GOODBYE TO THE THAMES

Sept 22nd, 23rd & 24th

The more observant of my readers may have noticed that last week's diary
finished on a Monday. I'm not quite sure why, except that we had a free day,
as the weather was so awful and I decided to get the website done a day early.
This week I have just written about the last three days on the Thames.
which is the end of the summer cruise.
On Friday, 24th September, we begin the long haul up to Llangollen,
and you can read about that in the section entitled "All the Way to Llangollen". Isn't that an original title?



Right---GREYLAG GEESE AT PORT MEADOW

Well, anyway!, we set off from Eynsham, cruised in to Oxford, and moored up at Osney.
The mooring sign said twenty-four hours only, so I went to talk to the lock keeper
and asked if we could stay until Friday morning,
when the stoppage at Thrupp on the Oxford Canal was due to reopen.
He was most helpful and agreed.
It seemed there was quite a number of us moored there, all doing the same thing.

So, we had a couple of days in Oxford.
We particularly enjoyed the Turf Inn, a centuries old pub
right in the centre of Oxford, only approachable on foot, down little alleyways.
We shopped and pottered about and enjoyed a couple of lazy days.
What do you mean, they're all lazy?
Have you no idea of the stresses of narrowboating?
We have enormous decisions to make, such as where to moor,
where to eat, shall we move on today or stay put, you have no idea of it all!!!!

However, we heard along the towpath telegraph, that the canal had been repaired
and we could go through on Friday.
So our enforced sojourn at Oxford came to an end, and we got ourselves ready to set off.
And that is the end of our summer cruise.

What a wonderful summer we've had, at least as good as last year's,
despite the weather.
We've done 762 miles and 558 locks, though a lot of those locks were done for us by the Thames lockies.
When I think back to March 31st, when we left our moorings at Braunston Marina,
it seems ages ago. It was a cold Spring morning, there was frost on the boat.
And, hanging over me all the time was the worry of "doing"
the Thames Tideway, from Limehouse to Teddington.
Yet, in fact, it was one of the best and most exciting days of my life!

We've been to the most southerly point on the canal system at Godalming,
on the Wey Navigations, owned by the National Trust.
We went up the Lee & Stort Navigations, waist deep in rubbish and litter,
even a car floating in there at one point.
We were glad we persevered, as it was so pretty as we moved further along.
We went down the Aylesbury Arm and had the warmest reception there we've ever had.
As we stoke up the fire and plan next year's adventures,
we have wonderful memories to take us through the winter,
particularly of the new friends we met, and the support all the boaters
offer as we go along.

All The Way to Llangollen

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