A sad and soggy goodbye to the Thames

Tuesday: 10.5 miles and 2 locks.
Wednesday: 8 miles and 6 locks

We had a very good but rather pricey meal at the Trout. In the morning there was drizzly rain on and off under low clouds. We stopped to walk Scooby at our emergency hailstorm stopping place and then went on to moor under the reservoir, also where we had stopped on the way up. The Dukes Cut and the Oxford are within striking distance from here. Robin fished (hoping for a last chubb while on the river) and we went for a long walk in the evening, in more light drizzle.

The weather forecast for Wednesday was dire. However, when we got up it wasn't actually raining hard so we decided to go for it. Robin got his Musto on and felt ready for anything. At Eynsham lock the divers were in fixing the bottom gate paddles and we had to wait about 45 minutes. Long enough for the rain to start in earnest.

Eynsham lock in the rain.

The river began to widen and the rain came down so that our last view of the Thames was a rather sad and soggy one.

A soggy man

The soggy river

A last look back at the Thames.

Then we were back in WP land on the Dukes Cut; the shallow flood lock at the end our first reminder of the narrow canal and locks to come. A left turn to the North and we were back on the Oxford and on our way to Thrupp.

Coming out of Dukes lock. How teeny tiny it all is!

We found a 7 day spot at Thrupp. Robin (and Scooby) will stay here and potter while Jo goes home for a few days. There is a nice pub and very good tearoom so he'll be alright!  

Thrupp - when we were last here is was gloriously sunny and we sat on the bank in the evening and drank wine.