No Pinky the Owl for us last night but ever the wonder with the disturbance made by a couple of quad bikes. Lots of beeping and tearing around the meadow which I thought to be totally out of order by irresponsible youths until I noticed the sheep all running in one direction. Ah, it was a round up of the sheep and not a Collie dog in sight.
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| And another gorgeous Sunset |
This morning at some silly o'clock Ian wakes with a feeling something is not quite right. A sixth sense maybe or the fact he nearly rolled out of bed, but he was correct. We were listing. Water levels had dropped overnight and even though the ropes were slack FS had settled on the mud. Both of us still bleary-eyed left the bed, dressing gowns on and out we go to see what can be done. The stern was floating but the bow wasn't. More rope slackening and a hefty push needed and we were free. We can only assume the two speeding boats (a cruiser and a Rose hire boat) passing us last night must have washed us nearer to the bank.
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| first light. |
Got underway around 9 am and the low water was even more apparent.
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| Not a drop running over the weir. |
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| Pinkhill Lock |
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| The dark area is normally covered by water. |
We found out why the levels were so low. Apparently, Farmoor Reservoir have a licence to remove 300 million...yes million litres of river water every day to keep the reservoir topped up. Yesterday with the levels dropping now the rain had stopped the sluices hadn't been adjusted to keep the water to an acceptable level and consequently, with the vast amount of water pumped to the Reservoir and the sluice gates open, the levels dropped. I asked the question about drought conditions and whether pumping would be allowed to continue and was surprised to hear they would only be made to stop if it caused a hazard to navigation. Without more rain, he thinks this might happen sooner rather than later.
A more gentle pace going downstream now the flow has almost stopped. We reached Eynsham lock and the lock keeper was waiting with open gates.
Cruised past the Dukes Cut branch, amazing to think two weeks ago we first entered the Thames from here travelling upstream.
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| Dukes cut to the left and Kings lock right. |
Kings lock also had a lock keeper in attendance. It stands to reason that it should be manned as a Thames licence must be purchased here. But we soon found out all was not well with this lock.
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| Kings lock being filled |
Most noticeable was the damage to the balance beam and gate. I was gobsmacked to find this was due, not to vandals, but a solitary bee called the Carpenter Bee. The lock keeper called it a black bee but looking on the web think the
Carpenter Bee fits the bill. This beam was replaced 11 years ago and the bees (although solitary and will share the nests) turned up about 3 years ago. Even the windows on the lock house had to be changed to UPVC as the bees were munching their way through those too. A promise has been made by EA that the beam will be replaced in November but only with like for like (another wooden beam) so I (and the lock keeper) cant see this problem going away.
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| Amazing the damage caused and the innards of the beam have also been hollowed out. |
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| The bees have also got into the area where the bolt joins the two structures causing the beam to drop. |
Just thought I would mention the Thames red and green buoys. It can be confusing and nerve-racking on which side to pass if you haven't done your homework especially when they appear to be mid-channel and either side look to be deep enough. So the rule if going downstream:- Keep the red buoys to your right and the green to your left. Upstream is:- Red left and green right. Remember that and you won't go aground. (We have a laminated sign stuck in the engine room in full view so we won't ever forget)
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| We were going downstream so kept the red to our right (this photo looking back) |
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| And here the green to our left (going downstream and again looking back) |
Stopped before Godstow lock. It may have only been midday but this is a fabulous mooring and right by Godstow Priory. We stayed here last time we were on the Thames but then it was free. Now there is a sign
Oops, we didn't know we had to Pre-pay but if anyone turns up our payment will be forthcoming.
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| Godstow Priory |
And on the journey,
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| Different! |
And seen in the rotting balance beam, another unknown moth.
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