Just for you Nick

After two glorious days of exploring Abingdon and soaking up the sunshine it is now time for us to move on, and with a nice new haircut and the base for our summer tan we set off at 08.30. Leaving the mooring we passed under the arched bridge with the island on our right, a home for Salters Steamers river cruise boats. We made our way at just over tick over but once again with the flow of the river we were travelling at around 4mph, as we made our way out of the town.

 

(Thanks for the response to my identification request for the duck in the photo, it was identified as a female Mandarin Duck). Not Georgina as Polly had suggested.

A line of chimneys

Our aim for the day was to reach Wallingford around 12.5 miles downstream and with four locks to navigate on the way. The locks of course are all manned which makes life much easier for the boaters, with the lock keepers doing the button pressing and organising. I say organising as at most locks there are a mixture of both narrowboats and river cruisers all vying to get in first. We planned to get water at the first lock which was Culham and showed a water tap on Pearson’s map, however on arrival we discovered that it was only for small water containers and not filling the boats water tank. We were informed by the lock keeper that the nearest water point was at Cleeve which we planned to do the next day, but we had enough so that was ok with us. Summer had really arrived and the weather was glorious, the trees, all now showing their new, fresh green leaves and what a contrast in how it was when we set off in March.

Memories came flooding back from our first trip on the Thames in what was then our new and shiny boat, passing some spectacular houses and boat sheds, especially Shillingford Court which stands on the edge overlooking a winding section of the Thames. From here it’s a short run down to Benson lock but not before passing The Waterfront with lots of expensive looking cruisers and hire boats, some of which must be owned by the rich and famous.

Through the lock we made for Wallingford our planned stop for the night, and after selecting our spot we went through the arched bridge, turned around and approached our mooring against the flow to make things easier for us both. As we moored there was a strong aroma of what smelled like curry which made us both, suddenly very hungry indeed so we headed for The Boathouse pub where we had a very enjoyable meal before returning to the boat and settling down for the night.

 These are ducks perching on the roof !!!!

 The Boathouse, by day and night

4^th May 2013 (Gypsy’s 5^th Birthday)

Yet more Mistletoe, this must have been the snogging tree

The next part of our journey was Wallingford to Pangbourne, where we had arranged to meet Peter and Pam, Sally’s brother and sister in law to spend Sunday with them, and to take delivery of my much needed Wi-Fi antenna which they promised to bring with them.

We left Wallingford at 09.30, making our turn downstream and passing under the bridge, we were on our way again. The weather had changed to become sun and cloud with odd showers but it wasn’t too much to worry about as they soon passed. Ahead of us were just three locks, one of the being Cleeve lock with is facilities for taking on our much needed water, but before this we had a good five miles of lock free cruising.

Just before Cleeve Sally spotted a Red Kite on the bank and appeared to be eating something, so we slowed down even more to have a good look at it and what a glorious sight it was. It had a fish and was tearing pieces out of it and eating it, then a second Kite came in to try and steal her meal, but missing, making several passes and eventually sending the first one off to take the prize.

At Cleeve we topped up the tank, and it was here that we met, what was the nicest of lock keepers and had a good chat with him before heading out for Goring lock where we met Peter and Pam on our first trip. We had no problems this time as the lock was already set for us, so we went straight in, unlike our first trip where we could not get onto the landing stage and made a right mess of it.

Passing Beal Park

From her it was onto Whitchurch lock and Pangbourne, now with the final lock done we slowly passed several moored boats before we finally found our spot and moored up by the side of the park ready for our visitors tomorrow.

Sunday the 5^th May, Peter and Pam arrived and we had a great day with them, eating out at the Swan pub which sits on the side of the Thames just above the weir. The meal was great, and we spent a couple of hours chatting and eating before heading back to the boat, with the day finally ending at around 19.45 when they had to be back at the car and out of the car park before being locked in. Thanks guys for a great day and for the safe delivery of my new, shinny, Wi-Fi antenna.