NEARING OUR GOAL

Wednesday, 25th August
We walked in to Eynsham, a lovely village, all the more pleasant as it has a by-pass.
There is every kind of shop one could need, and even a library.
We had a drink in the pub and met an American family on holiday on a boat.
We had a chat with them and it transpired that they always holiday
by swopping their home with someone in another country.
They said they've had some marvellous holidays and go away for a month in the summer.
They had never had a problem with anyone who had used their house
and it certainly got us thinking!
I don't mean that we would swop the boat, but, if the time ever comes
that we live in a house again, we might consider it.
It's done through a home swap firm and you pay to put your house in their brochure.
If you have a preference, you can stipulate where you would like to go and for how long.

We only went a short way today, as it rained again.
But we did get as far as the marina where we're leaving the boat this weekend,
whilst we go to a wedding.
It seems fine there, and will suit our purpose admirably.

Thursday, 26th August


Today we moved on up the Thames, the scenery was beautiful.
The river is getting much narrower and the current is strong,
as a result of the recent heavy rain.
It was hard work against the current and the engine had to work hard.

As we had to be back at Eynsham Marina tomorrow, we filled up with water
at Shifford Lock and started back.



At Shifford Lock the mooring pontoon was nearly a foot under water.
Fortunately we didn't have to tie up, we went straight in to the lock.
We moored up all on our own in the country.
We had a chance to clean the boat and polish the brasses.
At night it was absolutely silent and pitch dark.

Friday, 27th August
It was a peaceful spot, we didn't wake until 10.00 a.m!
It was raining again when we got up, but stopped eventually,
and the sun came out and it turned into a lovely day.
We set off for the marina.
It was quite a tight fit to get in to the mooring spot,
as the marina isn't very big.
And who should be there but Jane on "Bramble".
We've met her three times in the last two weeks.
She has a problem with her boat's engine, and has to wait for a part to come.
We slept on the boat in the marina.

Saturday, 28th/Sunday, 29th August
We left the boat and took a taxi to Oxford Station.
Then we took a train to Leamington Spa, where a friend met us,
and took us to get our car out of the garage in Kenilworth.
Then we started a busy weekend.
We had lunch with friends at the Old Mill at Baginton,
and tea with a friends in Kenilworth.
Then we stayed the night with Cherry in Warwick.

On Sunday we had lunch with friends in Leamington Spa,
and then set off for the real purpose of the weekend--
the wedding of the son of some very good friends.
This took place at The Woodhouse at Princethorpe,
and it was good to meet old friends again.
We stayed there the night.



THE WEDDING

Monday, 30th August
We said our goodbyes, went into Coventry to shop,
and then over to Warwick for a sandwich with Cherry and to pick her up
and bring her back with us for a few days on the boat.
We drove the car back to the marina and left it there,
whilst we set off up the Thames again.
We covered the same ground as last week, but it was still as attractive.
We found a peaceful place to moor at Bablock Hythe.

Tuesday, 31st August
Oh dear--the last day of August.
The last couple of mornings have been chilly first thing
and there is already a feeling of the end of summer approaching.
We travelled as far as a place called Tadpole! Yes honestly!
We moored up on the pub's moorings, because tonight, Cherry is treating us to a meal.
We came through some of the loveliest scenery ever today.
Idyllic English countryside, rolling hills, water meadows, lush greenery,
contented cattle, moorhens, coots, a kingfisher, swans, ducks--wonderful.
Cherry, who takes great delight in everything, was ecstatic about it all!

Trev and Cherry went blackberrying, whilst I stayed behind to write this website.
You see the sacrifices I make for you?
I was hanging the washing out on the airer by the boat,
when I thought I heard someone say hello.
There was quite a crowd of people watching me--
one becomes a curiosity on a boat, and people look at us and talk about us
as though we're waxworks or museum exhibits.
So I didn't really take much notice, until I heard it again.
Then two people moved forward and I realised it was Phil and his wife Jane.
Phil used to do work for us at the guest house.
It was pure luck that I was outside the boat hanging out the washing.
A few minutes either way and we would have missed each other.
They came on board and had "the tour".

Cherry and Trev came back but had found hardly any blackberries.
As we sat having a cup of tea, some local boys came along
and started jumping off the bridge.



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