We left just at the right time to land on the water point with no scrum to get there. By the time we were finished there were all ready three boats waiting.
We were soon down Abingdon Lock and passing where we had worked yesterday. This is St. Helen's Wharf and the Brick Alley Alms Houses behind. The pleached limes give the area a continental look.
Looking back at the Brick Alley Alms houses on the right, the five aisle St Helen's Church behind and the Long Alley Alms Houses on the right.
The natural bends of the river have been missed by building cuts to the locks at Culham and Clifton and the route narrows down to more canal size. It shrinks even further at the bridges crossing them, especially when you get a big cruiser coming the other way.
These mark levels that are more like a flood than those at Godstow Lock.
This bridge was built in 1864 to look old to cross the Thames at Clifton Hampden. From here on there were some fantastic houses with massive gardens.
We tried to get alongside above Day's Lock but we couldn't get to the side in the spaces left. We gave 'Ferndale', 'Oakapple' and 'Ewn ha Cul' moored there so we were sorry we had to head off down the lock. Last year we found a mooring not too far down the river and went there again this year. It is just boat sized and we tied up to the trees fore and aft. It is just the right height to step off from the roof, so not too bad at all, and Macy Cat likes it too.
The walk into Dorchester was only about 20 mins and the weather had faired up too. This is the Toll House. It was built 1820 when the bridge over the River Thame was completed. Tolls were abandoned in 1873.
This cute little crooked cottage is next to the church yard of Dorchester Abbey.
This is the Jesse Window. The stone work grows out of the body at the bottom and then there are figures carved on the branches. It is unique and is designed to show the family tree to connect King David and Jesus. The Abbey makes a great performance space now and many of the pews were moved for a concert by the Oxford Youth Orchestra.
The village of Dorchester is frequently used for filming programmes like 'Midsommer Murders' 'Poirot' and 'Miss Marple. You can see why as there are lots of beautiful buildings that would be very televisual. This is one of the many coaching inns in the town, now a private home.
The War Memorial and cottage in the village. It was quite atmospheric on this the 100th anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme when 19240 British Soldiers were killed.
Dorchester High Street would be something with no cars parked. The Old College Building on the left housed a Missionary Cottage in 1878. The black and white building next to it was the home of the Vice Principal and Chaplin. Both buildings were built by Sir George Gilbert Scott. After our walk around the village we repaired to the George Hotel and lo and behold there were the crews of 'Ferndale' (Diane and Ray), 'Ewn ha Cull' (Dot and Gordon) and 'Oakapple' (Sharon and I have forgotten the name of the main man I am very sorry. I think 5 out of 6 is very good for me though). We had met them at the Abbey and arranged to meet up later really.
From the village we walked back to Day's Lock via Dyke Hills. These are Iron Age earth works that protected a settlement on this side of the river. There are several other Iron Age features in the landscape around too. There was also a Roman Town here.
We walked over the foot bridge crossing the lock cut, and then the one over the actual river as this is the site of the annual Pooh Sticks Championship. (At least I hope we got the right bridge).
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