Downstream

With Mike now showing signs of developing the cold which has been plaguing Christine for the past couple of weeks, we first went into Lechlade for a little more shopping. The market square is surrounded by a number of interesting older buildings, including the old vicarage.

The butcher's shop had been recommended and we bought a small chicken - on the basis that Alice will appreciate it when she joins us tomorrow.

We also took a look at the marina - the guide suggested a full service boatyard but, apart from a few very disorganised facilities, it is almost non-existent. Certainly no fuel sales and only a few random paint tins! So neither objective could be fulfilled.

We eventually set off and completed the short distance up to the Round House at Inglesham where the Thames and Severn Canal once joined the River Thames. One day it may be restored to navigation.

The journey back down, under Lechlade Bridge with its one-time Halfpenny Toll building, continued uneventfully. The weather was not over-kind, with some rain, at times quite hard, but also with sunny spells in between.

We had time to look at the scenery - Christine was particularly fascinated by shapes: a pollarded tree stump, the many world war two pill boxes at each major bend in the river, and a tree where the rooks were busy building their nests.

We had planned to go as far as Newbridge and take an extra day's licence but a couple of lock keepers indicated that the next step would be to a fifteen day licence so we pressed on to reach below Eynsham Lock - the last before we turn off into Duke's Cut. Taking advantage of the now much lighter evenings, we finally moored below the lock well after eight o'clock!