At Enslow Marina, where MM will spend the Winter

Friday 26th October, 2012 at Enslow Marina.
The idea today was to start early and get up to the Rock of Gibraltar (where MM was launched last year) for lunch at the pub with Tiffany from Kingsground, and then tea on MM with M's "second son," Scott, and his two children. Just shows that it's better not to make plans as you will see!!
We left our mooring in Oxford across the canal from Jericho and the site of the first ever "Inspector Morse" episode (see Monday's entry) early, but not as early as we had planned.
Progress was slow up the Oxford Canal due to the many "residential" moored boats (courtesy requires that one has to slow down past moored boats) and the number of lift bridges, some of which were reluctant to stay up and M had to prop them open with MM's pole.

Although there were very few boats moving on the canal, unfortunately we came up behind another boat also going north, so we had to wait at every lock for them to go through and then we had to empty the lock before we could go in. This made our progress even slower. It was also a very cold and damp day, not the nicest to be out on the stern for hours on end.

The locks seem to be so narrow! We are not used to them!

We passed through the lovely village of Thrupp with its "Boat Inn" pub - another location that featured in "Inspector Morse"
Further up the canal, we passed nb "Quercus" which is owned by Terry Robertson's partner Pat.

Terry was our instructor on our Helmsman's Course; his boat (nb "Shropshire Lass") and "Quercus" are normally based at Gnosall on the Shropshire Union Canal. Pat was involved in the organisation of the Olympics and "Quercus" took part in the Queen's Jubilee flotilla on the Thames in July.
With such slow progress, it was fairly obvious that we were not going to reach the Rock of Gibraltar by lunchtime but then Tiffany called to say that it was her daughter Ruby's birthday and her relatives had turned up to celebrate, so she would not be able to join us today anyway.
At Shipton Weir Lock, we met up with a family on a rental boat.  It was only their second day's cruising and they cheerfully admitted that they had no idea what they were doing but were obviously enjoying themselves hugely - lovely!  M helped them through the next couple of locks before they moored up for lunch so we parted company as we approached the Rock of Gibraltar.

It was very emotional to return to the spot where MM had been launched one year and two weeks ago. As it was now well past lunchtime, we decided to go on to the marina just a few hundred yards past the pub.
Back at Shipton Weir Lock, Scott had phoned to say that he had confused our location at Upper Heyford with Heyford near Northampton and so would not be able to make it to see us today after all!! So much for our plans - we could have taken it easy instead of rushing to get to Enslow for Tiffany and Scott!
Tiffany had told us where to moor at the marina, so we slipped MM in between nb "Sea Jay" and nb "Sheila Pearl" into what used to be the berth for nb "Barneswood" - so a good pedigree!

In the past, we had met the owners of the two boats on either side of us, so we know that we have good neighbours.  It is comforting to know that they both live aboard and will be able to keep an eye on MM for us throughout the winter.
A tap on the door as it got dark turned out to be Richie, one of the carpenters from Kingsground.  He built his own boat "Grayling" entirely himself and she was finally launched last month. She's now moored here in the marina and he kindly invited us over to see her later this evening.
After dinner, we walked down to "Grayling" and duly presented ourselves. We met his friend James, who also lives on a boat in the marina, and had a tour of "Grayling." Richie has done a superb job on her with a lovely use of different woods throughout the boat. He is also a keen cook, so "Grayling" has a large and well appointed kitchen (bigger than MM's!).  We stayed much longer than we anticipated, enjoying their company and sharing a bit more than just the one bottle of wine. A lovely welcome to Enslow marina.!
As we walked back to MM in the dark (way past M's bedtime), the moon was just peeking through the clouds; it's the first time we've seen the moon for three weeks.
Today: 9 miles, 6 locks and 5.3 hours.
Trip: 349 miles, 331 locks and 328.8 hours (482.7 total).
Since MM's launch: 595 miles, 480 locks and 482.7 hours.

Oxford at Last - This Time in MM!!

