A speedy return to Fenny

We awoke on Tuesday morning to Sid not feeling brilliant so we took the decision to try to do the journey from Banbury to Fenny in one go. This is most unlike us because we usually like to pause overnight in Cropredy.

During our steady progress through the regularly spaced locks between Banbury and Cropredy Sid complained of a strange pain in his shin. On checking there was no sign of anything sinister so we pressed onwards and upwards. We took a short lunch stop b3fore ascending the Claydon flight of five locks. We took another look at Sid's leg only to see a red rash appearing and he was feeling rather feverish .  We began to worry!

By the time we reached top lock it was getting more and more obvious that we needed to get Sid to hospital.  We arrived at Fenny, moored Hunters Moon, loaded the car with some of our 'stuff' and got on the road  in less than an hour. It usually takes us several hours so you can imagine we left HM in a bit of a hurry.

Having discounted finding a local doctor or Oxford hospital Sid wanted to get back to Chichester.  We arrived at St Richard's at 7.30pm and, to cut a long story short, Sid spent the next 6 days in hospital with a severe cellulitis infection.

This was not quite the way we intended to end our fantastic  cruising year.

Eerie skies over Oxfordshire

The light turned a strange orange colour as we moored in Banbury thanks to storm Ophelia  passing close by. Although the wind had built during the morning they were nowhere near as strong as some parts of the country were experiencing.

We had spent a couple of nights at a very busy mooring in Thrupp. Whilst we were there we discovered water in the boats bilges.  Much investigation took place as to how this water got into the boat.  We pumped and mopped out as much as possible which reduced the volume dramatically and then decided to get back to Fenny as quickly as possible so further investigation could take place. The water level was checked regularly to make sure it was not rising which reassured Jenny ( a bit).

We left Thrupp on a rather overcast, damp  Sunday morning and made good progress northward as the skies began to clear and eventually  the day turned into warm, cloudless blue sky afternoon.  By mid afternoon we had got caught behind an hotel boat and butty, which slowed our   progress a little since the butty had to be man hauled into the lock after the lead boat had gone through. Some of the locks on this stretch are very deep and take quite a while to fill and empty.  They were a very pleasant group of folk and it was fun sharing stories whilst waiting in the warm sunshine with beautiful views all around.
Our mooring for the night was idyllic with just sheep munching the grass keeping us company. 

We set off early to try to get ahead if the hotel pair, their overnight mooring was due to be in Aynho,  a little further on from where we had stopped. We succeeded in this and having stopped at the chandlery at Aynho Wharf to purchase a couple of water pumps,  one for the shower pumpout and one for the water system, both of which decided to pack up at the same time, we continued on our way in pleasant sunshine but with the wind getting stronger and stronger. Our destination was due to be Cropredy but decided to keep safe and remain in Banbury.  Did then spent the afternoon fitting both pumps, which saved him having to do this on our return to the marina.

The ingress of water still needs to be solved.  At least we now know it is not anything to do with the malfunctioning pumps.

Just heard the eerie skies were bought about by Ophelia picking up Sahara sand mixed with he ash from the fires on the Iberian  Penninsula. 

Back to Oxford

Our Thames licence runs out on Wednesday so after our lovely day with the Paynes we knew we would have to put in some serious boating hours. To this end we made a prompt start on Monday morning with the aim to get to Goring. The north  wind was cold and challenging and the occasional periods of 'mizzle', that horrible fine rain that soaks you and brings about poor visibility, made for not the best of travelling conditions but we soldiered on towards Reading, through Pangbourne and eventually arrived at Goring. The river had not been very busy again but the moorings at Goring were nearly full! We had to moor on a high wall, which was a bit tricky, it entailed climbing up on the wall to tie the ropes through the rings but at least we were secure for the night.

We had another prompt start the following morning but were pleased to find the wind had not only abated but had come out of the north at last, so the air was far more pleasant. Goring lock was self service, it was early, followed by Cleeve, which was manned, it is only a very small rise. Next came Benson lock, this was self service and then Days Lock, which is deep so we were pleased it was manned.  Then came Clifton Lock, which we remembered was without electricity on our way down river and guess what, it was still without electric. This meant winding! Fortunately, another couple in an hire boat had joined us at this stage so with combined efforts the bottom gates were opened,  closed and the sluices closed but turning and turning and turning the wheel at one end of the lock then the same process repeated at the top end of the lock. It was tiring and backbreaking but with us each taking a turn we got through.

A  good drying day

Inquisitive cattle

Our final lock of the day, Culham was also self service, not manual this time, but very deep and this posed some problems i.e. getting ropes around bollards! Once we entered the lock Sid gingerly climbed the slippery steps with the centre line. Then Jenny passed front and back lines up to him. The other couple did the same on  the other side of the lock. A friendly boater coming downstream offered the press the buttons so when we were all secure he opened the sluices. We waited and waited and water poured into the lock but we didn't start to rise.  Waited some time longer and we still hadn't moved. As do often in cases like this we all peered at one another and shrugged.  Friendly boater went to the bottom gates  to ensure the bottom sluices were closed,  which they were. More quizzical looks! Still not rising.  Sid tied his line off and went to look at the control panel.  In small print it said that on self service operation this lock takes 20 minutes to fill, so it was going to take a while before we noticed a difference.  Eventually the lock was full and off we went to Abingdon.  The end of another long day,  this times with moorings aplenty at Abingdon. 

