Still painting.....

.....but the stern is finished.

Some of the comments received whilst hanging over the back of the boat.

"that looks awkward"
"oh you are painting"
"don't you know you are not allowed to paint on a Sunday" (Stag party)
"you are never bored when you own a boat"
" if I moor behind you when can you start on mine"
"wouldn't it be easier to stand in the water?"

So how many comments before it get's annoying? far less than you might think!

Lot's more to do.

Reading to Oxford....final part.

Another warm start to the day and I was looking forward to the final part of my Summer Cruise, which would be on a new section of the river Thames for me. 

Casting off around 9:30 I was very quickly passing the entrance to Sheepwash Channel where I had joined the Thames on 30^th May, but for my return to the Oxford Canal I had decided on the alternate prettier route alongside Port Meadow and up Duke's Cut.

Entrance to Sheepwash Channel.

After a few bends in the river it opens out to reveal Port Meadow in all its glory with a sign on the bridge warning of shallows at the edges so keep near to the centre.

Approaching Godstow lock, if you are not already aware, you need to be aware which side to pass the Red and Green floaty things (buoys) , when going upstream keep Red on your left, Green right, downstream the opposite, Green on your left, Red right, I am going upstream and in this situation I simply pass down the channel marked by the buoys either side, I think all the birds where trying to put me off :-) phew, glad I got that right!

Godstow lock 5’ 2” deep and the last mechanical and manned (actually a lady keeper today) lock for me.

Just past the lock are the ruins of a former nunnery.

And this more modern dwelling/shed?

I was soon passing through lovely countryside and the very bendy section of river which turns left and right often and where care needed to be taken.

More floaty things.

The last double lock for me was next, King’s lock, manual and down to me to operate, ‘I think I remember how to work these!’ no time for a picture until I had happily got through it without incident.

Leaving King's Lock

The junction is just past the lock, left for Lechlade sharp right for Oxford and once again a bendy section, this time narrower and with vegetation often encroaching and limiting the view ahead severely.

I then left the river behind and joined the canal section of Duke's Cut, the original link between canal and river was owned by The Duke of Marlborough, it opened in 1739. you can tell you are back on the canal, moored boats restricting the width and view and as I approached the bridge carrying the A40 I could see nothing approaching ahead, but seconds after taking this snap

I met a boat just as I had started to enter the bridge hole, he just had time and room to allow me to squeeze through, but he had to reverse back again to allow him to negotiate the bridge hole himself, we both laughed that neither of us had used their horns to warn of our approach, no harm though.

I think at this point I am back on C&RT waters, and into the first single lock, Duke's Cut lock, but not before letting another boat, already in the lock come through.

Duke's Cut Lock, not the most pretty I've been in.

It is single file for the short distance from the lock to the mainline Oxford at this point.

Luckily no other boats attempted to enter the cut so I was soon out and going up Dukes lock, I had help from boats both ahead and behind me.

After one lift bridge and one more lock I moored up, it was very hot by now and I have found a nice spot above Kidlington Green lock that suits my plans for the next week or so, painting, but first I can put away the anchor and lifejacket and rest a bit, tomorrow will be ok to start work, maybe.

Tonight’s mooring

Totals today: 6 miles : 5 locks : 1 lift bridge

Reading to Oxford....part four.

What a lovely day for a change, at 7am I had breakfast on the stern, mist was rising in the bright sunshine already showing the signs of a good day ahead.

I cast off just before 9am, my timing was good, approaching the lock the sign was flipped from 'Self Service' to 'Lock Keeper on Duty'  and the gates opened to welcome me in.
I was followed in by another boater who's timing was not so good, he only came up through the lock for water, but had to wait for me to fill up first, so water filled and rubbish emptied I was away again.

Leaving Abingdon lock behind.

The temperature was rising and the views as usual lovely.

Well mostly lovely, this is Nuneham Railway bridge.

Sandford lock came next, at 8' 10" it is the deepest one I've been through on the Thames and I was a little apprehensive about whether my centre line would be long enough so I changed tactics and used bow and stern lines and controlled the boat from above on the lock side, it all went well. The lockie helped, as they do, by filling the lock slowly to begin with,

On final approach to Sandford lock.

Perhaps this one belongs to the lock keeper!

