Sunday 14 August 2016

A meandering cruise

We’d waited long enough and left at 8:30 without seeing the mooring warden for the £5 overnight mooring fee at Wallingford, his loss our gain!



Leave the green bouy on the right going upstream!



… particularly here, if you don’t you may very well end up in the weir stream!  All the weir sluices are open here. The river is quite low, perhaps we need more rain … not!






Leaving the first lock of the day at Benson


Although it can no longer be seen from the River Thames there’s been a manor house at Rush Court since the 1280’s at least


Within the grounds these days are a Nursing HomeBright well Vineyarda walled garden ...


… and lots and lots of history and intrigue!

The view from the river has I’m sure changed much over the centuries.

Teepees in the woods 
 … as we approach Shillingford Bridge
 What stunning views these properties have over the river, I can never resist this picture whenever we pass here
 Where the River Thame joins the River Thames




… which meanders this way




… and that way as we cruise towards Oxford




If you don’t look closely or don’t know this stretch of the Thames it would be difficult to see the lock sign in the trees on this right angle bend


… which leads us to a small landing stage for the sanitary station and refuse bins.  Unfortunately the Elsan disposal was out of order so we’ll have to change our plans a little.

 Little Wittenham Bridge leading to





Days Lock as we follow a small cruiser in

 … and this narrowboat follows us … a novice boater we think
 … as he smashed into Still Rockin’s rear end taking the paint back to the bare metal.  George was not at all happy!
 How lucky are we!  A great mooring just there




… with views of the lock and Wittenden Clump in the background




… and open field looking towards the lovely village of Dorchester
 A few minutes after we’d secured our ropes working boats
 … came by from the Basingstoke Canal boat meeting

4 comments:

Les Biggs said...

Oh I do miss cruising . Tell me what size engine and prop you have as that is good wash being g pushed out the stern. Yes I know on the Thames you can open her up so not accusing you of speeding, just curious.
Les

Alf said...

Mooring warden at Wallingford is Angie, most certainly not a "he" !! ;-)

Carol said...

Oops! Hope she’s not offended!

Carol said...

Hi Les, the engine is a beta 75, 3.6 ltr diesel. The prop is a one off! It’s a three bladed Axiom 20” diameter 21degree pitch and it certainly pushes her through the water. It has a Schilling rudder which enables me to turn her on a sixpence, even on tickover. So all in all a pretty good combination. On the photo we were going upstream at 1700 rpm around a few twisty bits doing a little over 8 knots. Going up to Abingdon today, a necessity as the sanitary station here at Day lock is out of order!! I will ring you for a chat in a couple of days Les, take care of yourself, love to Jaq. George