We are off heading north on canal on this cold and frosty morning. From experience we know the boat takes 48hours to warm up, so might manage to write the first one somewhere on Tuesday, when my hands work again!
Sunday, 31 March 2013
Friday, 5 October 2012
Friday
In Lower Heyford this evening, a slow day from Kidlington mooring last night; back to canal pace, strange lift bridges and some stiff locks. The lift bridges are operated with a BW key, but the instructions to turn the key clockwise and release the bridge which should then gently float up are a little optimistic! More like half a turn anti clockwise and full weight on the mechanism to release the thing then you still need to push it up, the counterweight system not being too clever. On one, someone had graffitied "another great piece of engineering; 0/10" !! Possibly the same person who had left a hand written sign on cardboard taped to the nearby narrowboat moored right by and too close to the lift bridge saying: ' what a stupid place to moor, thanks a lot, you d....head!'
Pretty part of the Oxford canal this which joins the River Cherwell for a stretch and then meanders through forest alongside the river. Cloudy today but not too cold, so a pleasant trip. Met a boatload of Aussies from Melbourne who were very cheery and friendly as we know Aussies are. They said they hadn't had enough time to look at places on their week long trip and found Oxford very busy. Also they thought they'd find more pubs along the way - so many are closed now or just run down. We wonder what they make of this strange English past time in a chilly Autumn climate, when it's 29 degrees in their home town! They seemed to be embracing it!
Tomorrow we will move on again and 'shuffle' cars and I will go back to my parents and sister on Sunday leaving Pete to take the boat back to its mooring at his own pace and on his own. It's a strange, surreal time for me.
Pretty part of the Oxford canal this which joins the River Cherwell for a stretch and then meanders through forest alongside the river. Cloudy today but not too cold, so a pleasant trip. Met a boatload of Aussies from Melbourne who were very cheery and friendly as we know Aussies are. They said they hadn't had enough time to look at places on their week long trip and found Oxford very busy. Also they thought they'd find more pubs along the way - so many are closed now or just run down. We wonder what they make of this strange English past time in a chilly Autumn climate, when it's 29 degrees in their home town! They seemed to be embracing it!
Tomorrow we will move on again and 'shuffle' cars and I will go back to my parents and sister on Sunday leaving Pete to take the boat back to its mooring at his own pace and on his own. It's a strange, surreal time for me.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Heading back on the canal
Moored in Culham again on Tuesday night. As we had envisaged, it's not easy throwing ropes from deep locks to go upstream. Culham is the deepest, but it was lunchtime for the lock keeper when we arrived so self service. I operated the lock whilst Pete manned the ropes. Obviously easier to catch a rope on the lockside and secure it. The simple push button operation for the gates and sluices is so easy to use, wish the canal locks were the same!
On Wednesday we pressed on to Oxford as our Thames licence runs out on this day. This meant the longest cruise we have done this trip, all of 5 hours! The sort of length of day we used to do. The weather was kind to us until we had gone through Osney lock and then the heavens opened. We got back onto the canal dripping wet but fire was alight and water hot for showers.
Locked through Osney lock with a beautiful Bates Starcraft boat, Asterisk, crewed by the most charming foursome, who were very courteous and brave to let us follow them into the lock when we are 50' of steel and they are delicate wood. It was a tight squeeze. (They did get a bit twitched however when Pete started wielding his log splitter! ) They had come from Limehouse and were going to see how far they could get up the Thames but this was their limit as Osney bridge is so low. The quietly spoken captain told us he had had an exciting ride from Wapping to Greenwich, opening up the 'over powerful engines'. You could tell he loved his boat.
We moored further up the canal than last time, taking our lead from the owner of Daisy NB, who told me although it was not a pretty mooring sandwiched as it is between high not very attractive modern flats, you could easily walk into Jericho and Oxford centre from here. We explored Jericho, which we really liked. Lots of stylish pubs and cafes and pretty streets of old mixed style houses, a young, vibrant suburb.
On Wednesday we pressed on to Oxford as our Thames licence runs out on this day. This meant the longest cruise we have done this trip, all of 5 hours! The sort of length of day we used to do. The weather was kind to us until we had gone through Osney lock and then the heavens opened. We got back onto the canal dripping wet but fire was alight and water hot for showers.
Locked through Osney lock with a beautiful Bates Starcraft boat, Asterisk, crewed by the most charming foursome, who were very courteous and brave to let us follow them into the lock when we are 50' of steel and they are delicate wood. It was a tight squeeze. (They did get a bit twitched however when Pete started wielding his log splitter! ) They had come from Limehouse and were going to see how far they could get up the Thames but this was their limit as Osney bridge is so low. The quietly spoken captain told us he had had an exciting ride from Wapping to Greenwich, opening up the 'over powerful engines'. You could tell he loved his boat.
