About as far away from it all as you can get

Tuesday, 29 March 2011 20:14

Then you end up going back again! The upper River Thames changes its character regularly. Although there are no major towns until Lechlade, the villages nearby the banks are small and make little impact on the river. You can cruise through wooded straight "cuts" and then emerge to flat meadow land with the river taking on a really wriggly nature. Other parts gently meander through agricultural land where farmers make money charging for moorings.

Newbridge and the Rose Revived Inn

Historic bridges and waterside pubs were the order of the day today as well as isolated stretches between locks.

Newbridge was built in probably 1250 by the monks of Deerhurst Priory, near Gloucester. Once the Romans left Britain, Monks were the only craftsmen remaining who had the knowledge and skill to build stone bridges - similar to arches in Cathedrals.

There is an Inn at each end of the main arches, the Rose Revived downstream, north side and the Maybush on the upstream, south side.

The Maybush Inn

Shifford Lock, after the Great Brook mouth, with the isolated Shifford Church beside it, is next. Some of these upper locks have unusual posts in between the bollards - the ropes can be put around either depending on the length of boat.

Shifford Lock posts

After the lock the river goes past flat, featureless water meadows and then reaches the 18th century, strangely named, Tadpole Bridge. This simple, yet lovely, one arch bridge carries the Burford to Bampton road. The Trout Inn, with moorings for patrons is on the south downstream side.

Tadpole Bridge

Upstream is a rather fine water level gauge and what is a hippo doing here?

So we arrived at Rushey Lock - what a lovely lock. It is very well kept, has a lovely garden and has lots of interesting details!

The Lock House

Froggy topiary

I shall leave you here for the moment - we have two more locks to go before mooring up and more interesting sights!