As far as you can in an hour!

Monday 2nd May

Gosh, Ian had some difficulty in removing the pins this morning. Hammered in so well on Saturday, they absolutely refused to come out the conventional way. Brute force (and ignorance?), was first tried by pulling on the ropes, but it took the Rondall bank anchor to eventually free them from their grip.

It took a tad under 10 minutes to reach Pinkhill Lock. I suppose if I hadn't dragged my heels I would have been there sooner, but both of us really wasn't looking forward to leaving the Thames, so the longer we could stay on this river the better.

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Pulled onto the landing pontoon, Ian got ready to set the lock, (it was self-service) when the bottom gates opened. Into the waiting lock came a wide beam, the first seen on the move since arriving a week ago. Chatting as one does, the pair was heading for Lechlade. They had heard about those young beasts eating ropes etc and were slightly unsure what to do. The boat was to be left up there for a week. I wouldn't want to be them on their return! Eaten ropes, damaged paintwork, cratch cover nibbled and possibly no boat to come back to! Anyway, I mentioned those other wide beams with the electric fence. They may be able to come sort of agreement. Oh, to be a fly on the wall to see what happens!😉

 Still a lot of boats in at the Anglo Welsh yard, probably unsurprising because of the price of diesel at the moment. Chatting to one of the lockkeepers a while ago he mentioned that one of the big cruiser hire companies put their price up to well over £2000 a week. That wasn't all...they were also charging for diesel by the hour!!! As the lockie said, plenty of speeding tickets will no doubt be handed out to those hirers trying to get as far as they can in one hour.

 

Under Eynsham bridge and we suddenly came across a narrow boat mid-stream. Circling his arm over his head, we rightfully assumed he was winding. Then he reversed. Ah, now all became clear, to the water point he went. Well, good luck with that, I thought.

 

The last lock was Eynsham, below was the elsan and rubbish point and also a good view of one of the massive Thames weirs.

 Duke's cut was several miles from this point. We decided to stop for lunch, and then thought, sod it, let's stay until the morning. So FS was secured more securely, a spot of gardening was done because ants were finding their way into the boat, and we settled down for an afternoon of Netflix. I can recommend 'Rescued by Ruby', a really lovely doggie story.

And wildlife, a Buzzard being mobbed by a Rook

Kestrel

Pinkhill day 2

 1st May

What a difference a day makes! Gone the warm sunny weather of yesterday and in its place a cold damp drizzly day. Ian's planned painting of the cratch board went out of the window, a bit of a blow because I wanted him out of the way to wash the floors. In the end, he was confined to the bedroom with only his computor for company and only allowed to emerge once the floor was dry. 

So what did we do today. Not much, but we were determined to go for another walk, rain or no rain. Back to those ponds and hides, dodging the showers. 

 

Photo taken yesterday

The Cuckoo was heard, but from the wrong direction, mores the pity. What we did see, though, was a bit of a bonus. A Snipe and it was that well camouflaged, if it hadn't moved, I would never have realised it was there.

 A while later a little Egret appeared as well as a male and female Pheasant.

 

Tomorrow we leave the meadow and head towards Duke's Cut. One more night on the Thames and then it's back on the canals. A very brief but enjoyable week has been spent cruising the Thames, shame it couldn't have been any longer.

A thrilling sight

Saturday 30th 

Not the first away this morning, that honour was given to a boat at 7 am! A glance out of the porthole window, just to see which direction it was going in, and a wonderful misty Thames to greet me. Time for a photo, out into the freezing air with just the nighty to cover my modesty, and thankfully, only the cows to see me. 

By the time we were ready to leave it was nearly 9 am, and then, hmm, the same scenario as yesterday, bushes in front and a good shove needed to get the bow away. This time Ian had to stay on board as the stern was too far from the bank for him to get back on board. Out came the trusty pole.

Another mooring to mark in the Nicholson's book.

Only Northmoor lock to do today, Our destination was to Pinkhill Meadow. Here we planned to see out the bank holiday and hope for an owl encounter. 

Approaching Northmoor, wow, those reflections were something else. 

Coming into the lock was an Anglo Welsh hire boat. Two of the crew were running from one gate to another, appearing baffled by what to do. Ian went to see if he could offer advice and very glad of it they were too. Pinkhill Lock (their first lock from leaving base) had been manned, but to do this one on their own was, for them. daunting. Ian soon had them up and away, and our "Where are you heading?" as they left the lock and their reply of "Lechlade." had me wondering how they would cope with those twists and turns.  "You have a good 8 hours in front of you" said I, "plus all the locks".  "And when do you to return the boat?" I enquired. Ah, the answer was not what I expected because they need to be back at Eynsham at 9 am Monday morning.

We expected to be on our own, but in the distance Ian spied a boat heading toward the lock. Due to the twists and turns, a wait of several minutes before it came into proper view.

At Bablock Hythe, a boat coming toward us was recognised. It was fellow bloggers Cheryl and Eric. Last seen this side of Banbury, I was sure we would meet somewhere on the Upper Thames. A quick photo and a hello was all we had time for. Hope you enjoy Lechlade and get onto the pub moorings if you can. Easy for the shops and, most importantly, away from those beasts!

As you can see, the weather was glorious. Time for our first BBQ, perhaps? After lunch, it was decided to do the Countryside walk. On the map it shows roughly 4 miles, somehow we ended up doing 5! But wow, what a fab walk, with two bird hides on the way and a sighting that thrilled the both of us. 

Ian heard right after all when he mentioned a Cuckoo song a few days ago. The calling of a pair was the most prevalent sound as we progressed toward a series of nature ponds.

Staying still, and prepared to wait paid off because there was one of the birds flying from one side of the pond to another, landing conveniently in a treen ear enough for us both to get a good look.

 The walk eventually took us to Farmoor Reservoir. The café was still open, a most welcome cup of tea and sausage roll to rebuild our strength. Sitting in the glorious sunshine, such a lot of activity on the water, including sailing lessons. Hilariously funny watching these novice sailers, spent a good 40 minutes just observing their antics.

Back at FS and the BBQ did come about. Table and chairs were then all set up for an evening of watching and waiting to see if the owl turned up. It never did unfortunately, but a lovely evening was had eating, drinking and keeping warm by a fire pit utilised from the BBQ.

Beer first

Started to get a bit chilly for me....not for my icicle, Ian!

Great fire pit and before everyone has a go because the grass was so dry, a bucket of water was nearby just in case!

 And wildlife,

Reed bunting

Grebe

Diving grebe

Trout

Red Kite