Wittenham Clumps

A morning walk, we’re off to explore the Clumps!

Sometimes called Berkshire Bubs or Mother Dunch’s Buttocks are two chalk hills (Castle Hill and Round Hill) topped by a clump of Beech Trees a mile or so from our moorings at Days Lock near Dorchester on Thames.

With Sue and her dogs Meg and Penny, George and I with our Molly walk along the meadow and cross Poohsticks bridge where the world annual championships had been held since 1984 but ceased for health and safety reasons (too many people on the bridge) last year (2015). They are now held over the River Windrush at Whitney, Oxfordshire.

St Peter’s Church, Little Wittenham was unfortunately closed

The Clumps and Woodland are managed by the Earth Trust.

Penny waiting for the off at the bottom of Castle Hill!

Wittenham Clumps have panoramic views from the tops so I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking ...

The now redundant Dicot Power Station

The Manor House, Little Wittenham, a mid-18th century building

Houseboat Gypsy Willow and No Problem-XL breasted up against Still Rockin' 

Days Lock and weir in the foreground

Dorchester Abbey

Waiting for a canopy to make a cosy den!

Top o’the hill

Into the woods

Sue playing peek-a-boo

Down Castle Hill and up Round Hill.

Back to the River Thames where Penny cools off

Looking back up Castle Hill as we return to our mooring.

A great walk followed by a sumptuous Sunday roast dinner cooked by Vic and enjoyed by us all and a relaxed afternoon (for some of us anyway, sorry Sue).

Good days at Days

We had a busy morning on Day’s Lock moorings on Saturday, lots of visitors.

First of all houseboat Gypsy Willow came by looking for a mooring to pick up some passengers but with none available we suggested that they pull in alongside us as their visitors would not be due for half an hour so.  The kettle had just boiled so I asked if they’d like a cuppa while they waited and Peter and Karin came aboard and we got chatting as you do and got along famously.  Their friends arrived trouping over Still Rockin’s deck and off they went.

No sooner had Gypsy Willow departed Kathy and Martin (nb Moriarty) came to introduce themselves, they had met up with Ann and Kevin on Rock ’n’ Roll (our previous boat) so were intrigued to come along and have a look around.  Another cup of tea later, off they went to continue their walk.  Good to meet you both.

And blow me down who should appear next ...

… still no spaces so they breast up with us, good to see them again.

We’d decided that a bbq was in order for this afternoon … but

 … just before 5pm the farmer herded his young bullocks into the riverside meadow presumably so that they could drink ...

 We waited nearly an hour until the cattle had disappeared through into the top field and the bbq was lit … all set!

 … but it was not to be half an hour later they all came back!

Two of them burnt their noses on the bbq but they did eventually drink their fill and meander back through the gate into the lower field and our evening meal was enjoyed!

20:15 and time for the dogs (Meg, Penny and Molly) to get some exercise. Molly particularly enjoyed the run, although she can’t see what’s happening she could hear Meg and Penny turning and running back with the ball and so joined in the fun.  Great to watch!

 The busy but lovely day ended with another stunning sunset and I wasn’t the only one taking pictures!

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 Home, Bright well Vineyard, a 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

Renfrew and Chertsey

Onwards to Wallingford

 By 8 yesterday morning we’d left our quiet mooring above Cleeve Lock, winded (turned) moored at the water point, filled the tank, winded again and were heading west.

 Five miles no locks to Wallingford, nice!

 Wallingford bypass, nearly there!

 This property gets more dilapidated every year, such a shame. It looks occupied, there are curtains at the windows and furniture can be seen inside.

Approaching Wallingford Bridge … not quite enough room for us in front of that cruiser, and ...

… there’s no chance of a mooring on the left through the bridge ...

 … but hang on, this looks promising.  I called out to the guy at the tiller to ask if he’d just left a mooring space … yes!!

Lovely view of Wallingford riverside from here but we didn’t stay long. There’s a water outfall near the rear of Still Rockin’ and after an hour or so we decided we couldn’t stand that noise all day and all night, there’s also the paddling and swimming pool on this side of the river which can become noisy too, so as soon as the cruisers started making a move on the other side we skipped over there.  It’s not so easy to get off the boat as the sidings are a bit high but it’s certainly quieter. The remainder of the day was spent stocking up the fridge and wine cupboard and relaxing.