Another Victim...

The Abingdon Crocodile



Dead Pantomime Horse

Can I eat it?



Comfy Chaps

Thames Doggy

Not something you see every day

The chap swimming in front of the giant pink inflatable dog is doing the length of the Thames to raise money and awareness for Stem Cell research. Good luck to him. Swimming in the Thames is not something I would attempt personally though. We know what happens to the contents of the 'people who overstay' cassette toilets. Splosh.

But having just read a book on the subject ("Downstream") I find freeswimming (and it's associated historical perspective) very interesting. Especially how many of it's female champions and medal winners have been completely airbrushed out of history (hint: all of them). He's attempting to swim right down to Tower Bridge. Where presumably, the PLA won't let him go any further. If you've even a remotely passing interest in the subject, the book "Downstream" is highly recommended (though it can be a bit 'dry' in places... Paradoxically).

Sorry for the lack of blogging recently. We've been enjoying the summer and watching Little Olly grow up. Met some nice people. But seen an increase in the number of rude, grumpy idiots too. This occasionally sours the joy of living on the river. The beauty of it is though, we can pull the pins and bugger off out into the wild.

Pants on Fire

"We're going to Oxford", said the narrowboat who we let go first out of Culham lock. Only for us to discover them tied up in Abingdon an hour later. My trouble is that I'm too nice. And far too gullible. Still, they'd only have passed us at full steam ahead in their rush to get a place there. So at least we avoided their foot high bow wave and enjoyed our own leisurely bimble, at our own pace. We saw 4 kingfishers, a deer, and two dragonflies. They probably saw bugger all, because it was all going by in a blur.

Still avoiding the summer hordes.
Mooring fees paid: 0 pence.
Generators on towpath: 0

Our journey downstream to Hampton Court and back to Bourne End consumed a grand total of 40 litres of diesel. We ran the engine for an hour a day when we didn't move, too. I am quite happy with our slow pace and economical fuel usage.

Runsford Hole

It is still very busy on these reaches, with more narrowboats, widebeams and dutch barges than we've ever seen. Though we have been lucky, and found ourselves a nice couple of delightfully quiet corners to tuck ourselves up in. The cooler, grey, slightly overcast and pizzly weather that we've been experiencing has been some kind of blessing. It's kept the bug count down, and we haven't overheated indoors. Cruising with a slight breeze has also been very pleasant. More comfortable than being scorched every day, for sure (not that I mind that, occasionally). So far, we haven't had to put up with any generators. No noisy neighbours. Nobody has banged on the roof for money. The dog walks have been great. We are all feeling pretty good..

Beale Park

Olly has discovered that his little legs are now long enough to climb up onto the King seat...

Olly is Comfy

Sheena snapped these this afternoon..
A young doe and stag, swimming across the river to a nature reserve...

Tiller Time

I cruised through Henley with bare feet *and* logs on the roof. It's been ridiculously busy and we have had to put in quite a few extra hours at the tiller because all of our normal resting spots have been occupied. We're currently at Reading, aiming for the peace and quiet of Beale park tonight. Then eventually up past Osney bridge, where we can leave the massive speeding boats and their foot high bow waves behind. I guess more people are staying at home this year. For obvious reasons.

Bad Olly

The guys @ Hampton Court

We all enjoyed Cliveden woods

Hurley Reach



Madness at Hambledon Lock

Too many Geese @ Henley

Jazzband with Tuba and Trombone