Back on the Oxford

Yesterday was our last day on the Thames. Glad to be returning to the canals since the lock procedures on the Thames are quite prescriptive. When you enter the lock you have to pass both front and back mooring ropes to the lock keeper who passes them round a bollard so that you can control the boat whilst in the lock. Also you have to turn off the engine. You may only enter or exit the lock when told to by the lock keeper. There are other rules - see below.

And who said lock keepers don't have a sense of humour?

One thing we love about the river is the different types of craft that you see. Above is a cox and four rowers.

Then the commercial river cruisers. We've also seen numerous paddle boarders and canoes, rowing skiffs and punts. Another favourite is the small hire craft with families pottering about for an hour or two.

Riverside developments are springing up, some based on old warehouses, others made to look like it.

And then there are the old bridges that remind you of a time gone by.

Well, the last lock of the Thames, Osney lock.

And so on to the Oxford canal and at Duke's lock, assistance from the workmen who have moved their dredging work above the lock.

Looking at the field you can see the darker soil which is from the bottom of the canal.

Stopped at Kidlington to take on water and visit the Co-op. An awkward place to stop because it's on a bend. Pull the back in, the front sticks out, pull the front in and the back sticks out. I've tried to balance it so that they both stick out but not too far.

And here's the water point, one of the few on the system that has a smaller screw thread than usual and needs an adaptor (which I have).

Can you see the white dish in the trees? Well, that's the Whitehill satellite earth station near Enslow.

How about this for a water garden?

Now moored for the night at a regular spot below Pigeon lock. Captain's not too happy, no TV signal, no satellite signal, wifi poor and only me to talk to. Never mind, it's 8 o'clock and all the doors are open, had a lovely supper of smoked haddock & cheese sauce, what more can you want? Wimbledon!!!