Should I go back for him???

I never tire of these wonderful Autumnal mornings and this morning was a cracker.

I wonder if setting off earlier would have made any difference? It's a Sunday you see, and the day of the week when fishing matches take place. Such was the case today from the mooring just after Rushey lock to Radcot lock, a distance of 2.5 miles. They were all setting up ready for an 11.am start and to think if we had left before 10 am we might have missed them.

See those cars? All belong to fisherman setting up by their peg.

 The upper Thames with its sharp bends and overhanging branches makes for interesting cruising. It snakes it's way all the way up to Lechlade and one has to be aware of craft appearing from around the bends.

The bridge looks to be in the field but

Another sharp bend and there it is.

 And this one,

 Between Radcot Lock and Grafton Lock yet more fisherman. Another two miles of poles stretching across the river with last-minute panic as we turn up.

Radcot lock and a volunteer on duty

Bottom photo and a fish pulled in

 Grafton Lock must be one of the best-kept locks on the upper Thames. Lock Keeper Jon has transformed this lock since taking over a few years ago. The bedding plants are going over a bit now but wow I bet in the summer they were spectacular.

Looking back

Another unmanned lock today was at Buscot. Walky talkies were necessary here as the view to the lock was obscured. Ian informed me a cruiser was going up in front and that he had to step in when the skipper had forgotten to close the bottom paddle. They had been trying to equalise the lock for ages!

No view of the lock from here.

Last lock today and also unmanned, was St Johns. We have been to Lechlade twice before but both of us forgot one fundamental thing. The lock staging had no means of getting to the lock. In fact once on it, the only way off was to swim. (see the link below) So noticing a narrowboat exiting and leaving the gate open I dropped Ian off to do the lock. That was when the penny dropped! I was already on my way to the open gate when a hail from Ian to say there was no way off. Oh, blast! Trying to stop FS and reverse back to pick him up was challenging. But somehow I managed much to the amusement of the skipper on the exiting boat. He obviously knew about this landing stage and his remark was, "That's one good way of leaving him behind!"

Hmm, where to get off.

Old Father Thames

Leaving the lock we both groaned. Not more blooming fisherman! As I said in my opening sentence, T'is a Sunday and fishing is a must on this day or rest.

Finally to the end of navigation as far as boats are concerned. We winded at the pub and moored on the meadow. Here in 2015 the young heifers and bullocks were making a meal of the mooring ropes. and woo betide you putting anything over the mooring spikes. All would be eaten! To see the post click here

And seen on route,

Synchronised flying.