Sunday 19 August 2012 - Lechlade, River Thames to Thrupp, Oxford Canal

After a very pleasant time on the Thames going upstream and reaching Lechlade for urgent provisions, we turned around at the limit of navigation, and headed back downstream. To say we were going with the flow, was an understatement - Tuesdays heavy rain had produced a very fast current and steering is challenging at the best of times navigating the twisty bends of the Thames upper reaches, since the back end of the boat does entirely its own thing. Speed up,or slow down, had little effect and we got pushed into some ragged overhanging trees when we met another boat on a narrow bend and suffered damage to the sign-writing - there was no time or space for evasive action other than to duck inside the shelter of the boat or we would have been injured too!

We thought ourselves fortunate not to have met this barge on a narrow bend! and look at the the lower lock landings under water.

So, when we moored at Newbridge, beside a farmers field some serious rubbing down and repair work took place over the next 2 days. Our faith was restored in waterside pub food here, at The Rose Revived - good service, good food and happy to recommend the place - thank goodness.

The morning sky one day was just like a noughts and crosses board! Reminders of the Dambusters film!

Our next stop was back at Bablock Hythe, and as busy as we have ever seen it, with moored boats. No swimmers this time, but some narrowboaters are using their safety ladders to advantage.

Altogether a very enjoyable ten days on the Thames, mixed with walking stretches of the Thames Path either side of our mooring spots, - highly recommended. Our Thames trip up to Lechlade some 3 years ago, paid off hugely, as we knew where the best dog walking mooring spots were.
We duly left the Thames, at Duke's Cut, very overgrown as you approach the Oxford Canal and hiding goodness knows what in the vegetation! As we dropped down onto the Oxford canal - a queue! Our first this summer, and then along to Thrupp, it was people and boats all the way - mad dogs and Englishmen etc!

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