Thursday 25th October, 2012, finally in Oxford.
Because we have been running the engine much faster than normal to counterbalance the fast flowing Thames, we have been getting through diesel at a much faster rate than normal and arrived in Abingdon showing only a quarter on the guage. R decided to fill up at the marina opposite our mooring to be on the safe side. Unfortunately a massive cruiser (a real gin palace) pulled into the marina's service bay just before us, so we had to wait for them to fill up with diesel and water and to have a pump-out before we could get on to the service bay. We pulled up behind them and hovered in the middle of the river flow as the gentleman on board reassured us that his wife had "just gone in to settle up."
Hovering in the middle of a fast flowing river is not the easiest thing to do - but we sat there for over half an hour. Not sure what the lady was doing, but she certainly was not in a hurry to do it!! We were not amused. Finally, she came out of the shop and they left.  With great restraint, we refrained from giving them a two-fingered wave. 
We filled up with diesel and found that we had been using 3 litres an hour coming up the Thames - that is more than twice our normal fuel consumption!
Because of the delay in waiting to get fuel, we were much later starting than we had hoped and so we were running against the clock all day in order to get Clare up to Oxford before dark.
Although the sky was a bit brighter, the temperature plummeted; it became very cold steering on the back of MM but despite this, Clare seemed to be enjoying herself very much.

At Sanford Lock there was great excitement as we met nb "Clodagh," another Kingsground boat that was launched only yesterday!!!  She is Kingsground's 112th build (MM is 106) and what an absolutely beautiful boat she is. She is the very last new build to come out of Kingsground's Upper Heyford workshop as their lease is up and they are now having to move their workshop to the marina at Enslow.

It was wonderful to see the happy and proud faces of Toby and Alex, the owners, who were mooring up above the lock for a celebratory glass of champagne. It brought back lovely memories of our first day on MM - in fact, the joy and pride we still feel in MM.
It was a relief finally to pass through Iffley Lock and to know that we are now safely clear of the EA winter maintenance program.  Hooray!

Iffley Lock will close on 1st November for four months for maintenance. Just above the lock was a flock of geese who seemed very pleased to see us too.

Finally, we turned off the Thames into the curiously named "Sheepwash Channel" and then through the narrow "Isis" lock and on to the Oxford Canal at last. The lock felt so tiny after all the broad locks that we have done in MM since last October!

There were still a lot of boats on the visitors' moorings, but we managed to find a space and squeeze MM in - although we were resting against the neighbouring boats at the bow and stern!
It was getting dark as we walked Clare up to the railway station to take the train back to her car in Goring. We said a fond farewell to her. We do hope that she will come back again soon - it has been so great to have her to stay with us.
Today: 9 miles, 4 locks and 5.6 hours.
Trip: 340 miles, 325 locks and 323.5 hours (477.4 total).

Struggling on to Abingdon!

Wednesday 24th October, 2012 in Abingdon.
Clare said how well she had slept on MM, which was nice. Once more the weather was misty, grey and chill. Clare helped R steer on the stern while M plied them both with warm drinks to keep out the cold.

Again the river flow was very strong and at a couple of the bridges, where the river narrows, the current was so fast that we could barely keep moving forward. The section from Clifton Lock to Culham Lock was the only part of the Thames still "Red Boarded" but it is always the last section to clear as it has a very strong flowing weir half way along it.  However, it's not a problem if you know it's there and keep well clear. Today, we travelled for nearly six hours to reach Abingdon.
We moored up in Abingdon just below the town bridge. Again we took the last available space, as there were many boats still waiting to move. Our mooring was opposite our old friend nb "Queen of Hearts" on which we had met our friends Penny and Harry four years ago. M had sent them a text to say we would be in Abingdon, but unfortunately we didn't hear from them.

As we were running a bit short on supplies, we decided to walk into the Waitrose in Abingdon across the lovely old bridge for a "few bits."

