Monthly Journal Entry...
Current Location :
Oxford Canal
Weather For May :
Showery with Sunny Spells and Chilly Nights
Wind : breezy.
Temp : High 31c - Lowest -1c
May 2005
Hi everyone...
Just to let you all know how things are progressing. We have now completed our tour of the Thames and as of today June 4th we are back on the Canal System, entering the Oxford Canal yesterday evening in the pouring rain @ Aprox. 5pm.
From our start at Reading we travelled downstream as far as Churtsey (Mid'sex) staying over at Henley and then turned around to progress up to Sonning. At Sonning we met up with NarrowBoat Nesta who had just completed the Kennet & Avon Canal from Bristol.
On Sunday May 22nd we progressed together thru’ Pangbourne, Wallingford, Abingdon & Oxford, continuing on up to the highest point on the Thames at St. Johns Lock, Lechlade. We moored here for the bank holiday weekend. Lechlade is the farthest navigable point of the Thames and meets the presently unnavigable Thames & Severn Canal near Inglesham. This is currently under restoration. The stretch leading to Lechlade is by far the most winding & isolated part of the river we have seen.
From here we backtracked downstream towards Oxford before taking a sharp left @ Duke’s Cut and entering the Oxford Canal. We have waited 12 months to be back on the canals, (this is what ‘Quidditch’ was really built for) & Daria couldn’t wait to complete the 1st lock, even in the torrential downpour. Unlike Thames locks, canal locks are completely unmanned. It gets harder from here!
Our plan now is to continue northward thru’ Banbury, turning on to the Grand Union Canal at Wigram's Turn and then on to our next destinations of Leamington, Warwick & Stratford upon Avon.
Thus far we have had only 3 days where we haven’t seen at least one shower and one particular day were the temperature reached 31 degrees. But at least in between we see plenty of sunshine and the tans are progressing nicely. Living aboard a narrowboat means you become at one with nature and the wildlife has been amazing. We both now make a point of learning the many different wild flowers, trees, plants, butterflies & dragonflies . We’ve seen deer, owls, bats and many baby ducks, geese & swans, rescuing several on our travels. We are at one with nature! Oh god what are we saying? We passed a hippie boat yesterday with strange plants growing on the roof. I think we’ll pass on that one!
Happy travels everyone, let us know how you all are?
No comments:
Post a Comment