Three inches? More like a foot!

After all that bad weather over the past three days, let's hope this sunset heralds the start of something better.

There was certainly more of a flow on the Thames this morning and the water levels looked to have risen by about 3" which will make for a speedy journey downstream. I just hope that any boats travelling upstream will obey the rule of giving way to downstream traffic.

The levels yesterday

This morning and the level is up

Blast...9.20am and a knock on the side of the boat. It's only the farmer wanting a £5 payment for mooring last night. Mind you it could have been worse. He did say that as the weather had been so bad he wasn't prepared to ask for payment over the weekend. So I suppose we got off lightly and, to be fair, this is the first time we have had to pay for a mooring since arriving on the Thames.

Setting off in the drizzle St Johns lock was empty which didn't bode well for the rest of the locks today. Most were on self-service except Grafton where Jon was there to greet us. It was as we entered the lock I realised how high the water levels were. Forget the 3" mentioned earlier, Jon reckons it was up by a foot. The levels are controlled by the lock keepers opening or closing sluices depending on conditions and he did say that we may well get even more of a rise before it plateau's out. Also, there can be a substantial difference to river levels between locks. It all depends on how little or how much water is let down to control the levels.

Not quite overflowing the lock.

Water completely covering the steps.

Jon giving Ian an app to check the river levels.

Made over 4 knots (4.6mph) going with the flow and we dare not go above 1000rpm. We didn't meet anyone which I was most relieved about as stopping may have been difficult. Quite exhilarating though until trying to negotiate the bends and bridges. The force of water tried to push FS toward the overhanging branches and at Radcot bridge we only just missed the wall.

Needing water we stopped at Radcot lock. Crikey this is a difficult water point. On the opposite side to the landing stage and only short, Ian had great difficulty in stopping FS and consequently hit the wall hard. Thankfully no breakages! The large bush at the end didn't help matters and only one set of steps, which was not level with the stern of our boat, to get off.

Radcot lock water point.

See what I mean about the bush?

Radcot Lock

The drizzle stayed with us all the way to Rushy lock. Feellin wet and cold the mooring we had on the way to Lechlade was free so we decided enough was enough. The river may well rise a tad more but with no more rain forecasted, Ian thought it best to keep the ropes slack for when the water levels drop.


Seen as windfalls near to St Johns lock I'm hoping that someone can identify this strange fruit. I thought it to be a lemon at first but it appears to be much to big.

And seen on route