No Change

Things are pretty much the same here. The river level has stopped rising, but it's not going down much, either. The temperature drops below freezing at night, so I'm having to use the heat gun to get the hatch shut. But, apart from that, everything else is fine.

Now he's used to it, Sumo seems quite at home, scuttling up and down our "it's a knockout" obstacle course to get on and off the boat. Let's hope Sheena feels the same way. :)

Yesterday, she said "it doesn't look very deep". But when you're suspended over it, negotiating the planks, things look very different indeed.

Here's mister, making the most of the king seat. Neither of us get a look-in, when Sheena's onboard.

Even more water

Level still rising.. It's come up another few inches overnight.

Richie built us this bridge, so that I wouldn't get soaked every time I went out. Sumo was a bit unsure of it all, at first. But I think the urgent need for a pee overrode that. I still have to hoist him on and off it, but that's what his carry harness is for. So far today, I have dry feet. Which is a definite bonus. Thanks Rich!

Hooray!

No rain today. All windows and doors can be opened, to get some ventilation through the boat. Sheena is due back on friday, with a pair of wellies for herself, and some dry socks for me.

We've risen another couple of inches overnight, though our rate of ascent does seem to have slowed down now.

Henley looks pretty much the same, though the levels at Abingdon are allegedly dropping.

More Water

Yep, It's rained all day again. Not in big chunks, but a chilly windblown unremitting pizzle, which is quite miserable and demoralising to be out in. So we stayed put, and bunged another log on the fire. The river level has risen overnight, and from reports of the weather upstream, it'll continue to rise even further than this. The speed of the stream is currently "whizzing along". I guess, about 12 knots. Maybe faster. Impressive in it's ferocity and relentlessness.

Sumo has to jump off the end of the gangplank, and then swim for it. Thankfully, he seems to enjoy it. Though it's not such a barrel of laughs, when a dripping soaked dog is standing in the saloon, shaking himself. We can't go out for our usual walks, because the riverside paths are all flooded over (and i don't have any waders). But we are coping well enough. A big stash of wood and coal has definitely helped.

Not a very good day to be pulling out the leisure batteries to examine their electrolyte levels. They're settling at 12.74v now (down from 12.85v in the summer). Hoping for a dry day for that, sometime soon. Ha!

This was the situation in Henley, at 9:32am this morning..

Wet.

Full Flood

It's official. The Thames is now in 'Full Flood'. Looking out of the back door told me that, as it's come up another couple of feet today. But at least I know now that it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets any better.

Here's a picture of Abingdon meadows, from the bridge..

And that little lot is all coming our way... soon...
"Oh Dear, Oh Dear", as Roger the lock keeper says.

(pic courtesy of Tim Lewis via the CWDF).

Could be worse..

Still rising. According to the towpath telegraph, the meadows at Abingdon are completely submerged now, so I'm glad we're not stuck up there again. Things could be a lot worse than they currently are. There's not much of a bright side at the moment, but I'm continuing to look for it.

The lads at the marina knocked us up this nifty plank, so that mister can still get on and off the boat, without being hoisted in his harness. Cheers guys..

Still Rising

There was a look of complete doggy surprise when we went out this morning. Normally, we have to step down to get onto the boat. As there's only a couple of inches left to go, before the river breaches the edge, I'm hoping we can move to the service jetty tomorrow. It's a floating pontoon, and we'll be safer there.