05-30 Eynsham Lock on river Thames

Saturday 30th May: Dry and bright with prolonged sunny spells, though it was hardly warm with a cool breeze and it clouded up in the evening; but at least it was a much better day than yesterday.  Up and away reasonably early and soon encountered our first obstacle of the day, a lift bridge and sign proclaiming that we are entering Oxford.  Bridie sets off with a windlass rather than a CRT key at first but even with correct key finds the mechanism rather stubborn and is unable to unlock it, so I have a go and after a short fight it gives in!  Once through this bridge, the water point is just beyond the old railway bridge with permit holder moorings on either side.  We stop and replenish the tank and it takes some time as the water pressure is low and so is the tank! A cup of coffee is called for while we wait.   Then on just a few hundred yards to the last of the Oxford canal locks where we turn right onto Dukes cut and enter Dukes lock to get onto the Thames.

A very pleasant cruise up river to Eynsham Lock where we manage to arrive at almost exactly 1pm just as the lock keeper is going off duty and the lock goes onto "Self Service".  However we establish that we could moor on the lock landing for 24 hours, so we drifted back, moored up and had lunch.

After 2pm we went to the office and paid £191.50 for a months visitor licence to make us legal for cruising the Thames.  That done and after a quick dog walk, Bridie and I walked over Swinford Bridge into Eynsham for a short explore

and a quick Co-op shop.   Called in at The Talbot by the old Eynsham wharf for refreshments on the way back (the bags were heavy and we needed a break!). Sat outside and watched Jackdaws flying into the Dove box feeding their young.

Once unpacked we had another cup of tea and then went for a walk up the Thames path beyond Swinford Bridge with the dogs.  We walked through a meadow full of buttercups, clover, yellow rattle and little alison

and then returned under Swinford Bridge again.

While Bridie slaved away in the galley I sat outside with the dogs and a G&T listening to the water over the weir and watched the last boat movement of the day, an EA launch arriving back up river.