This is Lechdale and it is at the end of the navigable Thames
A charming place with everything you need and a place i can see us retiring to when are boating days are over. But I'm not too sure that Carolyn has the same thoughts as i have.
With RAF Brize Norton nearby we have planes flying over us all day long.
Being on a field mooring we have been plagued by this bunch of misfits. They seem to have taken a likening to eating mooring ropes and anything that is on a boat roof. We were even told that a couple of days ago they ate the cable from a solar panel. Needless to say the boat owner was not at all amused. Lucky for us we have Hamish on guard duty.
Hamish chilling under the brolly after defending Inca.
While we are trying to protect our ropes from the little blighters….. the cows are busy eating the ropes on the boat in front of us.
After a very enjoyable day relaxing at Lechlade we pull pins at 05.55 thanks to the cows that woke us up trying to eat our rear cover. It was always my intention to go to the end of the navigation which is the round house. We could have turned (winded) at the Halfpenny bridge , but i just had to go all the way to the end. I almost regretted that decision as it was so shallow at the winding hole that we got slightly stuck whilst trying to turn. Eventually after a lot of struggling we winded and headed back down the Thames.
The Moorhens seem to be late breeding in this area ,unless its the second brood of the season .This one seems to be a bit lost.
How about this for a bit of fun if you are in a canoe.
How about this for some more fun.
Then another one came along. I have seen these boats on other peoples blogs and they certainly seem to be doing a lot of travelling.
After another 8 hour cruising day we finally moored up above Pinkhill lock where we were pleased to meet up with Sue and Vic on Narrowboat No Problem. Theirs was one of the first blogs i ever started reading and their site is full of very useful information . We had a good old natter and hope to meet up with them again soon.
Tomorrow we plan another early start as it now time to get back onto the South Oxford canal and head towards our next summer cruise destination .Our Thames licence has just about run out now. But one thing is for sure, As we have enjoyed it so much we will definitely be back on the Thames in the future
Happy Days
When you are no longer continuous cruisers I think your place of retirement will be determined by the access to retail therapy. :) Loved the pictures of Hamish, he's looking good. Aloha, Amos
ReplyDeleteHi Amos , Banbury is our next big shopping destination where we will no doubt spend the whole 48 hours mooring time there. Still it keeps her happy ....
DeleteLovely pics Gary, we have been to Lechlade a few times by car.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely and will be even better when the Thames connects to the Cotswold Canal too.
I think the lock next to the roundhouse has already been reinstated.
nb Oakfield
Hi both, if you get the chance it is worth it to go all the way up to Lechlade by boat. The Thames turns into a different river and it's great fun steering around all those tight bends..
DeleteHi both enjoyed your Thames trips sounded lovely.
ReplyDeleteNot many bloggers get up to the end (and I follow a lot!) so hats off to you Gary for the extra effort.
Vic and Sue was probably one of the 1st I caught up with to during my rekindling of a 28 year break from canal holidays, good init!
Cheers for sharing.
Ade
Hi Ade , the Thames was great and we will do more of it some time in the future. The turn at the roundhouse was good. The guide book said it was shallow on the North bank , but we soon found out it was shallow on the South bank as well....Still it's all good fun .
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