This morning we really needed to fill our water tank and empty the waste tank, both tasks becoming increasingly urgent and possibly problematical because of the limited facilities on the Thames.
Fortunately both matters coud be attended to at Abingdon Lock, about quarter of a mile upstream from our mooring. The weather forecast showed further very hot weather so we set off early at 8:15. As the lock keeper was not yet on duty we had to operate the lock ourselves.
Once we had left the lock we had to turn the boat around so the waste tank could easily be emptied from the facilities wharf and filled up with water. The tap was slow and our tank nearly empty so this took about 1 hour to complete. Pumping out the waste was achieved much more quickly and so after a total delay of about 1 hour 30 minutes we were able to turn the boat around again to face up the Thames and continue our journey.
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| In Sandford Lock |
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| Moored near Kenington |
After 3.5 miles (during which I saw my first kingfisher of the holiday) we reached Sandford Lock where I was surprised and pleased to find that we could fit in with a large cruiser and another narrowboat longer than Densie. By this time we were wilting under the uncomfortably hot sun and moored up at 12:10 at the first opportunity near the village of Kennington just outside Oxford.
Three extra details:
Timothy Spall's Dutch barge was moored opposite us at Abingdon.
The fixes made by the RCR engineer yesterday appear to have worked well with the engine running smoothly all journey.
Temperature in boat now at 35, down from 38 earlier in the day.
Daily trip details
Distance: 5.89 miles
Locks: 2
Duration(including water and pumpout): 3 hours 55 minutes
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