Dusk and the sun setting gave a warm red glow. But what wasn't obvious in this photo was that the sun was actually red! Shame the camera doesn't show it as such.
A lovely, leisurely start was had this morning. With the need to purchase a Thames licence, it stood to reason to wait for a lockkeeper to come on duty at Eynsham lock. It was 9.30 am then when we arrived.
Gosh, we were pleasantly surprised. Expecting a week's licence to be in three figures, wow when he only charged us £74.60, we both looked at each other and wondered if a mistake had been made. Not that we said anything, though! (Check the sheet below, it should have been £84.60 for a 57ft boat) And now a tip to anyone coming on the Thames. It's cheaper to buy a week's licence than a 2 day. It makes sense then to pay for the week!
k
I had to find out what was being done with over stayers not displaying a licence, so I asked the question. The answer was not what I was expecting. It's up to the landowners to move boats on, although he did say that the problem with those at Duke's cut were partially CRT and partially EA responsibility. He shrugged his shoulders, it is an ongoing dilemma for both parties as to what to do, but rest assured we are trying to get on top of it.
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| Eynsham lock |
We stopped above lock to fill with water. Four years ago the hose was supplied by EA, we had brilliant water pressure which filled the tank fast, but not any more. No hose at all, and I wondered if it was a Covid related problem. EA withdrew the hose's because of supposed problems with stagnant water lying dormant in the hose for periods of time, which they thought may be getting back into the water supply and this came into force before the pandemic. We had no end of problems attaching our hose. Water peed from the fitting, and Ian reckons he could pee faster than what was coming through our hose. After 30 minutes, we gave up. There is another water point at Shifford lock, hope at least this one has better fittings and a superior flow!
l
Pinkhill Lock was on self-service and here we met a descending boat. And this wasn't the only moving boat today because as I took FS into the open lock, a narrow boat arrived at the top. Now that's what I call good timing.
Stopped on the 24-hour mooring, a short distance from the lock. We plan for a BBQ tonight, and we even have wooden table and bench to save getting the chairs out.
In the afternoon we walked to Farmoor reservoir. Two choices of walks around the water, one nearly 3 miles around the perimeter, or 1.7 miles cutting across the causeway. We chose the shorter route, stopping halfway at the sailing club cafรฉ for a coffee. The water was crystal clear and spotted on the margins was this pike, Also coming toward it was a duck and two ducklings. We held our breath as one duckling started to swim toward it. I don't know if the duck sensed the danger, a loud quacking, and it soon had those ducklings on the side.
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| Pike can be seen at the top of the photo |
So today's wildlife are all from the reservoir and its surrounds.
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| Tufted duck (female) |
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| Gadwall |
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| Grebe |
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| Cormorant |
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| Red Kite |
4 comments:
"Which they thought may be getting back into the water supply"
What utter popycock! For many years it's been a water byelaw requirement for outside taps to incorporate a non-return valve, which the one in your picture has - the small bit sticking out at the bottom next to the supply pipe. I'm sure the real reason is they are terrified of being blamed for someone getting CV, and just look for any excuse to remove what they used to look after. Considering that tap has as standard thread (and a black adaptor which doesn't need to be there) why don't you get a plastic Hozelock style threaded adaptor of your own. I keep one with the hose in my motorhome after getting stuck at a site with out one. You (or rather Ian) will probably need a spanner or wrench to undo the existing gubbins, but so long as you put it back as you found it (and don't get caught!) I can't see a problem. Apart from anything else, CRT / EA should not be letting lots of water go to waste, so you've got grounds for complaining about that installation...
Tried to leave you a message yesterday but it doesn’t seem to have got through!
Wanted to tell you about our favourite upper Thames mooring that we used a couple of years ago. It’s above Rushey lock. As you leave the lock, there’s a sharp right bend, followed by a sharp left, and the mooring is immediately there on the left hand side. It’s on a meadow which sticks out into the river to form them bend. Middle of nowhere, very dark at night and really quiet.
This is what we were told Dave, and I did say it wasn't Covid related. As to the fittings, it's really not worth getting for such a short stay on the Thames. I'm not sure what the tap situation is like further south, many complaining boaters may alter their way of thinking.
i
Thanks, Adam, we found the mooring just after Rushy lock. and, as you mentioned, lovely and quiet.
l
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