Thursday 31 August 2006
Beale Park to Long Wittenham
Mike, Wendy, Tilly, Mandy
When the swing bridge opened, just before 10:00, we left the lake just ahead
of Guy & Connie on "Virgo", but we found a long queue below Goring lock and
got separated from them. Below Cleeve lock the queue was longer than the
lay-by and I had to hover in mid-river, juggling wind (strong & variable)
and current. We'd planned to take on water at the water point above the
lock, but several boats were queuing for that, so we decided to go on. We
needed a pump-out, so could fulfil both needs at Benson Waterfront boatyard,
which we did.
We wondered whether to moor at the pub at Shillingford or to go up the
Clifton weir stream to Little Wittenham. The only free mooring at
Shillingford was reserved for a hotel boat so we went on, which turned out
to be a good thing, as we later discovered that those moorings cost £8 per
night for anything longer than 30ft.
Up the Clifton weir stream, when we came to the moorings at "The Plough",
they were full up with two large cruisers, so we went a little further to
wind. As we came back the larger of the two cruisers was just setting off
and we managed to squeeze into the space they left, with the back end of the
boat in a willow tree. The chap from the other cruiser helped us moor,
which we did with several ropes to prevent the current of the weir stream
taking us back further into the tree.
A little later we were joined by John & Margaret on "Ernest"(not that one,
the other one) who moored outboard of us. We sat in our respective
well-decks drinking wine, then John & Wendy went on a reconnaissance to the
pub. The other cruiser moved off at some stage. John & Wendy brought back
a good report of the pub, so we had dinner there - very good.
I was due to go to London the next morning, so asked in the pub if they
could give me the number of a mini-cab firm to go to Didcot station, but the
pub landlady said she was going into Didcot and would be happy to take me.
DAY'S RUN 17.9 miles, 4 locks in 3 hrs 45 min
Friday 1 to Sunday 3 September 2006
stationary at Long Wittenham
Wendy, cats Tilly & Mandy (Mike coming and going)
I went off to London as planned on Friday morning. Wendy looked for a
newsagent in the village but there wasn't one. I came back that evening but
quite late and we were too tired to eat. Next day Wendy asked the pub if
they minded us staying for a few days. They said that was fine as long as
we ate in the pub at least once a day. I went back to London on Saturday
evening. On Sunday Wendy walked to Clifton Hampden looking for a newspaper
and a Radio Times, but missed the shop's Sunday opening hours. She lunched
at the pub. I came back at about 20:00 and we had another good meal at the
pub.
--
Mike Stevens
narrowboat Felis Catus III - about to head for Abingdon
web-site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
No man is an island. So is Man.
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