Thames licence, the price for 2 days is more than for a week.

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!

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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.

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! 

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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 café 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. 

Pike can be seen at the top of the photo

 

So today's wildlife are all from the reservoir and its surrounds.

Tufted duck (female)

Gadwall

Grebe

Cormorant

Red Kite

Continuous moorers or private moorings?

 Why he decided to get the anchor out whilst moving was beyond me. He got it into his head that it had to be done that very minute, never stop a man on a mission I say,  although when a lift bridge came into view that made him reconsider.

 

As you may have gathered, today we would leave the canal at Duke's Cut and turn right onto the Thames. A simple enough task, descend Dukes lock, do the right turn at the junction, ascend Dukes Cut lock, along the Thames back water and out into the main stream. How difficult could that be? 

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About 4 years ago, I remember boats being moored all along the backwater section but always the lock landing was free. Today it was impossible for our length of boat to get onto the landing. Sods Law states if you don't want a boat to come toward you, it probably would! Both sides of the cut had moored boats, maybe two boats could have passed, but it would be a 'breath in' jobbie. The boat coming toward me was already through the bridge, I was still in the lock. Long story short, it was tight! Very, very tight! We scraped each other but not quite the boats either side. I do wonder why the EA allow this, Those boats had been there a long time, judging by the amount of stuff deposited on the paths. Somebody may be able to tell me, but are these residential moorings or are these boaters just playing the system? I didn't see one boat with a Thames licence, either!

You can see how tight it was

Oh, it is so nice to be back on the Thames. Both of us love this river, shame that we only have 1 week to enjoy its delights. A mooring was found by the Thames path, not far from King's lock. Walking to buy the licence, found it to be unmanned, so no licence bought today. 

Kings Lock

After lunch, we had the idea to walk to Godstow Priory. At King's lock, a notice had been posted about works at Godstow weir. So we can kill two birds with one stone.

About a mile to walk, and most pleasant in the sunshine. Still a tad cold, though. A green light was showing at Godstow Bridge, allowing boats to proceed, but only one of the arches could be used. A huge barge was being loaded with pipe to take across to the weir stream. 

Downstream has the green light for boats to proceed (seen on the right of the photo)

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 And on the fencing by the generator was the explanation.

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The old weir to be replaced.

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Looking upstream, the light was on red.

 

 It was most strange. Not a single boat has been seen travelling the Thames since we arrived at 10.30 this morning. It all became clear at Godstow lock because this was posted on the bottom gate.

 That's a bit of a blow for those now coming onto the Thames to go south. (Maffi) Chatting to one of the contractors at Godstow, he thinks it may be the hydraulics on one of the gates that failed, but he had been reliably informed a team of engineers is on site to try and fix it ASAP. (the lock will open as of the 26th, according to Eynsham lockkeeper)

. Back at FS, and we sat outside for a while. Still felt chilly and oh for it to be fishing season. I would so love to have dangled a bit of sweetcorn on the end of hook and line to see what I could catch. That will have to wait until the glorious June 16th.

And wildlife

Sorry about this one but it proves how even a crow can grab a goose chick

Thankfully, it was dropped.

Greylag geese

Orange Tip

Orange tip, closed wings

Yellow Dung Fly

Green veined white?