Upper Thames

This is Rushey lock in the rain. We had got separated again from "Icing" as an Anglo Welsh boat was already in the lock and these locks are like our double locks on the canals, just big enough for two narrow boats to fit in. The lock keeper saw both boats through and then emptied the lock for us. Well we waited and waited for the gates to open and nothing happened. Next we heard a voice from above "are you locking through?" We thought this rather strange as the lock keeper must have seen us waiting. It turns out he had gone for his lunch and turned the self service sign on. That was great if you could see it from the lock landing (which we couldn't) and so when this voice called out to us it baffled us completely. Anyway the voice belonged to a very nice lady who worked the lock for us. She was also annoyed with the lock keeper because instead of letting them enter the lock after "Icing" and the Anglo Welsh boat had left, he instead just turned the lock round in front of them.

Every one had said that the Thames was very pretty toward the top end. So far I haven't found that. It is though the twistiest stretch of water I have ever been on. Saves the boredom though. This picture is typical of this part. Hopefully things will improve the nearer we get to Letchlade. By the way the rain never let up and we finally found a mooring at Radcote. Still never got into the side so out came the planks again.