A Long Day to Cleeve Lock.

 Monday 7th June 2021 at Cleeve Lock on the Thames.

We always feel a tad reluctant to leave Abingdon. It has everything! A charming town with handsome buildings, beautiful river frontage, lovely moorings... and a Waitrose!

There used to be a canal called the Wilts & Berks that ran from the Thames at Abingdon to near Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal, 52 miles with 42 locks. It closed in 1914 but there is a very active restoration group which has made some progress restoring it.

This was the original junction with the Thames. That route has been blocked by roads and housing.

Half a mile further downstream a new junction has been created, which was opened in 2006 and called the Jubilee Junction. So far it only goes about 150 yards but eventually it will meet up with the historic route. Already there was a boat moored in it - but he will have a long wait to get further!

It would make a wonderful new "ring" to cruise around - but it will be many years before that can happen.

Mel and Peter on "Inkling" have a hatch on either side of their dining table. The perfect place for their cat "Tonic" to sit and watch the world go by. Tonic complains loudly if locked in for long periods then, when the doors are opened refuses to go out. Just like a cat! She does venture out when she feels like it but never goes far from the boat. She is very affectionate and has got more used to us over the last weeks so she will allow us to stroke her now!

We were lucky to find a lovely mooring just below Cleeve Lock. These Environment Agency moorings are not free but the Cleeve lock-keeper had no way to take money, so we promised to pay the lock-keeper at Goring, the next lock, in the morning. (we duly paid!).

The river in this weather has been at its best and the sunsets remarkable.

Today: 17 Miles, 5 Locks and 5.7 hours.

Trip: 153 miles,73 locks and 67.5 hours.