Stormy skies over the quiet Abingdon moorings

And so to Oxford where we will take a breath before heading up the Oxford Canal back to Fenny. 

Back on the Oxford Canal

Another Linsen for sale

For Sara and Pete

37' this time!

More Visitors

We made our way to Henley under overcast skies, some early, mizzly rain and blustery winds. We were hoping to find a good mooring in order to meet Dave,  Janice and the children on Sunday. It was with some surprise that we found the moorings nearest the car park very busy.  The lovely quiet moorings along the Henley rowing course had been almost empty!  Obviously, weekend boaters must make their way to this busy town for Saturday night. We did manage to moor between two large plastic boats and after a little shopping and an abortive attempt to have a beer in the Anchor ( one person serving in a very busy pub and a barrel that needed changing!), we decided to head back to the boat and settle in for a 'Strictly' evening.

The Paynes arrived a little later than anticipated because of a half marathon taking place in Henley and lots of local roads being closed!  Two very excited and hungry children tumbled out of the car so lunch was our first priority. We then enjoyed a lovely afternoon, feeding ducks, climbing and swinging in the playground followed by ice cream, playing games, a bit of balloon modelling and hide and seek, ( not that many places to hide on a narrowboat but the children enjoyed it).  Then all too soon it was time for home.

Needless to say we had a quiet evening after a very active and noisy afternoon!

Socialising!

One of our big goals for this autumn cruise on the Thames was to catch up with friends and family and over the past few days we have certainly managed to catch up with family, having done some of the friends in Oxford.

No sooner had we let  Jenny's sister,  Rosie,  know that we were in Runneymede than she was making making her way to see us.  We had a lovely evening of laughter and some tears as she comes to terms with loosing her dear husband, Steve,  in the summer. We rarely see Hunters Moon at night and it was great to see her lit up with her solar lights when we returned after a very good steak and a few pints in The Bells of Ouzeley in Old Windsor.

Around Runneymede 

The next evening we visited Graeme, Annette and Molly in their new home in Staines. Once again we enjoyed some excellent food, good wine and beer and great company.  We also saw our pretty lights again.

Staines Town Hall

and

The Swan Master

Then, on our arrival at a lovely mooring in Shepperton Rosie joined us for lunch. We had a pleasant afternoon sitting in the warm, autumn sunshine  on the bank.  Our intention was to start our journey back up river in the afternoon but it was so good relaxing in the sunshine that we decided to stay put.  Rosie then joined us again in the evening, which was great fun and certainly good for Rosie.

We departed early the next morning, with a chill wind blowing but also with glorious sunshine. We made very good progress upstream made all the better for the continued warm sun and the wind abated a bit. Also, only 3 of today's 8 locks were self service, Result!

Along the river

Windy weather

It has been a challenging day on the river with strong winds making for interesting mooring and driving into locks, many of which have been self service. However, the rain held off until Boulters Lock when we had to don our waterproofs.  However, as so often happens, we had got moored just downstream of Brunel ' s Maidenhead railway bridge, which has the flattest and widest brick arch in the world, than the rain stopped and the sun tried to peak through.

The stretch of water between Henley and Maidenhead is particularly scenic and despite the wind we had a very pleasant and quiet days cruising.

It has to be mentioned that as Jenny was operating the self service lock at Boulters a very perceptive gentleman on a narrowboat coming upstream mistook her for a lock keeper!  He commented that he had been told at Bray Lock, that Boulters was not manned  and was very pleased to see that he had been told incorrectly!  Jenny did put him right and he replied, " but you seem to know what you are doing!"

This is for Sara and Pete

Following a Linsen 30!

And so to Henley

We have arrived at a very damp, cool and overcast Henley, after a lovely afternoon with Adam and Emilija.

We met them at Reading station and since it wasn't raining,  as forecast,  we decided to travel downstream towards Henley where they could pick up a train back to Hounslow. Adam thoroughly enjoyed having a go at helming,   in fact he wants a narrowboat now!!

We had travelled to Reading from Pangbourne on Sunday morning having spent nights at our usual stops of Abingdon and Wallingford. The river is fairly quiet, it being the end if the season now but we have encountered lots of hire boats especially Le Boat hire boats. So many of these are driven as though they are BMWs on the water!  We have seen then driven straight into the bank and one even ended up crosswise in a lock right behind us! Sid was a little worried as was the lock keeper as it nearly mounted the lock side. 

As we left Wallingford on Saturday morning we found ourselves in the middle of the start of a regatta. There  were hundreds of rowers all making their way to the start, which for those of you who know this stretch of the Thames, was near Sheridan Marine, which is not far from Goring!  At this point all the rowers were congregated on either side of the river. We had to laugh when one of the Marshall drew near us and advised us the keep to the centre of the channel at this point and to take care because some of the rowers are muppets!  Doesn't exactly fill you with confidence particularly if one of the Le Boat boats comes across them! We would love to know what sort of race this was. We had only come across regattas when boats race against each other before.  Presumably some sort of timed race! !??  Quite a sight!