"Oh what a lovely day" - tra la la ...

Friday, 25 March 2011 20:49

Is it really March? We cruised today through along the River Thames in some amazing weather, did a good deed, explored a well known place and then moored way away from it all - heaven!

The punts outside The Head of the River Inn were ready and waiting for "punters"!

As we exited the wide cut above Folly Bridge we spotted this poor chap on his narrowboat with the pole astern - well and truly aground at the stern.

Ah - our chance to do a good deed!

"Yes" he would like us to see if we could pull him off!

It took a few attempts - rope tied bow to stern, stern to bow, and bow to stern again - we went around and around in the stream. We turned around three times. Look at our trace from our GPS!

Successful at last, we carried on our separate ways. Through Osney Lock, no lock keeper to be seen so it was "self service", and on upstream towards Godstow Lock, where we were seen through by the lock keeper.

Godstow Lock from below

We hoped to moor up above the lock for lunch and to explore - no such luck, as all the moorings were taken - by boats that were there when we came down; dare we say, they seemed pretty "permanent"? However, just before the A34, (Western bypass bridge) we were able to pull in on a "rough mooring" - not ideal, but it would do for an hour or so!

After lunch we walked back to Godstow Bridge and so to The Trout Inn, well know to Morse lovers; he and Lewis often frequented this hostelry.  Of course, in the wonderful sunshine it was busy and the terrace was very popular. The garden opposite, over the weir stream looks very pretty - but padlocked away. Is that Aslan I espy?

To add to our delight - John was able to have a Cornish pint - "Doom Bar" - and I was able to take a photo of the peacock that crossed the footbridge over the weir stream to forage for left overs!

Kings Lock was next - a manual lock which we did between us and then started looking for a mooring. How about this one? I don't think our camouflage is very effective do you?

River Thames, Christchurch Meadow to above Kings Lock

3 hours 2 minutes, 4.87 miles, 3 locks