Around the bend?

Monday, 07 November 2011 19:40

We went around a bend today.

And around another bend, and another ....

In the dank mizzle we set off upstream - actually going almost due south - why does it feel as if it should be north? This is a really bendy part of the river and very exposed either side, lined by the grazing meadows of the River Thames flood plain. 

Unusual wooden boat moored before Oxford Cruisers

Oxford Cruisers was our goal - we wanted to top up with diesel and get a few bags of solid fuel. We had checked ahead by email and phone to ensure it was not a wasted journey.

Oxford Cruisers ahead and some of the the Anglo Welsh hire boat fleet

The hire boats have finished for the season: the cruising season, as BW insists on calling it. We maintain there is no such thing as the "cruising season", but we would, wouldn't we, as we are "a boat without a home mooring" and boaters who actually enjoy winter cruising! The only boats on the move at the weekend were those going to the services at the lock and back to their moorings. One of them had a slight contretemps with us as they tried to turn near us. Grrr ..... 

Moored at Oxford Cruisers

We had to turn as our stern needed to be by the fuel pump - not an easy place to moor as you can see. The solid fuel was rather more pricey than we expected and we paid 95p/litre without tax for diesel. The boatyard rather does have the monopoly on this part of the river. Then it was off back downstream to Eynsham lock for water etc. 

We decided to stop on the 24 hour mooring there as we were going into Oxford to meet one of my school friends and to do a shop. It is not such a walk as our previous mooring - so no heavy bags to carry whilst avoiding the cow pats! Whilst at the bus stop we had a chat with a local, who shed light on the strange tent we had spotted above the lock on our way up - more on this to come....

River Thames, Eynsham to Oxford Cruisers near Farnham
0 hours 28 minutes, 1.41 miles, 0 locks