Date - 29 April 7 Day - Sunday Start - Abingdon 0930 End - Beale Park 1800 We set off at 9-30 on a very quiet river, when we arrived at Cleave Lock it was deserted and its none electric, so I started cranking the handle, I decided that one paddle would be OK and I would wait for the lock to fill. I didn't have to wait long because the keeper appeared with his bun and mug of tea in hand and took over with the power on. Below Clifton lock we turned hard right up the weir stream for about half a mile to The Plough at Long Wittenham where we had Sunday Lunch. It proved an interesting stop as they had an international fete on in the pub garden where we tried Norwegian cheese that is dark brown and made with a mixture of cows and goats milk, Norwegian rice pudding and French waffles. If the timing is right we tend to overnight at the pub on our way back. After lunch it was back down the Thames, we met one or two nice barges but there was very little about for a Sunday afternoon on the Thames. We continued down until 6 o'clock when we decided to moor for the night on the Beale Park 24 hour moorings about a mile before Whitchurch Lock. The stretch of the Thames that we have done today is similar to the South Oxford canal, but instead of the Wormleighton radio mast you see the Didcot power station at every conceivable angle for half the day. -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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