As you probably already figured out, I’ve been writing these last few blog posts long after returning to Canada. It’s been a very busy time for us so producing posts hasn’t been a huge priority. I now have a bit more time on my hands, more or less waiting for snow to fly and the ski season to start.

So, in that vein, here is the final set of pictures and adventures for my 2024 canal boating season in the UK. I was now on my own, Rianne and the boys (and all my other visitors) having left and all that remained was to get the boat to its winter moorings. I had been thinking all summer about where to put up the boat but finally decided on Debdale Wharf Marina. This was the same marina that Cool Change had spent her first winter in 2018-19 so I was pretty sure it would work out. There are very few locations in the country that provide hard standing for narrowboats. Debdale has seen that need and is expanding the space dedicated to it, as well as providing all the related services such as winterizing.

The trip from Goring (where Rianne left me) to Oxford (where you leave the Thames and return to actual canals) is a beautiful stretch. One of the spots I remembered well was Abingdon. I had moored here in 2018 on a VERY hot day, this year it was cooler but I was in nearly the exact same spot. You can see how hot and dry it was back then by the grass.

An interesting thing happened on my way from Goring to Abingdon. The evening that Rianne left I saw some row boats going by, getting ready to go into the nearby lock. They were a classic Thames boat, two rowers and a coxswain. In this case many were all dressed in old English clothing (if you know what I mean). Actually, to be totally honest, they were being towed upstream and only rowed the last bit into the lock. I didn’t find out what it was about until the next day…

A couple of locks upstream the next morning there was a delay getting in. Another boater told me there were swans in the lock and they were undertaking the traditional activity called Swan upping. It’s done once a year on the Thames by The Worshipful Company of Vintners and of Dyers, and the Crown. This started in the 12th century, culminating now in the yearly process of capturing, checking the health, measuring, and banding the Mute Swans between Richmond and Abingdon. This ‘officially’ apportions the ownership between those three groups (as the crown owns all other swans in the county apparently). It’s a bit of an event, I had people all along asking if they were coming behind me (I had seemingly passed them at lunch time when they stopped at a pub, of course).

When I tied up in Abingdon I had forgotten about the whole thing. I was sitting having a relaxing drink when my boat started rocking, there was banging on the hull, and someone stuck their head in my front door and asked if they could tie up to my boat! I looked out and they had trapped several swans (and a Canada Goose) against the hull of Cool Change and were busy weighing them etc. It was all quite exciting and interesting! The large crowd was a bit frustrated that they couldn’t see much behind my boat but I had a front row seat.

The next morning I headed off, going through Abingdon Lock which is quite well known for it’s signage:

From Abingdon it was an easy couple of days up the river to Oxford, with some beautiful homes and sights along the way…

This bridge is the infamous t**t filter, it is too low for the expensive, fibreglass river cruisers, only canal boats can get under it. From here it’s back on the safe and easy narrow canals. Hand-worked locks and gates, easy mooring, and lovely countryside.

This lock is an odd hexagonal shape, very wide between the gates. It moves more water than a regular lock, but I have no idea what advantage this is.

Continuing up the Oxford Canal, I passed through Banbury and the very old and famous Tooley Boatyard, still operating since about 1790. It is now completely surrounded by a modern shopping centre but retains it’s charm (and usefulness).

I soon arrived at the Foxton Locks, two staircases of 5 locks each. The view when exiting the first one always gives me a bit of a start since you just can’t see any water ahead!

During my cruise from Goring to the winter mooring site of Debdale Marina, I found a seat sale for the flight home but only if I left on a certain day. So I didn’t spare any time, and with the usual good luck that has followed me all summer I booked in and caught the cheaper flight the next day.

And, keeping with tradition, I knew I was coming back to Canada shortly after boarding the flight.

I think I’ll add one more post before the ski season starts, even though it won’t be a narrowboat adventure. Camping and an epic road trip just have to be immortalised.