Decision Day - River Thames or Oxford Canal?

Monday, 21 November 2011 19:18

We have had a good time moored at Abingdon - the Beer and Jazz were very good and the River Thames was very quiet. The Environment Agency and just a few narrow and wide boats going upstream and back for water etc above Abingdon Lock. We had a decision to make - should we stop at Sandford, below Folly Bridge at Oxford or go on up and onto the Oxford Canal?

The EA were busy on the river - avoiding a turning narrowboat and geese!

Setting off, we still had not made our mind up ........

I was chuffed to speak to a lady at Abingdon Lock who had spotted my article in NABO News about repeat prescriptions when continuously on the move. She has followed my advice and is delighted that it works for her too. Here is a link to this advice -  or see the right sidebar on the website.

The trees have nearly lost all their leaves - but there is still a splash of colour to cheer up a drab November day. 

At Sandford Lock

We carried on - so, not mooring at Sandford then! There are a number of narrowboats moored on the left (upstream) bank and have been for a while. This large corner takes the River past Rose, or Kennington, Island. 

Large corner at Rose Island

Once there was the Swan Hotel and a boatyard at Rose Island. Now the footbridge still links the island to the Kennington side of the River and small boats can get around in the channel there. 

There is still a house on the island

I got a better photo of the Mathematical Bridge at Iffley Lock. We worked this lock ourselves as the Lock Keeper was not to be seen - it was lunch time! You can just see the boat rollers and the stone bridge above the lock.

Mathematical Bridge - can you spot the goose taking the dry route rather than the wet one?

There is work going on above the lock - the Thames Path banks are being improved and new aquatic plants are being planted - the spots look like potential moorings but with the young plants, perhaps that is not a good idea. When they have grown up it may be that they prevent mooring anyway. 

This large barge managed to moor just below the works

The contractor is appropriately named - Greenplant

This is what the corner just below Longbridges looks like now

We were now on familiar territory, very familiar. There were very few rowers out today, but a coach was using a megaphone on the bank by the University boathouses encouraging his two guys in their boat. He was very loud!

A decision - we thought we would try to get in just before the bridge over the River Cherwell rather thaN going further up where all the other boats were. We succeeded and these are the views from our side doors.

Upstream, the footbridge over the old Western mouth of the Cherwell 

Downstream, the boathouses

Near enough to walk to Folly Bridge, but away from the hustle and bustle, at least for a night. To add to our pleasure we had a visitor, for a cuppa and a chat - her dog decided he liked our floor for a kip after his walk! It almost feels like we are "home"! So are we leaving the Thames tomorrow?

River Thames, Abingdon to Christchurch Meadows
2 hours 53 minutes, 7.68 miles, 3 locks