Going for a walk (11:30 Wednesday 13th November) ...
The mill stream just behind our mooring ...
our home for the next five months.
There are non-rising pontoons under there as we look towards the weirs from the marina's service buildings.
The noise from the gushing, rushing river water through the open sluice gates was deafening ...
and created havoc where the overflowing waters met ...
We've crossed the weir bridge and from the lock we look to our left over the river to Hambleden Mill ...
and down by Hambleden Lock gates where a large sign declares that the lock is closed, the Red Board is showing ...
and there is over 10' (3.5 mtrs) of water covering the tail end of the lock landing
The lock landing is fenced off ...
there should be work progressing here to re-board the edges of the landing stages to make it safer for boats to wait for the lock to be ready for them to use, but obviously this work has been delayed due to the dangerously high water levels.
We continue our walk ...
turning left as we reach the Flower Pot Hotel - one day we'll go inside and have a look-see, perhaps for Sunday lunch?
We intended to walk down Ferry Lane to the river but the path was flooded so we turned back ...
and saw this ancient tractor outside the pub
pre Massey Ferguson I think ... the logo above the radiator says 'The Ferguson System' and I think the registration is something like MD? 923 or 8 ... any suggestions as to it's year of manufacture?
Walking home with the warm sun on our backs
Long shadows at only 12:20
Sitting on the rear deck with a cuppa we can see that the Thames is still rising covering part of the static mooring behind us
and still rising two days later (Friday 15th) there's now a good couple of inches covering that mooring space.
The tractor is a Ferguson TE20. Thousands and thousands of them manufactured in the 1940s and 50s. Wilipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferguson_TE20
ReplyDeleteGlad we made it off the Thames two weeks ago. I had to ignore a Red Board at Osney Lock!
Mick
What lovely photos, but oh my! Such high waters and those weir waters look very turbulent!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tractor info Mick and glad to see you safe(ish) on the south Oxford!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Val, the Thames is still all on red boards and there's quite a bit of rain forecast for next weekend too!
ReplyDeleteJust so much water everywhere. Thank you for the photos, Carol. I am sure you are very relieved that you got to your safe mooring when you did. Jennie x
ReplyDeleteAt least we're safe Jennie, there a lot of folk in worse situations with the weather and water than we've been.
ReplyDelete