Lechlade, head of navigation

On Thursday morning James and I have a walk up to the reservoir.  It is difficult to convey the size in a photo but it is 4 miles in circumference so a lot of water.

Leaving my mooring on Friday morning, where I needed to use the plank to get onto the bank.  I am not keen on it's use as James is a wimp and will not use it so I have to carry him off and on.  It's OK going up but I am not keen on going down while carrying him.

Most of the locks have very nice cottages and many of them are still occupied by the local lock-keeper.  The size of the houses show the importance with which the keepers were regarded.

I am very surprised by the lack of good moorings - at least for a narrowboat, without having to use the plank.  I end up going all the way to Lechlade, the limit of navigation

Father Thames at St John's lock, just below Lechlade

And the very pretty gardens - all of the lock grounds are very attractive and well kept

Very pleasant moorings (at £4 per night) and a huge field for James to tear about in.  The only problem is the large herd of young and very inquisitive cows who have a liking for chewing ropes (and anything else available) - they seem to enjoy waking up boaters at 6 in the morning!

View from the bridge - my boat moored in the distance

Ha'penny bridge at Lechlade, built in 1792 and named after the toll which used to be payable.  The toll house is the square building on the right.

The very popular waterfront

Having stocked up at the butchers and village stores on Saturday, I intended to move on, on Sunday, but James' eye problem has returned.  Although I still have the eye drops there is no way he will let me put them in, so a trip to the vets on Monday morning.  He prescribes a week's supply of antibiotic tablets and I decide to stay put another couple of days to make sure they are effective, as there are no towns near the river between here and Oxford.

Dawn - after being woken up by the cows.

The Round House marks the upper end of navigation on the Thames. It was one of a number of such roundhouses built for the canal lock keepers, with accommodation above and stabling for horses below.  To the right of the building is the entrance to the Thames and Severn Canal. This canal linked the Thames to the Stroudwater Navigation at Wallbridge, near Stroud, and thence to the Gloucester Canal and River Severn.  It was closed in 1933 but the Cotswold Canal Trust has a major restoration project in hand, mainly towards the western end.

Thursday

6 miles; 1 large lock

Friday

16 miles; 6 large locks 

 

TOTAL:  386 miles; 222 locks (58 broad; 16 large; 7 lift bridges)