To Shifford Lock and Back to Eynsham.

 Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th August at Eynsham.

We awoke on Monday morning to the sight of a wild flower garden flourishing on the river bank outside our windows. Lots of willowherb.

As we went further upstream, the river became narrower and twistier. Having not seen another boat for ages, two boats passed us going in opposite directions!

Having got as far as Shifford Lock, we decided to turn around as neither wind nor weather were favourable and the river seemed barely wider than the Wey!

Back at Newbridge, we went under the Gothic arch.

Just past Newbridge is an unusual wedding venue with a double decker bus, large tent, teepee, shepherds' hut and a small narrowboat (all for camping purposes) as well as a regular campsite. It must be great fun to hold a wedding here.

On our way upstream, we had seen this mooring but it had been occupied. Now it was empty, so we moored up and got the chairs out. We spent much of the afternoon reading our books in the sunshine - something we have hardly ever done in ten years of cruising (and something we should make the time to do more of).

R had a sleep later and M went for a walk along the Thames Path through the gate into the next field.

The border between the field and the river was a riot of wildflowers, full of colour. This was a mix of purple and yellow loosestrifes and willowherb.

At the far end of this large field, it felt very remote with just the river winding by but no sign of civilisation or habitation in any direction. Such a contrast with the busy Lower Thames south of Oxford.

The sun set through the trees behind MM.

On Tuesday morning we set off back towards Eynsham.

Just before Pinkhill Lock, we moored up close to the large Farmoor Reservoir and sat out in the sunshine until it started to rain.

Later, we walked up to the edge of the reservoir, which looked to be several feet below its normal level. The Country Path runs along this side of the Thames. The Thames Path runs along the other bank.

Pinkhill Lock also has an impressive display of hollyhocks. We met the Pinkhill lockkeeper at Northwood lock doing some training there. He assured us that his Hollyhocks at Pinkhill were much bigger and better than the ones at Northwood!

Finally, we arrived back at Eynsham and R spun MM around to moor up beside Grayling.

Tomorrow, we will catch the bus into Oxford so that M can go home for the weekend and R can go North to help Christine with her water supply problems. R should be back on MM on Monday to continue up the Oxford Canal.

Two Days: 9 miles, 2 locks and 3.4 hours.

Trip: 419 miles, 219 locks and 207.5 hours.