It's a good thing there were three of us as the "few bits" were even heavier than ever!!
Today: 10 miles, 3 locks and 5.7 hours.
Trip: 331 miles, 321 locks and 317.9 hours (471.8 total).

Off Again at Last!!

Tuesday 23rd October, 2012 on to Shillingford!
Was this our last breakfast at Pierreponts? Our sensible heads hoped it was but our tummies begged to differ! After breakfast, R went to the Capture office for a couple of hours and on the way back to MM, he went to talk to the lock keeper. Although the lock was still "Red Boarded", he said he expected it to go to "Yellow" later in the day.
Back at MM, R's cousin Clare arrived soon after mid-day.  It was lovely to see her and, after a cup of tea and a brief catch-up, we set off through Goring Lock even though it was technically still "Red Boarded."

By the time we reached Cleeve Lock, one mile further up the Thames, both locks had gone "Yellow." Cleeve Lock was a very welcome sight as it had a water point and we were able to fill up at last. Hooray!!
The Thames is still running quickly, therefore the anchor came out so that we could use it if we had an engine problem.

Despite the grey overcast weather, Clare appeared to love sitting up on the stern and enjoyed having a go at steering MM.
At Benson Lock, we saw our friends Karen and Jim on nb "Ruffian" who had been stuck there for several days. They were heading downstream to re-join the K&A and were hoping to leave the following day so this was probably the last time we shall see them this year. It's been such a pleasure to have got to know them over the course of the summer.

Although the Thames was running quickly, we managed to make good progress (although the engine was working very hard) and after nearly five hours' cruising we arrived at Shillingford and took the last mooring outside the very posh Shillingford Hotel. The mooring cost us £10 for the night and the hotel wanted to charge us another £10 if we needed to plug in to their electricity supply. Needless to say we declined their offer to plug in! No doubt their prices are designed to keep the rif-raff away from the Hotel!
Today: 8 miles, 3 locks and 4.8 hours.
Trip: 321 miles, 318 locks and 312.2 hours (466.1 total).

Oxford at last - but by Train!

Monday 22nd October, 2012 and still in Goring.
We are still "Red Boarded" and, although the water level in the river has dropped a little, it is clear from talking to the lock keepers that it will be tomorrow at the earliest before we shall be able to move.
At least we could console ourselves with another wonderful breakfast at Pierreponts!

We decided to use our enforced idleness to go and be tourists for the day in Oxford, as unfortunately it appeared we would not have time to linger there once MM got moving. We took the train from Goring, a journey of only 25 minutes.
Our first task on arriving in Oxford was to reconnoitre moorings for when we eventually arrive there on MM. The lock that separates the River Thames from the Oxford Canal is the beautifully named "Isis" Lock. It will be the first 'narrow' lock that we have done since leaving the Oxford canal a year ago; it did look awfully small - would we really be able to get MM in there?!

On the other side of the lock, we found excellent 48 hour moorings, although there were a lot of boats already there - we hope that they will have moved on once the Thames re-opens!
We crossed the canal and explored Jericho, the area of Oxford that was central to the very first episode of "Inspector Morse" on the TV.

We immediately recognised the row of canalside cottages and the local pub that featured in that episode.

Thereafter, it was a natural progression from detective to prison! We did a tour of Oxford Castle, which until 1996 was still an HM Prison but whose history goes back to Saxon times.

We were escorted round the old prison by the Governor, who looked in remarkably good shape considering that he was 400 years old!

He obviously recognised a scoundrel when he saw one, because R ended up having his "mug-shot" taken!

We walked into the city centre, admiring the magnificent and historic architecture. We've both been in Oxford before a number of times, it never ceases to enthrall. The "City of Dreaming Spires" has a magic all its own.
Entrance to most colleges is possible in the afternoon and we spent a very interesting hour looking round Trinity, "Alma Mater" of R's brother Chris. We both readily admitted to feeling a trifle envious.

