Narrowboat Tacet

Silent Movement - Our gap year travelling the inland waterways



Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Out of Oxford

Monday
We have had a quiet few days in Oxford over the weekend.  We did a lot of sightseeing on our last visit here, so this time we have enjoyed eating out, spending time with our son and keeping warm and dry on board.
The weather has been terrible after the lovely Bank Holiday weekend, and the warm layers, gloves, hats and scarves have come back out again.
We moored opposite Christ Church meadow on the river for a couple of nights.
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The river and towpath are busy here, with rowers on the water and their trainers on bikes shouting encouragement and instructions from the bank.
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Yesterday we had a short cruise back down to Iffley with J, stopping for lunch at Iffley Farmhouse, a place of great character, not a huge choice on the menu, but very tasty and generous portions. We turned back in the rain afterwards and stopped again above Osney lock.
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Leaving this morning our first task was negotiating the low Osney bridge,



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taking us behind a terrace of houses and the well kept allotments close to the station.
Soon the lovely open space of Port Meadow was opening up in front of us.
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The blue skies belie the coldness of the day again.  There was quite a chilly wind blowing across the open space.


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Through the first lock at Godstow, and just above are the remains of Nunnery founded in the 12th century.


The river runs its course through isolated and rural surroundings, occasional locks in remote, hidden locations, with a lock-keeper ready to help us through.
We stopped above Northmoor and walked into Appleton where the quiet, pretty village has some attractive old houses, a church and a community shop.
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The fine 13th century stone bridge at Newbridge is one of the oldest on the Thames!


This afternoon the weather got windyer and the river got windier and we got colder as we made our way to Radcot where we stopped for the night.  As we tied up the rain started, and then we were treated to a rainbow across the fields.
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As we have settled by the fire, the wind has begun to drop, but the forecast is not good for tomorrow.  Winter coats back on again then.


Oxford – Radcot: 23 miles, 9 locks

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