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!
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