We moored further up the canal than last time, taking our lead from the owner of Daisy NB, who told me although it was not a pretty mooring sandwiched as it is between high not very attractive modern flats, you could easily walk into Jericho and Oxford centre from here. We explored Jericho, which we really liked. Lots of stylish pubs and cafes and pretty streets of old mixed style houses, a young, vibrant suburb.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Firewood
Rain pattering on the roof last night in Goring but woke up to a warm still day with sun breaking through here and there. So much nicer on the river when it isn't windy.
Took a gentle cruise up to Shillingford and moored at the same place we moored on the way down, by the bridge and hotel, as this is such a nice spot. Here we have a garden where Pete can indulge his log splitting passions and organise our firewood a little better. We are lighting the fire in the mornings now so that the boat is toasty cosy by the time we moor and the chill is off for a comfortable breakfast. The wood we have collected is rapidly diminishing, most of it now in the lockers to keep dry and not on the roof or crowding the bow!
Warm enough this afternoon to have a cup of tea sitting on the bank.....ah!
Speedy axe work
Our garden
Took a gentle cruise up to Shillingford and moored at the same place we moored on the way down, by the bridge and hotel, as this is such a nice spot. Here we have a garden where Pete can indulge his log splitting passions and organise our firewood a little better. We are lighting the fire in the mornings now so that the boat is toasty cosy by the time we moor and the chill is off for a comfortable breakfast. The wood we have collected is rapidly diminishing, most of it now in the lockers to keep dry and not on the roof or crowding the bow!
Warm enough this afternoon to have a cup of tea sitting on the bank.....ah!
Speedy axe work
Our garden
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Communication
Back on the boat for return journey to our mooring, leaving my beloved sister with my parents until I can get back.
We now have 2 cars with us, so that is a bonus and a nuisance all in one! This afternoon (Saturday) we are back on the Pangbourne mooring with my car here and Pete's back in the Thames and Kennet marina.
Beautiful cruise today as the sun is shining again and the trees are changing slowly into their golds and reds. Got to Mapledurham lock where we pumped out. Confusing little interlude with neither of us able to hear each other over the sound of a helicopter providing trips from the Mapledurham estate. It seemed to be on the ground more than in the air! Friends and family will know that I am partially deaf anyway, so trying to hear Pete's instructions of 'press the pause button' and 'move to the end of the pontoon' were lost. Luckily we didn't have a nasty accident with a flying sewage pipe; could have been interesting for the gentle folk playing boule nearby!
Conversations on boats are never easy especially when one is on the bow and one is on the stern and the wind is whistling. Our friends sensibly have walkie talkies, we just use hand signals which can be two fingered in times of stress!!
We now have 2 cars with us, so that is a bonus and a nuisance all in one! This afternoon (Saturday) we are back on the Pangbourne mooring with my car here and Pete's back in the Thames and Kennet marina.
Beautiful cruise today as the sun is shining again and the trees are changing slowly into their golds and reds. Got to Mapledurham lock where we pumped out. Confusing little interlude with neither of us able to hear each other over the sound of a helicopter providing trips from the Mapledurham estate. It seemed to be on the ground more than in the air! Friends and family will know that I am partially deaf anyway, so trying to hear Pete's instructions of 'press the pause button' and 'move to the end of the pontoon' were lost. Luckily we didn't have a nasty accident with a flying sewage pipe; could have been interesting for the gentle folk playing boule nearby!
Conversations on boats are never easy especially when one is on the bow and one is on the stern and the wind is whistling. Our friends sensibly have walkie talkies, we just use hand signals which can be two fingered in times of stress!!
Monday, 24 September 2012
Pangbourne and Reading
Friday evening moored at Pangbourne Meadow after a rainy start which then turned sunny. The river continues to be wide and pretty and Mapledurham is especially picturesque. We are now the people I used to envy when we had the barge. Because we have time, we can moor early and there are usually plenty of spaces. On the barge it was usually 4 or 5 pm before we moored and all those retired slow boaters had nabbed the best moorings! Haha, now we do it!
We walked in to Pangbourne which is an average sort of town, but we found a nice friendly pub opposite the church and a co op for a few supplies on the way back, so this mooring on a peaceful leafy well kept pathway gets the thumbs up from us.