A visit to nearby "Blackwell's" bookshop was irresistible - what an Aladdin's Cave of literary delights. R could quite happily have stayed all night, but M thought it might be wise to get back to MM and sleep in a comfy bed rather than on the hard floor of a bookshop!
Today: Just 3.2 hours to charge the batteries.

Knicker Crisis Averted!

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October, 2012 still in Goring.
We are still stuck in Goring by "Red Boards" on the Thames, and as we are likely to be here for at least a few more days, husbanding our resources has become a priority. We run the engine for a few hours each day to keep the batteries topped up, but we have plenty of diesel so that is not a problem. Water is more of a problem. We are now down to 3/8ths of a tank, which means that we need to keep our use of water to a minimum (to be sure to make it last through at least until Wednesday). It also means that we cannot afford to run the washing machine, which leads to the biggest problem.....
Knickers!!
We are running out of clean undies! So on Saturday morning M packed up all the dirty laundry and went home on the train for the night. She spent the afternoon doing washes and pegging it all out on the line to dry. This time there was no fox sitting in the sunshine, in fact there was little or no sunshine. There were, however, mountains of wet leaves and M spent a couple of hours sweeping them up. This made the garden look a lot neater and (M insists) worked off some of the lovely calories consumed in Pierreponts yesterday.
Back at the boat, R had a relaxing day working on the computer.

On Sunday morning, M left Reigate to take the train back to MM via Reading. As the trains are only hourly on Sunday, this meant she had an hour to wait in Reading for the train to Goring. So R travelled from Goring to meet her in Reading station, where they had a romantic "Brief Encounter", not under the station clock, but in Costa Coffee!  They also did some shopping in the little M&S food store in the station before returning to MM.

Whilst Goring is lovely, we are beginning to get cabin fever and are looking forward to being able to get going again. The lock-keeper confirmed today that the river is dropping slowly. At its peak it was 18 inches above normal and it is now still about 10 inches up. He still reckons that the "Red Boards" are unlikely to go before Tuesday.
Another 6.7 hours to charge the batteries.

"Red Boards" but Pierreponts to the Rescue!

Thursday 18th & Friday 19th October, 2012 still in Goring!
Well, the best laid plans...
Overnight on Wednesday, we had very heavy rain. So loud that it woke R up! The river started to rise and he had to loosen the mooring lines by torchlight in the middle of the night!  By morning, the river had risen by about 18 inches and was flowing very fast. R spoke to the lock-keeper and he said that he had to come down at 3:00am to open all the sluices to prevent the river flooding. The water level was well over the island next to the lock.

As soon as the lock-keepers arrived for the morning shift, they put up the "Red Boards" that mean that boaters are advised not to travel.

One could ignore the boards, but this would invalidate our insurance.
A couple of people did move in larger river cruisers, but it was clear that they were having great difficulty controlling their boats. One of the large rental "Le Boat" cabin cruisers had been moored here for a few days with engine failure and another cruiser arrived to tow her back to their base. The crew hitched on a tow rope and tried to turn round to go downstream but only succeeded in sailing repeatedly into the trees opposite.
M arrived back from Reigate and we went and consoled ourselves with tea at Pierreponts.We were amused to see these gourds for sale there; M observed that they looked decidedly rude!

By Friday morning, the river had dropped a couple of inches by was still far too high and running too fast even to think about trying to move. These photographs give an idea of the change of levels and water speed between Wednesday and Friday.

Faced with at least another day here, we again repaired to Pierreponts for a delicious breakfast of boiled eggs and Marmite soldiers. What a penance!

The lunch menu looked so good that we returned there for a late lunch, which was absolutely first-class and we ended up staying for two hours.  Perhaps it's a very good thing that Pierreponts doesn't open on the weekend or, as M said, we would need a crane to lift us on and off the boat!!
Unfortunately, it also rained a lot on Friday, so there is little chance of being able to leave here tomorrow or even on Sunday. What we need is some dry weather, which is forecast but we are sceptical as the forecast has been rather too optimistic recently - so we shall see.
Ran the engine for 6.9 hours over two days as the battereies were getting low.

