Friday, 7th, Saturday, 8th & Sunday, 9th July
At last, after three and a half weeks of boredom, we left Lower Heyford. We were up early, filling up with water at 6.30, and off we went, along the Oxford Canal. We were aiming for its junction with the Thames, at Duke's Cut, north of Oxford. The weather was fine and we had a good trip, feeling quite euphoric after our long sojourn. We passed through the lovely Oxfordshire countryside and eventually reached the last lock on the Oxford. We turned right in to Duke's Cut, went through the stop lock, round the corner and the Thames opened out in front of us--broad and beautiful. The countryside opened up too, and the views were wonderful, to the rolling hills in the background.

We had a glass of wine to celebrate the resumption on our summer cruise, and made our way upstream to Eynsham Lock. Here we encountered another of the pleasures of the Thames, a lock keeper! A cheerful lock keeper! We went through Eynsham Lock, and just above we met two little boats. Ons was a reed boat, built by the people who were on it and they were going all the way from Cricklade to Greenwich on it! Cricklade is quite a way above Lechlade, but is only navigable for very small craft.

We went inder Swinford Toll Bridge - where a man sits in a little booth in the middle of the road, collecting 5p from each vehicle as it passes over the bridge, causing long tailbacks at busy times of day - and moored up. It was delightful. In fact it was so delightful we stayed here for three nights, drinking in the pleasure of being in charge of our journey at last. There was a very strong wind blowing all weekend, so it was a good time to stay put.

Monday, 10th July
We set off in the late morning and travelled about three miles and through one lock, to moor up at Bablock Hythe, another nice spot. There's a length of good bank access here, and we easily found a mooring spot. There's a delightful caravan site all along the river bank here for about a mile, and then a pub. There's also a ferry to cross the river by boat, though I've only seen it in use once. I don't know if it's still in existence, or how one attracts the ferryman's attention if one is on the opposite bank.

Tuesday, 11th July
Today we moved on upstream to moor at Newbridge. We have friends coming to stay for two nights tomorrow, and there is a pub at Newbridge where they can leave their car whilst we cruise. There is some good mooring here, too, though it's not too easy to get on and off the boat, you have to pick the right spot. In the evening a man came round shaking a tin for the £2.50 mooring fee. We didn't get a receipt...... Trev thought he might go out tomorrow with a tin and see how much he could collect!

We spent the day cleaning up before our friends Sheridan and Ron arrived. They have just sold their narrow boat and are having a Dutch barge built--60' long and 12'9" wide. They will be restricted as to where they can take such a wide beam boat--the Thames, the Wey, the Kennet & Avon and the Grand Union is about the sum total of their cruising possibilities. If they went out on to the Severn Estuary at Bristol, they could go up to Sharpness and inland up the Severn and the Avon as far as Stratford-on-Avon, I think. However, at the moment they have withdrawal symptoms, being boatless, so they're coming to stay with us.

Wednesday, 12th July
The weather at the moment is absolutely wonderful, so hot, clear blue skies, perfect! Sheridan & Ron arrived in the afternoon, and we had a drink at the pub. Then back on to the boat to catch up with the news and to pay the farmer his mooring fee before going back to eat at the pub in the evening. Well, we had to earn the car parking!

The only drawback with having guests on the boat is that there's never anywhere to put their things. The dinette converts in to a double bed, so a lot of the cushions on that have to go elsewhere, but unfortunately there isn't really an elsewhere to put them! So everything ends up in a heap in the lounge whilst we sleep and then has to be sorted out again in the morning, because we need the dinette to eat! Fortunately, Sheridan and Ron being boaters appreciate this, and weren't put out.

Thursday, 13th July
Today we set off upstream again, and travelled as far as Kelmscott, a delightful mooring. The cruise was splendid, perfect weather and good company. Ron steered, which Trev enjoyed, as he could have the unusual pleasure of sitting at the front of the boat watching the world go by. Normally he's at the back steering, particularly on the river, as I don't really like steering on the river.

We pulled in for lunch just above Rushey Lock, and apathy very nearly set in, it was so pleasant, some of the party fell asleep and we had to stir ourselves to get going again. However, we're made of stern stuff and we valiantly set off again. When we got to Kelmscott we were lucky in that we got a mooring close to some trees and could sit out under the trees in the shade and watch the world go by. It was when we arrived at Kelmscott that we realised we'd left the mallet at Rushey where we'd moored for lunch, so we banged the mooring pins in with a windlass. This really is the most beautiful spot in the world! It's so peaceful, no traffic noise at all. Kelmscott village is so pretty. What a delighful spot to raise a family, out in the country, so quiet and safe. Whilst we were sitting a large family group came down to the river to swim. All ages and sizes, in they went and had a great time.

Friday, 14th July
Our friends are enjoying themselves so much they've decided to stay another night, whether we want them or not! Actually, we're having a great time with them, and it's good to have company on board. They're a real tonic after our depressing time at Lower Heyford, and they've lifted our spirits. So today we decided we would go up to Lechlade, get some shopping, turn at the highest navigable point of the Thames, and come back to Kelmscott to moor tonight.

We moored up at Kelmscott in the same spot and in the evening we had a barbecue. The weather is still fantastic, and we sat out until late.

Saturday, 15th July
Today we have a long trip as we need to get Sheridan and Ron back to Newbridge to their car. It was another perfect summer's day, not a cloud in the sky. We had a wonderful cruise back to Newbridge. There amore boats on the river today, as t's the weekend. As we approached newbridge, there were little pedaloes and trip boats out on the river, hired from the pub, and they present quite a hazard, as the steerers don't really understand what a narrowboat can or can't od , and they get in the way. We can't stop immediately, it takes at least half the boat's length to pull up.

We turned the boat in front of the pub, much to the interest of the customers who were watching. We often provide free entertainment! In fact we were so close to them that I asked for two pints please, but nothing was forthcoming.

Sunday, 16th July
We thought we'd escaped the man with the mooring fee tin, as we were at the pub last night, but no, he also comes round in the morning! So we paid up, and then made our way back upstream. It was incredibly hot today, and I felt my skin burning, so spent quite a lot of the time indoors. We went all the way back up to Kelmscott again, and moored in exactly the same spot. We're becoming permanent fixtures! It's just such a lovely spot. Today it was quite busy, being Sunday. There were people swimmimg, picnicking, barbecuing, walking and lots of boats about. But in the evening it all died down and we were the only boat left until one more narrowboat arrived. It was a lovely evening and we had another barbecue.

On Tuesday, Trev cycled into Lechlade, about three miles, to get milk and the newspaper--he's having withdrawal symptoms, he hasn't had a paper since Friday! And I didn't get the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, the only paper I have in the week. it's a hard life! He also picked up the post form Lechlade Post Office. Thank you Catharine and Mamdooh! What would we do without you?

Another reason we want to stay here until Wednesday is that we want to visit Kelmscott House, the home of William Morris. It's only open on Wednesdays, and alternate Sundays. Then we shall set off for Lechlade where we hope this time to be able to find moorings and stay for a couple of days.

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