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Published: July 12th 2013
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Meeting friends at Goring (our boat is the bigger one!)Sun 8th July: Sorry to those of you who hang on my every word and have been patiently waiting for news. To be frank, haven’t really been in the mood to blog this time, don’t know why, maybe the weather which is just a bit different to last year. The inclination is just not there. HOWEVER, tonight is your lucky night! We’re moored in the middle of nowhere (although H has just pointed out we can just spot Didcot Power Station through the trees), surrounded by fields of freshly cut hay, unlike the last few nights where we’ve been in rather urban areas. So we can leave our engine running if we want (to charge batteries you landlubbers!), shout and sing and make any other noises and waves as the mood takes us!
So, where have we been, what’s been occurring?? Well, we spent three nights moored on Osney Island, west of Oxford… really vibrant friendly community, the river runs in front of a row of Victorian terraces, all brightly painted. Last year, we didn’t go this far into Oxford, choosing to moor at Folly Bridge instead. But we much preferred Osney and will definitely be visiting again. From there
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Birthday picnic we had an easy walk into Oxford where we took in the sights and visited the Ashmolean twice! Tom came to see us on Saturday, finding us in a local pub with a german, watching the ladies’ final. Actually our whole itinerary so far has been dominated by getting access to TV for Wimbledon matches. Yesterday we travelled back downstream to Abingdon ‘cos, you guessed it, I needed to get back to that pub for the Mens’ final, which was BRILLIANT wasn’t it???!!!!!
Will not be mooring in Abingdon again though unless we can get in below the bridge! Above is not very salubrious, a bit like arriving at a low-budget holiday park. Last night we saw, well yobs darling, displaying some very anti-social behaviour, to which the police were called, and then witnessed some river rage between two boats moored in front of us (sure there’s a boating term for that). We made sure that Rupert was well and truly hidden away for the night!
And today… well, Sarah and Ted visited. We moored just above the footbridge at Culham Lock and met them in Sutton Courtnay. Back to the boat for lunch and then a walk
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Rupert surveying Culham Footbridge... round Culham. Boiling hot but who’s complaining? Tomorrow, friends Sarah and Mick are visiting at Clifton Hamden. But without an operating fridge, entertaining is challenging! We’ll probably, oh yes, find a pub!
Tues 9
th July: Woke to brilliant blue sky, pootled down to Clifton Hamden to meet Sarah and Duck, sorry Sarah and Mick (too much toddler TV!). Had a terrific day showing them the delights of the river and boating. We cruised down to a spot where we could walk across fields to Dorchester for lunch and an ice-cream, then a leisurely trip back for tea and strawberries before they left us exhausted from a day in the sun.
Wed 10th July: Today have pushed on downstream and have stopped in Goring ready to meet up with Mum and Alan here tomorrow. Covered a lot of river today, stopping only to get provisions from Wallingford, rubbish and toilet emptying at Days Lock and taking on water at Cleeve Lock… busy, busy, always busy!
Frustration set in tonight as I STILL cannot get internet access on my phone, therefore no blog. Aaarrgghh, technology!
Fri 12
th July: at last, internet access! Thank you Sonning!
So, Mum and Alan arrived yesterday morning bright and early at Goring and we had another terrific day. Cruised (pootled sounds better I think) down to Beale Park where we moored in the perfect July sunshine and picnicked, then back to Goring to get a place before they were all taken, since it’s really quite busy on the river now, so unlike last year… (even had to queue for the lock at Reading this afternoon, first time ever!) Spent late afternoon lazing, reading, eating ice-creams, chatting, then into Goring for pub supper at the Catherine Wheel and back to boat after waving off Mum and Alan. Nothing of note to report, so uneventful compared to last year I realise!
Today has been busy… all domestics seen to – toilet, water, petrol. Stopped off at boatyard on way through and Sean managed to fix our broken fridge, so we’re all systems go now. It’s been quite challenging without one in this heat. Never mind the milk, but warm beer and wine is not acceptable! Now moored in the peace of the country near Sonning, although I do note we are directly under the Heathrow flight path! Captain fishing…. fish not biting but midges are!
So now entering our third week, it's passing so quickly. Moving on tomorrow towards Henley, which could be interesting as there's a music festival on there... and fireworks!
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Laura Ann
Laura Mann
Greetings from Newbury!
Aha! Finally located password and caught up with you ma hearties!! Landlubbers thrilled at news of your exploits and the weather, which of course we are also thoroughly enjoying! The garden is totally stunning and many a balmy eve is spent in it at last..... Like some good old days ..... Remember! Our patios(!) are carpeted rose petals! Quite idyllic!!