A Foxy Day

Tuesday and Wednesday 16th & 17th October in Goring.
Although the moorings in Goring are technically 24 hour moorings, we talked to the lock-keeper and he was happy for us to stay a bit longer as there is very little traffic moving on the river.
So we were up before dawn and R left to catch a train to Guildford for his medical check-up (all OK). Later in the morning, M locked up MM and caught the train back to Reigate as she had an appointment early Wednesday morning and the second rehearsal with the new choir that evening.
Back in Reigate, it was  a lovely sunny day and M was not the only one enjoying the sunshine in the back garden. A very handsome fox was fast asleep under the washing line!

From Guildford, R went on to Liphook to see Peter and then had a very tedious journey back with one train cancelled and the next one 20 minutes late. However, all was not lost, as this afforded him the opportunity to enjoy a Costa Coffee on Reading station while he waited!
On Wednesday, R went into Capture for the day - it's only a five minute walk from the river, so R is able to arrive saying airily "I arrived by boat!" - what a pose!!!!  Meanwhile, back in Reigate, M busied herself with domestics. In the evening the choir rehearsal went well, although M said the new choir still feels rather strange.
M is due to come back to MM early tomorrow morning so that we can resume our progress up the Thames.
5.8 hours running to charge the batteries over the two days.

A Shooting Star - and Breakfast at "Pierreponts"

Monday 15th October, 2012 in Goring.
Last night, we walked up to the "Miller" in Goring village and joined Abbie and Dave for coffee after their dinner with Jenny and Phil. It was so nice to see them again and we stayed chatting until way past our bed-time. On our way walking back to MM in the dark, the stars were really bright and you could even (just) see the Milky Way. As we were marvelling at the skies above, a huge shooting star streaked across the sky leaving a trail of sparks behind it. It lasted much longer than most shooting stars - perhaps it was "space debris," who knows.
Back on MM, we noticed that on 14th October last year we arrived in Goring and moored up on our way to Guildford just four days after MM was launched, having done 16 hours' travel. Today, we arrived in Goring, exactly one year to the day later, having done 435.8 hours' travel!!  By pure coincidence, we saw we had even moored in exactly the same spot.  Extraordinary!

14th October, 2011 at Goring

What a wonderful year separates Goring on 14th October 2012 from Goring on 14th October 2011!

14th October, 2012 in exactly the same place!

Today started very well with breakfast at "Pierreponts" in the village. We both had boiled eggs (which arrive wearing little egg-cosies) with Marmite soldiers - delicious! They also make the best cappucino in England (at least, it's R's favourite).

The pretty little cafe was, predictably, full of happy folk starting their day with excellent food and drinks. Pierreponts only opens for breakfast and lunch and, looking at the menu on the wall, M declared that she wanted to work her way down it from top to bottom!

While we were there, two small groups of children arrived from the local primary school. They were doing a project to learn about local businesses - and their "research" at Pierreponts involved drinking hot chocolate and eating cup cakes. We wish that school had been that much fun in our day!
Later in the day, we called in to Capture to say Hi and then bought just a "few bits" in the village. We walked back to MM past Goring lock. The "Red Boards" have gone, but the river is still running very quickly - at between two and three miles an hour.

In the afternoon, Jenny and Phil came to MM for a visit, tea and cakes. They have lived all their lives in the village but have never been much involved with the Thames and we don't think that they had ever been on a narrowboat before; they seemed very impressed by MM.

Later still, Clare and John from Capture also popped in after work and had a glass of wine with us. It was very nice to welcome them for the first time.
When we arrived here yesterday, there was only one other boat moored up here; it seemed to be deserted so was probably abandoned here due to the "Red Boards." However, by the end of today there were a few other "gin palaces" moored up, plus one, rather scruffy, narrowboat.
Today: Just 2.9 hours to charge the batteries.

