More pictures of the Thames

Its gone into blue underline and I don't know how to switch it off- help the worlds against me ah well I will carry on.

A nice little launch run around

Its gone I didn't do nothing.

A house with your own light house as you approach Caversham on the outskirts of Reading

Big brother- the hotel barge The African Queen not quite like the film.


The lovely remote ferryman's cottage below Goring lock.

The ultimate summer house again down river of Goring lock but not for the feint hearted.

A nice new house at Goring

We had this unusual reflection in our bedroom on the Saturday morning a double reflection through one port hole. It was early morning with the mist being burnt off by the sun. Is the sun being refracted by the water and the mist giving this double reflection,as it only lasted for about 10 minutes.

Day 8 nearly a day of rest

To Day 8 Sunday 18 April - 60 locks, 95 miles and only 1 cappuccino-(although I missed an opportunity for one in Wallingford but due to my tight schedule, more later, I couldn't wait for the multitude of coffee shops to open. )

Well we have had a couple of very busy days of 9 hours boating each day which has taken us from Thrupp on the Oxford canal via the River Thames to Theale on the Kennet & Avon canal. The weather has been excellent although the wind on the Thames was very cold - I was in 6 layers and gloves, but it was clear skys all the way. I had been focused on getting to the K&A and therefore only had a one day Thames licence which allows for 1 night but two full days on the river. I should have got a few more days to really enjoy the spring weather, I am in the dog house again- DOH!!! The stream warnings had all been taken off from the Thames but there was still a pronouced flow especially where it went through a narrow section, but no real mishaps. It was very interesting though going through the Oracle shopping centre in Reading. It was Saturday lunch time on a glorious spring day the crowds were out in force and much to Anne's dismay I continued to wave to the crowds like the Queen- great fun. It was also very slow as we must have been going against a 4mph current- the warning board at the first lock as you enter the K&A was indicating a reducing stream. We made it to above Theale swing bridge at 17.00 on Saturday and have not moved today Sunday. A day spent polishing and tlc for BB she deserves it.

Our mooring near Wallingford 07.15 with a lovely mist which the sun burnt off by 07.45, we also had a hard frost.
The same mooring the night before which was a glorious spring evening as the cold wind had dropped- it was only a 5 minute walk into the centre of Wallingford.

A barge used by the colleges to watch the rowing on the Thames

The old Abbey next to Godstow lock on the Thames.

The unimposing entrance to Dukes cut which leads to the Thames above Oxford.

Day 5 Thrupp

Day 5 34 locks, 40 miles and still only 1 cappuccino


The weather for us continues to be grey and cloudy with a very chilly wind, but more to the point for us no rain and therefore all the boards have been taken off the Thames. We are now at Thrupp ready for our dash down the river tomorrow and Saturday to Reading.

I spoke to Orange yesterday re my connection problems and they said to diasable the wifi function. I have done this and it seems to be working but I have everything of mine and Anne's crossed.

Our mooring last night at Sommerton Meadow- one our our favourites- it was also a washing day.

Aynho Weir lock which is only 1ft deep but is wide enough to get 3 boats in so that enough water is passed to the next pound to ensure that the Sommerton Deep lock at 12ft has plenty of water.

When we moored in the centre of Banbury we were behind nb Columbia which has an interesting history. It was built as an unpowered butty in 1907, converted to a motor boat and then shortened to 54ft. It was then rebuilt to its original 70ft but was then burnt out in early 2000, completely rebuilt and converted to a live a board and finally finished in her present state in April 2009. Unfortunately its gear box had failed- it will cost about £3000 to repair and has been at Banbury for 10 days awaiting its completion.

Will hopefully be able to get a connection on the K&A so keep checking.

Banbury

A great day for cruising sunshine with a little bit of chill in the air. Still havibg a problem with the PC in that internet explorer will not display the page- but hopefully will get to the bottom soon.

Today Day 3 was 4 locks and 3.5miles and 1 cappuccino in Banbury. I might have to fire up the Bailetti soon as we are heading to the wilderness.

