After several days waiting, suddenly we are 'all go' again and have finally reached the Thames. On Wednesday Mike phoned to tell us that the second of our long-awaited parcels had arrived at Aynho Wharf, just as we were about ten minutes away – what timing! Dave spent much of the rest of that day checking the tools order, stowing it away and packing up items that customers were waiting for. Then under way to the edge of Oxford the next day and down into the city on Friday to send off the parcels, pick up our mail and do a little shopping before venturing out onto the River Thames for the first time.
How different it is! Wide open expanses of water north of Oxford, cruising upstream against the flow, being 'waited on' with lock-keepers doing all the work . . . and all with strong winds, though very little rain!
The pictures show another boat entering Isis Lock from the Oxford Canal to the Thames, and the after-sunset glow over the flat calm of our Saturday-night mooring above Rushey Lock.
