Oxford

Another early morning start saw us at Abingdon lock within 15 mins. In we went all alone on "self service" as the lock keeper doesn't come on duty until 9am. With the bottom gates closed Dianne operated the buttons on the top gates and water started to flow into the lock as usual. The levels equalised and we waited for the top gates to open. And we waited, and we waited.... They would not open! After conversations with fellow boaters who were waiting to lock up Keith rang the Environment Agency's incident number. Where are you the call centre asked. Abingdon. What river is that? It felt like ringing a call centre in India rather than the long established EA. We will ring you back was the reply. The phone did ring to say that they would send someone out to us. At 8:30 an EA man arrived who was supposed to be on holiday; bless him. Within 5 minutes we were on our way again. The prognosis was that the level sensors were not taking to each other.
The approach to Oxford, being a Saturday, was marked by a myriad of boaters of all different types. At some points it became dangerous to ply our way through them. One incident saw a young girl canoeist break away from her group and crossed our bow. How we didn't hit here heaven only knows. She was quite upset because as we passed her instructor put her arm around her.
Another 6 man crew rowed their way in front of us and only a continuous blast on our horn avoided another collision.
There were other more tranquil moments though. There was a rather ornate wooden boat and under its open canvas canopy were a small group of people enjoying a champagne salmon lunch complete with an old windup gramophone player that was playing old 78s.

A Restaurant Boat

A Boat that might have been a restaurant

The Head of The River Pub

 

 

Leaving the city of Oxford behind, we headed up the river by now very windy across the flat fields until we got to Kings Lock at the junction with Dukes Cut and turned left to head for the limit of navigation on the Thames at Lechlade. We stopped for the night at the moorings at Eynsham Lock (spelt without the K) and got the Bromptons out in order to explore the village. We had to cross Swinford Toll bridge that was constructed in 1777 where 5p is charged for a car to cross! Nothing for us cyclists though. We saw the church was open and when we got to the door realised that there was a wedding in progress. We sat down outside and waited for the happy couple to emerge. No bells though!

On the way back we stopped off in the Talbot for a pint of Wiltshire Gold and they had a music festival taking place in the garden. We sat next to a delightful Australian couple who were over here on holiday and exchanged experiences.