The Kings Arms, opposite the lock on an old mill site, looked lovely.

 I wonder whether the owner liked oranges, a little glass seat thing!

Now this one I liked, a lot, birthday present form someone to me one day? Quinquireme moored at the end of the garden, mmmmm.....maybe.

Iffley lock next, another tiddler at 2' 9"deep but still a big lock, just a centre line for this one, I liked the lock keepers cottage as well, very pretty.

By now it was very hot, I was entering Oxford and the rowing and punting area around the College boat houses, but not too many around and they all knew what they were doing (unlike me) so no mishaps or issues.

Unlike passing 'The Head of The River' pub which is right by Folly bridge which has an Island in the middle, you can pass either side and there are a lot of large trip boats and hire boats moored around the Island, it's also quite narrow and blind both ways, so with caution I approached, a narrow boat came through on the left, and one came through on the right, I decided to go through the right side in front of the pub, a small plastic cruiser was doing something, going fowards and backwards in front of me, there was also two hire rowing boats heading towards me, for a moment it was all a bit chaotic, but miraculously everyone managed to move away from me as I slowly cruised through, the pub looked busy too!

I had, as always, a plan A & B, as it was getting very hot I was hoping plan A would work out for me, once I was in Osney Lock I asked the lockie if the moorings were busy ahead, he walked up a bit and said "it looks iffy, two spaces that will be tight for your boat, go in the first one so I can see whether you make it!"

Osney Lock.

As it happens they were both too small but luckily there was a couple of spaces further ahead, near the end, so I snuck in one of them, Plan A had succeeded.

Tonight's mooring:

Osney Bridge ahead

Totals today: 7 miles : 4 locks

Time for a cold beer and a read on the bow deck.

Reading to Oxford...part three.

Saturday was blustery, I stayed put, there were a few boats moving about but not many, this fairly large cruiser’s name amused me.

'Ant On Deck'

Blog readers who are not into UK TV may not understand why that amused me but we have a famous pair of famous TV personality’s called ‘Ant and Dec’, google ‘em.

I walked across the fields to Dorchester and got some provisions and in the afternoon some of the neighbours popped by for a bite to eat.

All that eating makes you thirsty so some had a drink as well.

I decided to stay put yesterday as well, I have paid for a 7 day licence and it was quite a nice quiet spot so I just chilled.

This morning I set off around 9am, overcast but dry and warm even with the wind which was quite blowy at times.

One good thing about the Thames is scenery, lovely views, and very lovely houses far out of my reach.

Ok, not pretty but what remains of Didcot power station

Clifton Hampden bridge.

First of just two locks today was Clifton lock, at 3’ 5” deep not too much of a worry, ascending these locks is more difficult than descending because you have to get your ropes sorted around the bollards from below the level of the lock side, it can be tricky but most of the lock keepers assist if they see you are single handing, when descending you are already at lock side level when you arrive so it’s easier.

After passing beneath  Appleford railway bridge

 

it was into the next lock, Culham, this one is 7’ 11” deep and the lock keeper assisted by using his boat hook to pick up my ropes (centre and stern), take them around the bollards and pass them back down to me, in the picture he’s at the front assisted the cruiser to get his bow rope positioned, the chap had gone up the steps and was sorting out his stern rope.

And then the run into Abingdon, I had decided to stop here if a mooring was available because I hadn’t been able to on the way down, there was a nice space just after Abingdon Bridge so I pulled in there and moored up.

Tonight’s mooring

Totals today: 5 miles : 2 locks

After some lunch I went to Waitrose for supplies and had a wander around the town, it’s quite nice I must say but the surrounding parkland and the Thames itself make it a bit special, towns are not really my cup of tea but it’s nicer than some I have passed through!

I am constantly being asked about the name Quinquireme, how you pronounce it, what does it mean, and occasionally people call out “Quinquireme of Nineveh!” The reason they shout this is because of a famous poem by John Masefield  titled ‘Cargoes’  the first verse is as follows:

'Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir

Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,

With a cargo of ivory,

And apes and peacocks,

Sandalwood, cedar wood, and sweet white wine’

So returning to my boat I found this boat moored behind me.

I have seen a couple of Nineveh's on my travels, but this is the first one to moor next to me.

Such a shame a small boat called ‘Of’ hadn’t moored between us :-)