Challenge completed

 Well nearly but not quite. In other words we did manage to get to Dukes cut in 8 days. (Saturday 15th to Sunday 23rd) Unfortunately we couldn't get to Anglo Welsh yard at Eynsham because they were shut! So we moored half on half off  by two no mooring signs.  The stern half on a long term mooring bit and the bow half  hanging over onto the end of the lock landing. To be fair it was 5pm and the chances of another boat coming along at that time was very remote. Then Ian went ahead to see what the state of the river was like after the floods these last two months. He came back to tell me the red board was still up. Now another boater had come off the Thames only yesterday so Ian did no more then to go on the environment agency web site and discovered that indeed the water levels were decreasing and was now on yellow boards.

Monday and final day.

After a peaceful night, other then the lambs bleating in the field opposite, we awoke at our now body clock time of 6am. I happened to look out of the window and saw  a typical canal morning. The  mist was rising and the sun making its appearance over the horizon. What a magical time and one we will miss while we are sitting back at Langley.

Just about to set off

 After cleaning through Lady Theresa then having boiled eggs for breakfast instead of the usual toast, we set of of by 7.30am.

Entering dukes lock

One way to keep the windlass in place.

 The Thames was beautiful. No other boats on the move, the sun shinning making everything look green and new. Birds were everywhere and it made us realise just why we love the Thames so much.

The brown and dead foliage reminded us on how high the river levels rose.

All to soon we arrived at Eynsham lock. Suddenly we realised we had no Thames licence. We should have paid £10 even to come through one lock. Thankfully the nice lock keeper let us off seeing as how we were moving the boat from one base to the other.

Eynsham Lock approach. A very strong flow from the weir pushed us toward the bank. Plenty of power needed once again.

 By 9.30am we arrived at Anglo Welsh. Pulling alongside one of their boats we noticed it was covered in mud. Apparently this base had suffered terribly in the floods. 4 of their boats were left across the Thames when the rope holding all 4 together snapped. There was so much mud and debris racing down river that this boat, being on the outside, carried the brunt of it.

  All to soon we had unloaded and ready for our lift back. Then we were asked if we could move another of their boats down to Bath ASAP.! This time we declined as Free Spirit was due for a boat safety inspection this very afternoon and with Free Spirit due for a bottom black before leaving on our travels, time was now no longer on our side.
Total mileage 4.5, Locks 3, hours 2

Back home now after having enjoyed the challenge. We had early starts and late finishes. Had cruised longer days then were used to but it was great fun and, if asked, would do it all again (but only during the winter) So in total we did the 161 miles and 183 locks. It took us 8 and 1/2 days and hours cruised 15 minutes short of 89 hours.

Will leave you with the Thames wildlife.

I think it is a Curlew

Kite

Lapwing

Canadian Geese

Cormorant

day 9 lift bridge accident waiting to happen and a right old cock up through Aubreys Lift Bridge.

Not a good night. Left the heating on overnight because temperature had dropped considerably and the blooming gas heater kept cutting in every 10 minutes. An alarming loud clunking sound that woke you from your slumber every time it lit up! Then when we did finally get some sleep both of us woke up shivering feeling chilled to the bone. Bl**dy boiler had gone out so Ian had to get up, dress just to go and change the gas cylinder. With both of us awake we left really really early, like 6.am. Being this early we got to see the sunrise and the lovely red tones saw us on our way.

 This was a day of strong winds and hail with a bit of sun in between. A lovely curved rainbow showed itself but this photo doesn't do it justice.

 All the lift bridges were open and the lovely diamond shaped lock by the river cherwell soon had as down and meeting the fisherman getting ready for their Sunday match. There was no indicator board by this lock. For a short length the canal and river met and strong stream conditions could catch out the unwary so it was all very well to have a warning sign but no good if the indicators aren't displayed.

Nell Bridge lock

Not a level indicator in sight.

Approaching Aynho Weir lock

This one has the level indicators

Lots of individual locks to keep us on our toes as well as the many raised (thank goodness) lift bridges. Somerton Deep lock must be again one of the most photographed and I'm no exception in getting the camera out again.

Somerton deep lock

Having traveled for days without another boat in front of us by Upper Heywood Wharf we encountared the day boats going on the jolly. This one had only stopped to let the dog off and found themselves somehow turning around. Only trouble was they got themselves stuck in the process.

 They declined our offer of help and once managed to free themselves we ambled past towards Gibraltar (the village not the country) Here we met the next river section. With the flow with us and pushing us along I had great fun in negotiating the winding turns. Soon Shipton Weir lock came into view and noticed a boat waiting on the landing with another just coming out of the lock. Throttling back I managed to hold the boat near the bank to allow Ian to jump off. Fully expecting to take my place on the landing I was surprised when I was beckoned into the lock even with the other boat there. Turns out this lock can fit 2 boats in with both at an angle.

