Sad news and Abingdon

First and foremost, our heartfelt condolences go to Paul (Manley Ferry) whose beautiful wife Elaine died last night after such a brave fight with cancer.  She will be sorely missed by so many.  Rest in peace lovely lady.

It hardly seems right to continue with this blog post, but in all the sadness, life does go on.

Monday 15th August we woke early at our mooring on the meadow above Day’s Lock.  It’s time for us to move on.

The sun was just rising and there was a mist on the ground

and on the river

At 06:13 it was just under 4-degrees - in mid-August!

Arthur and Linda were the first to leave on nb Weyward Lass, it was good to meet up with them last evening for drinks on Gypsy Willow.

Next it was No Problem XL’s turn to leave (they were breasted up to Still Rockin’)

While Sue winded (turned) ...

Vic walked to Day’s Lock to set it in their favour

… here she comes

… passing houseboat Gypsy Willow where we’d spend a very pleasant couple of hours with owners Karin and Peter and friends last evening

The Church of England parish church of St Michael and All Saints

… at Clifton Hampden

Good balance!











Once through Clifton Lock the Thames continues to meander this way and that ...

… have I told you that I love these reaches on the very curvaceous reaches of the Thames?

The River Thames splits here; to the left under this lovely bridge is a navigable channel to the Plough pub in Long Wittenham.  We must do that one day. To the right is the way we're going, to Culham Lock; the lock landing in just over there!

Slowly does it here on this blind bend, the lock is just beyond the bridge

All good, it’s all clear for us to enter

Culham Lock is quite deep at nearly 8’.

Sluices open and the water pours in.

A mile or so further and we see the spire of Trinity Church, Abingdon

 Anyone and everyone takes this photo if they arrive in Abingdon by boat, it certainly is stunning!

 These are the waterside views from the first mooring we tied up at while we went to see what others were on offer further along

… and these the ones when we finally settled in … not too shabby at all.

Salters Steamers run regular boat trips from Abingdon to Oxford, this one has come through the bridge and is turning into Abingdon Marine to pick up more passengers … all without the help of bow thrusters … I’m glad it’s not me having to do that!

After enjoying an evening meal alfresco at the Nags Head we walked along the riverside.  This is Abingdon Town Hall and Museum.

 Walking back to Still Rockin’ (middle left)

 Night time view of the church from our mooring.

We’ll be spending a quiet day today in a contemplative mood with Paul and Elaine in our thoughts, it’s just so, so sad.

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!