Day 2 we are off

Day 2 cumulative 17 miles , 17 locks and NO cappuccino's

We came up to the boat on Saturday afternoon and by Sunday morning I could find no more jobs left to do so we disconnected the electric and cast off.



Sunday was a fresh day with a bit of wind but good for boating. We moored overnight at the radio most near Fenny Compton and met John and Barbara who have just had their Stowe boat extended by 10ft she looks fantastics and is a credit to her owners and the people that worked on her.



Monday night we are at Cropredy a lovely village with a good 3g connection but the computer keeps locking me out - I don't know way- baaahumbug.

Something I heard yesterday what does Boat mean- Bring Out Another £Thousand!.

I keep watching the Thames conditions which continue to reduce so hopefully we can start the trip down to Reading on Sunday.

The sign post as we left the marina- to the right Oxford and from the left London from which direction we will hopefully return.

I saw the canada goose on its own I thought until I saw the head of his/her mate either in a big hole or sitting on eggs.

Couldn't resist a spring lamb picture of triplets.

Crochet and cappuccino

We went up to the boat last week to get her ready for the start of our trip to the K&A in about 10 days. I have been watching the conditions on the River Thames which have been up and down around the red warning boards (no go state) mark for the last few weeks. We will therefore make our way down the Oxford canal and continue to watch the conditions. We need two days to get down to Reading and reasonable conditions for the start of the K&A as its river for the first part to Hungerford.

One of the things I am going to continue is my quest for good cappuccino coffee as per our last trip- and much to Anne's dismay- but you have to do these things. I am also taking my secret weapon in case of coffee famine. Its a Bialetti Mukka Express vetro coffee machine which makes one good cup of cappuccino once you master it. Picture below shows the great piece of Italian engineering.

We had porthole bungs made to act as curtains for the boat and used commercial lace on the side which face outwards. It was better than the blue of the bungs which showed against the black of the hull. Anne has never really liked them and has therefore started on making her own crochet replacements.

An example of Anne's new porthole crochet work, without the bung, which already gives privacy so we only need to put the bung in at night.

The old commercial lace cover on the porthole bung. Anne has done a fantastic job on the new one with only another 7 to go. With any luck they should be all done by the time we get back from our trip!!! I'll keep you posted as to progress.

Spring must be round the next corner- surely

We have snowdrops and crocuses out at home but no daffodils yet so a trip to the boat was required to get her ready for our spring cruise.

Unfortunately on arrival we found that the canal is still very much in winter mode - frozen over with a cold wind.

Anne and I went up last Sunday as we needed to replace the domestic battery bank.The builder fiitted 4 -Elecsol 125ah batteries 6 years ago. They have performed very well but started to give trouble when we were on the Thames last July in that they required to be charged for 6/7 hours to reach on 97%. The space where they are is above the swim at the stern as is very tight. I therefore decided to keep to the same and hunted around the internet. The cheapest price was direct from Elecsol at £125 each delivered.

The job was done on Monday by Dickie in the marina and the ice cleared from the canal on Tuesday. A window for a shake down cruise - at trip into Braunston with an over night stop at bridge 103 to test out the batteries. Everything was working OK with the new bank only reducing 20% during our 15 hour stop. The canal remained clear of ice until the Thursday morning but we had returned Wednesday afternoon- it had dropped to minus 5 overnight.

We had turned outside Braunston for a lunch stop and warm around the fire and spotted this very interesting narrow boat. Its nb Sickle with a fascinating history. It was built in a batch of 8 pairs ( motor and butty) by W J Yarwood of Northwich in 1935/36 with a V bottom for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co (GUCCC). During the war the Ministry of War shortened 4 of them for use as ice breakers. Sickle has now been restored to her 1950's condition. Full history can be found on her website.

The entrance to Braunston marina with the ex FMC nb Vulcan's bow and the wharf seen through the iron foot bridge.