On to Reading on Saturday for our last couple of nights before safely securing Ani in the Thames and Kennet Marina for a return to Kingston and home.
Clear blue skies this morning and consequently lots of boats out. Many rowing 4s and 8s training hard, so hard in fact that they and their trainer's motorised boats don't notice other craft. Tricky to navigate sometimes - best left to Pete!
It's lovely to see the river on sparkly days like this, with so many enjoying it, even a drummer sitting on the bank!
We moored on a public park in Reading, which wasn't so pleasant. The Nicholson guide states that Reading does nothing to welcome it's boating visitors and this was evident. In the summer these sad moorings cost £4.80 per night. Given that we were told it's a favourite drug selling area at night and there were some rowdy heavy drinkers sitting around when we arrived at lunchtime, you wonder how the council have the cheek to charge anything. We weren't at all impressed with Reading although we did have a quiet night.
We could get no signal for the TV here either!
On Sunday morning in the relentless rain, we decided to move, filling up with diesel on Frys Island at Caversham boats whose very helpful and pleasant owner also sold us some coal, which means we can keep the fire in overnight! The new mooring was no distance, but in a less busy residential area. Fire alight, we stayed put for the rest of the day.
We walked in to Pangbourne which is an average sort of town, but we found a nice friendly pub opposite the church and a co op for a few supplies on the way back, so this mooring on a peaceful leafy well kept pathway gets the thumbs up from us.
On to Reading on Saturday for our last couple of nights before safely securing Ani in the Thames and Kennet Marina for a return to Kingston and home.
Clear blue skies this morning and consequently lots of boats out. Many rowing 4s and 8s training hard, so hard in fact that they and their trainer's motorised boats don't notice other craft. Tricky to navigate sometimes - best left to Pete!
It's lovely to see the river on sparkly days like this, with so many enjoying it, even a drummer sitting on the bank!
We moored on a public park in Reading, which wasn't so pleasant. The Nicholson guide states that Reading does nothing to welcome it's boating visitors and this was evident. In the summer these sad moorings cost £4.80 per night. Given that we were told it's a favourite drug selling area at night and there were some rowdy heavy drinkers sitting around when we arrived at lunchtime, you wonder how the council have the cheek to charge anything. We weren't at all impressed with Reading although we did have a quiet night.
We could get no signal for the TV here either!
On Sunday morning in the relentless rain, we decided to move, filling up with diesel on Frys Island at Caversham boats whose very helpful and pleasant owner also sold us some coal, which means we can keep the fire in overnight! The new mooring was no distance, but in a less busy residential area. Fire alight, we stayed put for the rest of the day.
Friday, 21 September 2012
Little things
At the top of the Thames where we have come from there are huge banks of pink/mauve bowl shaped flowers with oval leaves that I cannot find in our wild flower book - nearest thing is an orchis of some type but the leaves don't match. Or online I found a Himalayan Balsam?! It has the strangest scent, not unpleasant but quite strong, that reminds me of some kind of artist's paint or turps or something. Anyone got any ideas? I haven't yet got close enough to take a photo because we always seem to be cruising past.
I'd forgotten from days on the barge how you get woken up by drilling beaks along the steel at water level. Ducks and geese hoovering up the green algae that collects. Such a funny sound - like frantic typewriting. Doesn't seem to happen so much on the canals.
Not so keen on those ducks that like our solar panel warmth at the end of the day and poop all over them though!
An elderly couple canoeing yesterday set up camp on the lockside, presumably with the keeper's permission. They obviously had everything they needed on board their canadian canoe for a comfortable night, but I am impressed they could brave the cold night. Some people have the strangest hobbies.
Two locks on this stretch; Oxford to Shillingford are the deepest on the Thames. Easy coming downstream. Be fun going back up when you have to throw a rope upwards to lasso a bollard. Help, Mr Lock keeper!
I'd forgotten from days on the barge how you get woken up by drilling beaks along the steel at water level. Ducks and geese hoovering up the green algae that collects. Such a funny sound - like frantic typewriting. Doesn't seem to happen so much on the canals.
Not so keen on those ducks that like our solar panel warmth at the end of the day and poop all over them though!
An elderly couple canoeing yesterday set up camp on the lockside, presumably with the keeper's permission. They obviously had everything they needed on board their canadian canoe for a comfortable night, but I am impressed they could brave the cold night. Some people have the strangest hobbies.
Two locks on this stretch; Oxford to Shillingford are the deepest on the Thames. Easy coming downstream. Be fun going back up when you have to throw a rope upwards to lasso a bollard. Help, Mr Lock keeper!
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