with Wharfs.

Jericho Wharf is under development, another blot on what should be a very pleasant canal landscape, I have to say I was disappointed with the difference between what I expected compared to what I actually found along this last stretch, I must lower my expectations then I might be happily surprised!

Back on the boat and Formula 1 to watch, Monte Carlo, that doesn’t disappoint me normally J

P.s.

Just as I was posting this with radio 2 on in the background they kindly gave out the F1 result without a warning, bloody hell, another disappointment after all.