Saturday 10^th August 2019

While we had always planned to visit each canal, or river, in turn, and explore the whole length, we now find ourselves under a time constraint. We have to be at Streethay Wharf near Lichfield for the beginning of September. Therefore, we decided that we would do both the Thames and the Oxford Canal in a slow hire speed and leave the exploring for another time. We are only on a short section of the Thames anyway, from Reading to Oxford.

The weather forecast was for winds. Normally, we would not move in wind, but being on the river, which is wider, the winds do not have such an effect on the confines of a narrow canal.

We left the mooring to immediately enter Goring Lock. The location all around the lock is truly beautiful. The bridge, with ornamental, wooden beam supports, the huge weir, mill and surrounding buildings. Absolutely gorgeous.

Not far from Goring Lock comes Cleeve Lock. After the lock, the river becomes quite narrow with steep wooded sides before the views open out again at Moulsford. Beyond Brunel’s impressive railway bridge at Moulsford, there are a number of small islands which are said to be haunted.

The river duly arrives at Wallingford, a nice looking place that is in the diary to visit at a later date. The church of St. Peter’s seems to dominate the town with its unusual openwork spire. Wallingford Bridge has 17 arches, it is of Medieval origin, said to be as early as 1141, but rebuilt in 1809.

Howberry Park, Institute of Hydrology, was glimpsed through trees on the east bank. This was once the home of Jethro Tull (1674-1741), a pioneer of mechanised farming and the inventor of the seed drill, whom I learnt so much of during my school days, history lessons. He is buried in nearby Lower Basildon.

Brenda had a rare spell, steering for an hour, just to say she had. Benson Lock has to be probably the most attractive of the Thames Locks we have passed through. The stone bridge at Shillingford, with the smart hotel next to it, was very picturesque. Below Dorchester, the River Thame flows into the Thames. Small boat can, supposedly, navigate this to the town of Dorchester less than a mile away, but the mouth appeared very overgrown when we passed it. Above the confluence with the Thame, the Thames is sometimes known as the River Isis. This is an alternative name for the river from its source in the Cotswolds until it is joined by the Thame. This derives from the ancient name for the Thames, Tamesis, which in the Middle Ages was falsely assumed to be a combination of Thame and Isis.

At Day’s Lock we stopped at the pontoon to empty the loo, one of the few facilities for such on the river. Water on the Thames is also a bit of a problem. It seems water hoses are frowned upon and only containers can be filled at the water points. The domain of cabin cruisers and gin palaces I suppose.

The wind had been challenging all day. Easily counteracted on the river, but calling for concentration all the same. The sudden and strong gusts in particular, had been causing problems. No matter how proficient at handling a boat, there is little can be done when the wind blows. You may as well stand beside the tiller with your arms crossed and pick up the pieces when the wind drops.

We decided to moor in the wide, open, isolated countryside above Day’s Lock. The engine was simply stopped and the wind decided for us exactly where we were to moor, blowing us onto the bank in a lovely location.

The bank was almost manicured, due probably, to grazing sheep, and came right to the boat, on the same level and appeared as a carpet. Above a slight embankment was a large lake full of wildfowl. Apart from the chimney and cooling towers of Didcot Power Station in the distance, there was just the odd, distant farm in view. The mooring was an absolute special, pinch-me moment.

Harvey also liked the mooring. He does enjoy an open field, becoming puppy like. He was, for the first time, off chasing sticks and having a grand time.

Weather: a sunny day but very windy.

Day Total: 4 locks; 11 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 2.8

Overall Total: 660 locks; 1158 miles; 49 tunnels; 57 Swing Bridges; 6 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 736.1hrs