Monday 25 April 2016

We had a very peaceful night’s sleep in Abingdon and woke up to a very grey sky, the weather forecast said cloudy this morning and showers this afternoon so we decided to head off in the hope that we would get to Oxford before the showers started – no such luck!

We are still fighting against the flow of the river, our usual calculations of 3 miles or locks per hour are not working at the moment.  We thought the cruise from Abingdon to Oxford should take just under three hours – it took us four and a half!  It wasn’t helped by the fact that when we got to Osney Lock there was no power so we had to manually operate the gates and sluices – I have been looking forward to getting back on the canals so I can manually operate the locks but turning a big wheel to open hydraulic gates and sluices is another matter!

When we arrived there was a narrowboat coming in the opposite direction so I went to help the lady turning the wheel – I wish I hadn’t as when it came to opening and closing the other end to let us in I ran out of steam!  Steve had to get off the boat to help.  It also didn’t help that I had almost got the gates closed when a little charter boat  - with a family having a lovely lunch on board - arrived with only a lady captain (and she had to get off and hold the ropes).  So I had to open the gates again to let them in.  She did call the emergency number but we didn’t want to wait so Steve and I continued to wind by hand – be careful what you wish for!  Oh and whilst all this was going on we had the first of the afternoon’s showers – or downpours!

We moored just by Osney Bridge and had a walk into Oxford.  I feel guilty saying it but I don’t like Oxford as much as Cambridge – it doesn’t have that nice oldie worldie feel.  It probably didn’t help that it was raining and very windy for our little excursion! It was still very clean and tidy though.

Looks like the weirs are fully open again trying to discharge the water.

Recycled Coke Can!

I wonder if somebody is living in there?

It's so cold this Canadian Goose has made a duvet for her eggs. 

Nuneham House.

I never get bored of seeing the kingfishers! 

Looking small in Iffley Lock.

It's very pretty around here.

Rowing clubs - we must be getting near to Oxford!

Are these bridges getting lower...

or is the water level just very high - the cruisers would struggle with this.

Looks a nice spot to moor.

I think this is a grey wagtail as the yellow wagtail has a yellow head - anyway she has a nest in the side of the building and I have watched her all afternoon catching flies and bugs and taking them back to feed her babies!

There is some great architecture in Oxford.

It's raining again so we'll take cover in the indoor market!

Four Candles....fork handles!

There we are four boats back - can you see how quickly the water is flowing - we had to tie the front up quickly so as not to end up being carried into the boat behind!