End of Tames Navigation.

Newbridge Yesterday evening, it's rural

 Some info about this bridge.

 Morning mist today!

You need to have some consecrations on this section of the river, from one bend to next.

 Tadpole Bridge

 Some boats one the move to day.

 This chap fish for crayfish remember they did that also for 6 years ago so the catch have to be good for the back pocket.

 Not all locks on the upper Thames have lock keepers, but such easy doing.

 Paddle wheel is so easy to do.

 You can see a boat right over the field, and yes another bend in the river.

 Lechlade church in distance, only few bends more to do.

 This is a ( pill box ) was build under the second world war. Defends of the transport route.

 And this is the end of navigable river Thames. Did a turn here, its half a mile past Lechlade Bridge.

 Riverside pub

 On the way back under the Bridge at Lechlade

 On the river is best to moor against the flow, so did turn around before moored up

Done all of river Thames I had planed do, so can now chill out here few days, still plenty of time left on my one month licence.

Will explore surrounding aria tomorrow.

Since I left Brentford I have done 128 miles ( 204.8  km ) and 46 Locks

Happy Days!

Abingdon to NewBridge

Yesterday Morning I got up before 7, because weather was in change i wanted to have a long day cruise.

First thing  prep a beef stew, I cooked in the oven on the way.

I like to have this as well, only make them 40 minutes before serving mmmm nice.

 Could see and feel the hot spell was on return. Become some scaterd sunshine later in the day.

 This trip boat goes from Oxford to Abingdon and return.

 Flying swan

 Sandford lock 8 foot 10" last massive lock on the Thames.

 Tames start to change when getting closer to Oxford

 Are we still in the UK or

 The bridges getting lower

 At this point past Osney lock, all the big floating Gin palaces are a saga blot.

 Osney Bridge

 If you cruise under this bridge you get on to the Oxford canal.

 Start of the water meadows, do not get fooled of the width, its very shallow at the water edges, so stay in the centre of the river.

 Godstow Bridge

 Past this bend a hire boat had gone inside of marking ( Shallow water) and got proper stuck, I tried my best to drag the boat of but had to give up in the end. So I cruised up to Kings lock and spoke to another boat crew and they would have a go as well. But most likely the hire's had to phone the hire company and get rescue from them. They had driven the boat far away in to the shallows.

 After Swindord the Upper Thames start to get more narrow,
like river Soar I did few weeks ago.

  Meandering through meadowland

Arrived at Newbridge 5 pm  
Its two pubs, one each side of the bridge, a water centre you can hire rowing boats and small electric one's etc. Some permanent mooring's and a good stretch visitors mooring ( 4 £ pr night ) . The nearest village is a mile away.

Upper Thames is very isolated and rural stretch of river, meandering through meadowland and having little contact with civilisation.

Yesterday cruise was of 22 miles and 9 Locks

Happy days!

Goring to Abingdon

Sunday Morning it was clear sky and a lovely morning I did a little cruise up to Shillingsford and moored up by 1 pm. And was so hot in the sun so what is better then to do and proper clean  outside and then inside as well. I think i lost few litre of water then.

After I moored up, a man from the next boat told me he was really impressed about my boat handling when mooring up, its the four't person lately some told me this. Well after 6 years boating it would been worse if not you get good at it, but was nice comment to hear from a fellow boater.

 On the river Thames all the lock I have been true, are maned by lock keepers, its so easy going.
What is better to give some kindness back so I started to give a bar of Crunchy Oats & Honey to the lock keepers, have now changed to a bar of chocolate it seems like the winner.

 Lovely view

 Wallingford Bridge, was loads of people swimming in the river.

 Shillingsford Bridge where I am moored overnight.

Bank holiday Monday Morning I set of at 8 am.

 Look like it would get really warm day.

 Nice to see some other steel boats.

 A bridge on the way 😄

 Abingdon

 Some art photo.

Moored up on this nice spot bye 12.30

Cheers it's Bank holiday weekend.

Happy days!