Thursday, 26 March 2009

Abingdon to Godstow





Having moored alongside Abingdon Bridge, we began the day (late!) with a shopping trip. We missed the large Waitrose supermarket until a kind local lady escorted us across the town square to make sure we found the way!

By the time we returned to the boat it was time for lunch so it was just after 1 o’clock when we finally set off. It was quite blustery and there were some short, light showers of rain, but nothing to complain about, especially as there were some wonderful sunshine spells.


Eventually, Oxford came into sight and we planned to find one of a couple of mooring spots shown in our guide in the stretch below Godstow. Alas, the banks here are very shallow – so much that there are signs to warn boaters. Neither of the alleged mooring spots proved viable (even if we could have been sure where they were supposed to be!) so we went through Godstow Lock and found a suitable place just before the bridge.


We moored alongside the remains of Godstow Nunnery – said to be the place where Henry the Second met his mistress – for some time this was a rich nunnery, serving the needs of young monks from neighbouring abbeys!

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