 

To Goring with Jim and Karen of nb "Ruffian"

Sunday, 15th October, 2012 at Goring.
We awoke to a heavy mist on the river, so thick that you could hardly see the opposite bank. Apparently there was a touch of frost last night.

The mist soon cleared as the sun came up on a peerless morning with clear blue skies.

While M was having her second cup of tea, she noticed that we were being photographed against the back-drop of the mist and then realised, to her delight, that it was Jim from nb "Ruffian" taking the photo. We both went out on to the rear deck (still in our dressing gowns!) to say hello. It was so nice to see him again and we arranged that he and Karen would come round for coffee later in the morning.

Soon after, the "African Queen" trip boat came by and turned round right next to us in the middle of the river.  There was no sign of Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn, though!

In due course, Jim and Karen arrived for coffee and we all agreed that we would go up as far as Goring together later in the day.

We were planning to moor up at Goring and they are planning to go on to Wallingford. However, we also agreed to try to meet up in Abingdon on Saturday for dinner in the evening.
At lunchtime both boats set off through the lock at Pangbourne.  Jim and Karen have repainted "Ruffie's" bow and she looks very smart.

Pangbourne lock was on "Self Service" and the notice said "Stream Decreasing" but despite this, the river was still running very quickly so progress was quite slow.

The views through the "Goring Gap" are beautiful with the backdrop of the hills and the trees just beginning to take on their autumn colours. We could see "Ruffie" behind us, coming round the bend in the river.

M particularly loves the railway bridges with their splendid curved brickwork and to see the sun reflecting on to them.

At Goring, we waved goodbye to Jim and Karen, who carried on upstream.  We moored up (with some difficulty due to the speed of the river's flow).

Later, we went to speak to the lock-keeper as we want to stay for a few days here and it is technically only a 24-hour mooring. He was very relaxed about it since there are so few boats moving at this time of year and because of all the Red Boards.
Today: 4 miles, 1 lock and 2.9 hours.
Trip: 313 miles, 315 locks and 281.9 hours (435.8 total).

Debbie and Adrian visit for the day.

Saturday 13th October, 2012 at Pangbourne on the Thames.
For some months we have been trying to arrange a date for Debbie and Adrian to come and join us on MM. At M's choir "Auction of Promises" last year, they had "bought"a four-day "Cunard-style" trip on MM - and paid a small fortune for it! The continuous poor weather over the summer, combined with busy diaries, had frustrated all efforts to arrange a date. So we all decided to hold over the four day trip until next spring and, to lessen the disappointment, we arranged for them to come for the day today for a "taster."
They arrived by train early in the morning and we walked up to meet them at Reading station.

One reason for choosing today had been that the weather forecast was excellent; sun and clear skies all day. The weather forecast lied! No sooner had we started off than the heavens opened and it rained hard on and off all day.

Despite the rain, we had a great day.  After mid-morning coffee, we took them up through the Oracle shopping centre and through Town lock with its traffic lights, where we turned and came back through the centre. Then we went through Blake's lock and finally out on to the river Thames. Hooray!

Both Debbie and Adrian took their turn on the tiller and, as most of the locks were on "self-service", they also had an opportunity to work the big hydraulic locks on the Thames. Adrian took lots of pictures with his (new) camera!

At least the sun did come out occasionally between the showers!

The Thames was still running very fast, so progress was much slower than normal; as we approached Pangbourne, it was clear that we needed to moor up fairly soon before it got dark. We moored just before the lock and were delighted to see nb "Ruffian" was moored there too. The last time we saw Karen and Jim had been in Bedwyn on the K&A weeks ago.
Debbie and Adrian needed to catch a train back to Redhill, so we walked into Pangbourne and had an excellent dinner at "The Elephant" before walking them to the station to catch their train home.  They said how much they had enjoyed the day and how they were looking forward to their four-day trip next year - so are we!!!
Today: 9 miles, 5 locks and 4.9 hours.
Trip: 309 mies, 314 locks and 279.0 hours (432.9 total).