April 11th - Thrupp to Godstow

We had agreed with Sean & Debs that we would travel in convoy with them today.  Sean was pacing up the towpath to find us as we arrived.  Had an uneventful trip as far as Dukes Cut - we were to take the Cut onto the Thames whilst Blue Wold was to go through Oxford and join the Thames at Osney (all to do with licences).  We said goodbye and turned right - then it got interesting.  The stop lock in Dukes Cut was partly obstructed by a sunken boat - with three lads trying to re-float it using a pump. The pipe connected to the pump was full of holes and they hadn't secured the end, so they all got soaked as soon as they turned the pump on!

Having negotiated the boat there is a very twisty section, made difficult as a very strong wind was blowing.  Rounding one bend, a gust blew so hard that everything blew off the top of the boat - including poor Peggy in her basket!   I managed to grab Peggy but her basket blew away into the water.  Unable to stop I suggested we could buy a new one. But that was £30 came the reply!  Stop the boat!  Fortunately round the next bend was a narrowboat moored in the trees.  We asked if we could come alongside and the chap was very helpful, allowing us to recover the basket before it sank!

Turned left onto the Thames, through Kings lock and we moored up next to Godstow Nunnery for the night.

 Sunken boat

Godstow Nunnery