Finally a route plan

Waiting for the PInkhill Owl to show up in-between showers and another vibrant rainbow was seen.

 

A double.

No Owl though, mores the pity. Then to add insult to injury it called continuously for about 10 minutes and right by the bedroom window after we had welcomed our pit. The nearby tree must have been its perch but without a powerful torch nothing could be seen.

 This morning we have a definite plan. First time since leaving Milton Keynes when our plans to do the Rivers Nene and Ouse was foiled by the cost of the licence. It's off to do the Llangollen canal with friends Dennis and Margaret on Nb Icing. So instead of staying at Pinkhill we headed back down river to the Sheepwash cut. Only one manned lock today after the three self service we did and that was Eynsham. Here we were told of three narrowboats ending up on sand banks. You would have thought the huge green buoys would have been noticeable but nope, their excuse was they didn't see them! 

Next four photos of Pinkhill lock

Below Eynsham lock and the buoys clearly visible.

I was surprised that Kings lock was on self service as this is the first lock heading downstream that boaters reach from leaving Dukes cut. A Thames licence would have to be purchased from this lock.  Without the watchful eye of a lock keeper it meant I could be naughty by leaving the engine running and not roping up. Well I was descending after all, but not something to practise when locking up.

Kings Lock

 Getting to Sheepwash Cut and we found the turn. Although I looked no sign of a sign but the  Thames book shows that this is the clearly the only way we could go. Coming to large booms across the river I did wonder if we had got it wrong but a swing to the right and then a very tight left turn took us onto the pontoon of Isis lock.

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Managed to find a space after the lock and did the route march to Tesco express. Oxford with its hundreds of people to dodge was not for my liking and I was very glad to get back to FS.

Strange to go at tickover past the boats again and having to negotiate those curtains of willows obscuring ones vision. Meeting a boat at one such place made it difficult to keep FS toward the far bank, especially as the wind was trying it's danrdest to push her back.

Edward lift bridge was supposed to be lifted but very glad that it was already open. Too many moored boats for one to get off otherwise. Looks like the chain and locking mechanism has been removed so one assumes it is no longer needed.

Stopped before we got to Wolvercote lock. The skies looked rather ominous which was a worry as a BBQ had been planned for tonight.

Look at that for art. Seen in a bridge 'ole.

Wildlife seen today.

Must like the colour of my nails!