Monday 29 September 2014

Moving on ...

 Saturday saw us moving on from Days Lock and nb No Problem; we’re off to meet up with friends further upstream
 Approaching Clifton Hampden Bridge built around 1864 for Sir Henry Hucks Gibbs (1819-1907) who was a director, deputy governor and governor of the Bank of England between 1897 and 1901.
 We could easily have missed the cutting to Culham Lock!
 Sue was telling us only the other day of her adventure here when she canoed her way under this bridge and along Swift Ditch!
 The spire of St Helen’s Church announces our approach to Abingdon ...
... we’d been warned to steer well clear of the bouys on the approach to the town - we need to follow the canoeist in front keeping well to the left of the yellow bouy ...
 ... to navigate passed this tug - not sure what they’re doing here - dredging perhaps?
 It’s lovely coming into Abingdon from this direction seeing these terraced cottages bordering the river ...
 ... but will we get a mooring here?
 Just! Right at the end of the visitor moorings but with wonderful uninterrupted views of the Abingdon Bridge and the Nags Head pub which last time we came this way was boarded up - so good to see it open and seemingly thriving today.
 Our view of St Helen’s Church spire from the stern deck ...
... and working boats Brighton and Nuneaton as they passed us a little while later.

Our friends Dennis and Barbara arrived late afternoon when we had  our evening meal alfresco on the deck of Still Rockin’

 Sunday morning we woke up to a slight mist giving us this lovely atmospheric view through Abingdon Bridge
 After a breakfast of Staffordshire Oatcakes (thanks Den!) with bacon and cheese we set off at about 10 am - Barbara looking good in her life jacket for her first cruise on Still Rockin'
 Just the one lock today at Abingdon
 Gosh - 85 miles to Teddington - it’s only taken us just over 5 weeks!!
In the 1760 the first Earl of Harcourt had a village demolished so that he could build Nuneham House and create the landscaped park surrounding it.  Interestingly during WWII the house and gardens were requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and used for photographic reconnaissance interpretation of aerial photos of enemy territory taken by RAF pilots based at nearby Benson.  The property remained with the MOD until the mid-1950s when it was handed back to the Harcourt family who later sold it to Oxford University.
 Not far now - approaching Sandford Lock where we decided to stay in the visitor mooring below the lock and walk up to the King’s Arms for Sunday lunch.

The weather couldn’t have been better, it was at least 24 degrees and I was back in a skirt and short-sleeved top instead of jeans - wonderful!
After Dennis and Barbara left us to take a taxi back to their car parked in Abingdon we decided that we’d stay on the mooring for another day - it’s such a lovely tranquil setting - what could be better!

A pretty village and a rude awakening!

Dorchester is one village I’ve wanted to visit since the first time we came onto the River Thames and on Thursday last week I got the chance ...
... with it’s chocolate box thatched cottages ...


... and the beautiful Dorchester Abbey (the Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul) with its 14C sculptured and stained glass window Dorchester is well worth a visit.
Pretty lanes that look untouched by time ...
... and a mixture of architecture still in good use even in modern times ...
... and the peaceful setting of the River Thame.

Meanwhile back on our mooring above Days Lock ...
... we think this is a Sparrowhawk; we saw it several times sitting at the top of the trees here and on one occasion George saw it swoop down and take a small animal!

On Friday morning early we had a rude awakening with the mooing of cows and the sound of them making contact with Still Rockin’!




I quickly picked up my camera and pulled back the curtain ...



... there were a few mums and calves lots of calves which we think have been separated from their mothers who were calling from the opposite bank ..
... and big daddy was on our side of the river too!

Thursday 25 September 2014

Todays ...

... above the lock!


It was wet,wet,wet when we woke this morning and so didn’t set off from Wallingford until nearly 10:30







We were soon at the first lock of the day at Benson ...





... where the lockie was friendly, helpful and informative











Le Boat (hire fleet) were nearly all at home today



I’ve discovered that the impressive house that must be behind this elegant frontage is Queen Anne style and is a care home




Leaving Shillingford Bridge ...

... and passing what must be the most photographed property on this part of the River Thames ...
... just look at our trail round the bend as we passed by.




The River Thame joins the River Thames ...











... and the Thames is ‘romantically’ called the Isis.



Around a sharp right-hand blind bend and if you didn’t know it was there you’d miss the services landing below Days Lock with its pretty footbridge
Molly’s ready for a blow-out!


Today's mooring above Days Lock ...











... we need to walk the plank though!

Out walking we can see Dorchester’s Church, Wittenham Clumps and far beyond ...

... a wonderful sky ...
... and glorious sunset!