Today we made it onto the Thames – instead of joining from the end of the Oxford canal, this time we took the turn down Duke’s cut.

The turn off is a little overgrown and an uninspiring start, and some rather derelict looking boats moored up (or not, in the case of one we found adrift!)

but it soon opens out into some lovely river scenery with meadows full of buttercups alongside.

We were happily suprised to find a lock keeper at King’s lock, having thought it wasn’t manned, and for the bargain price of some  of Rosemary’s superb chocolate cake, she did all the hard work for us. She also sorted out our EA Thames seve day licence (though that cost us a bit more than just cake!) and then we were ready to go.

The next lock at Godstow was unmanned (one lock keeper manges both, so one or other will always be unmanned), so we had to go self-service. ‘Lancer’ had follows us from King’s lock so we went through together, and had great fun working out what buttons to press, and in what order.

After a lovely journey down through port meadow, under Osney bridge and the Botley road that we so often pass over in the car, we moored up for some dinner, and Barry joined us before taking Rosemary home.

It will feel strange tommorrow just being the two of us once more.