Turning below Isis Lock at the end of the Oxford Canal

Wednesday, 23 November 2011 10:40

Coming off the River Thames via Sheepwash Channel to go onto the Oxford Canal is fine - particularly when the river is low, there is no stream and Castle Mill Stream is benign. If any of these conditions are reversed it can be a different matter. British Waterways have notices with instructions on how to turn below the lock when coming downstream, but doing what we did has to be thought out as we didn't see them until too late!

BW instructions - both on the bottom lock beam and beside Isis Lock

So why did we we turn and how? .....

This boom is in place in the Castle Mill Stream below the lock to prevent boats going down the stream to moor. It can also complicate turning if the boat is longer than about 60 foot.

Boom - with a small gap - for small boats!

For boats longer than about 40 foot there is no option but to turn below Isis Lock. For us, we wanted to go up the lock backwards! You will see why later. Having put our bows at the boom end of the pontoon, John swung the stern towards the lock - using a gentle engine thrust.

I walked up to the lock as John waited below. Boats coming down to turn would need to come out of the lock, put the bows into the pontoon and then use the engine (or stream flow) to push the stern around towards the boom once clear of the lock jaws. 

Waiting below the lock

The boats moored in the Castle Mill Stream used to moor further down - the boom now prevents this. John waited patiently whilst I opened the paddles to empty the lock - it was almost empty but not quite.

From Isis Lock (46)

Here he comes, in reverse

Almost in

Fortunately for me the paddles and gates are pretty easy; however, I took my time - what an honour to work the first canal lock for eight months!

Closing the paddles

The attractive footbridge (243) was behind and the South Oxford Canal stretched beyond, but we had other ideas!

Isis Lock footbridge

We had turned below the lock because we could not turn above the lock (maximum length 52') and we wanted to go down the Hythe Bridge Arm bows first. John has the intention of doing some painting if the weather permits and the starboard side has the most to do! 

Off we go down the Arm, past all the narrowboats on the permit moorings

It felt really strange to be going so slowly and on such a narrow waterway - we will have to get used to that!

Passing the moored boats

At the end, before Hythe Bridge, are the visitor moorings with room for about three 50 - 57 feet narrowboats. There is still a bit of room in front of us for a small boat as we are the second "visitor".

Moored at the end of the Hythe Arm and the Oxford Canal

River Thames, Christchurch Meadows to Oxford Canal, Hythe Bridge
1 hour 15 minutes, 1.95 miles, 2 locks