 Letting them out first I watched them as the put the power on to get through the open lift bridge. It was still blowing a hooley and I watched in horror as the bridge slowly started to descend toward the chaps head! How it missed coming down on him I will never know but the chap ducked just in time. This now put me in a quandary about going through. Ian was all prepared to jump off and race to the bridge to try and keep it open but the lady off the boat in front jumped off to secure it instead. I couldn't thank her enough and we did have a laugh about it but really this could have been nasty accident and we think a letter asking C&RT to re balance the beams may be in order.

As we entered Thrupp we encountered an ex co-ownership boat in front of us. It was hard over on the offside and somehow got itself wedged fast in the mud.  Slowing right down we again asked if they needed assistance but they waved us through.

Didn't like the look of the sky ahead.

 This now meant we were lead boat and would have to open Aubreys lift bridge (needs a BW key to operate) and keep it open to allow both boats to come through.

 At thrupp I made a complete mess of getting the boat through the lift bridge. I managed the sharp right hand turn beautifully but that darned wind grabbed hold of the boat and started pushing me into the side. My bow was perilously close to the bridge wall but with Ian acting as my bow thruster got the nose into the hole. The rest followed but only with a lot of side to side crashing and isnt it always the way when the gongoozlers are about. Anyway the ex co-ownership boat was behind me and now it was his turn. For one awful moment I thought he was going to show me how it should have been done but the wind also grabbed him and he fared no better then me. This cheered me up no end 'cause I was wondering if the L plates needed to be dusted off. Then by the pub we met a boat coming toward us. Nothing special in that except he was going backwads with no one on the stern.. Instead a chap was at the front poling the boat in the direction he wanted it to go in. I must say after the intial shock I was very impressed at his boat handling skills especially as he met the other boat on a bend and got it round without even the slightest nudge.. I feel sure he's done that a few times.

Met co-ownership boat on the bend.

The last few miles went without hitch and before long Dukes cut came into sight.
Total miles 20.7, Lcks 13 and time 11 hours.

Day 8 Pulled muscle and broken key.

What a glorious morning full of birdsong and bleating lambs. Leaving at our usual silly time in the morning it was Ian's turn to struggle against the glare of the reflecting sun on the water. The wind was also a bit of a B. Strengthening during the day we found we had to put the power on to get through the lift bridges. We didn't fancy trying to fit through sideways.

I'm getting ahead of myself because before the breeze really picked up, we traveled towards Prior Hardwick and noticed these anti HS2 boards on most of the bridges. I cant say I blame the anger the locals have about the high speed train coming through here. We were meandering through some of the most rural and lovely countryside around these parts and for it to be spoilt for the 'train that will benefit the few' in my mind is criminal.

 I mean...... I ask you. How could you see all this tranquility disappear because of a short sighted government.

At Fenny Compton the usual wall to wall boats meant we crept along for what seemed like ages and with the water point  also in use,  we continued without stopping. This Basset Hound puppy belonged to the family using the facilities and he was quite oblivious to his owner calling it's name.  I think I would have ignored him too if I had been called Leningrad!

16 weeks old. How cute is he.

 Our journey took us along the route where the Fenny Compton Tunnel used to be. I took this excert from the Engineering Timelines.
 Fenny Compton Tunnel was 2.75m wide, 3.66m high and ran for a little over a kilometer. It wasn't very deep underground and had a number of wider sections to allow canal boats to pass each other. These were 4.87m wide. It also had rings mounted in the walls to help boatmen haul their craft through. The canal now runs through a deep cutting and there is little evidence of the tunnel to be seen.

The first of the locks today was at Claydon. It was on this flight that I somehow pulled a muscle.   The paddle gear had all been greased but it made no difference to how stiff they were and with me trying to wind the paddle up I felt a searing pain go right down the back of my right arm. Ian had to take over as I was left in agony. We also noticed who ever greased them were a bit over zealous with the amount of gumph used because it was all over the rachet pawl. This meant a small stick had to be used to lift and replace it.

Covered in grease.

On the approach to Elkinton lock another sunken boat was in evidence. It's name? Hesperus. Reminded me of Wadsworth Longfellow poem the Wreck of the Hesperus.

Hesperus lying on the bottom

On arrival at Croperdy the canoeist were out in full force. In my haste to get to the front to take a photo my coat caught on the front door key and snapped it clean in two.

Canoeist waiting for us to pass

Now on Lady Theresa the only way to lock the boat was at the front (the rear hatch having bolts across the inside). If the spare was also lost then the boat could no longer be secured. With this in mind we decided on a quick stop at Bunbury to have another key cut. With us now £6 poorer but holding a replacement key we left an almost deserted Bunbury to find a rural mooring by Kings Sutton Lock.

Total mileage 21.45, Locks 16 and hours traveled 10.

Haynes lift bridge with Foxes lift bridge in the distance.

Flooding still evident.

And a few more wildlife photos.