Narrowboat AREandARE

From the 2009 & 2010 tantalising tales, traumas and stunning photographs of Barry (photographer) and Sandra (writer) from New Zealand aboard NB 'Northern Pride', to the stories of their 2013 return journey, purchase of 'AREandARE', progress on sustaining their live aboard continuous cruiser lifestyle, and Barry's quest to gain residency and 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' in UK ...

Monday 26 July 2010

A leisurely cruise to Lechlade where Kim will join us

We left Radcot late morning on Sunday moving to the end of the navigable Thames at Lechlade.  Prior to leaving we were 'treated' to this rather violent display of swan mating ...

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                           The chat up ...                                                     the action ...

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 followed by the gloating performance - who's the man!!  Nature can be so cruel, there was nothing romantic about that courtship

The school holidays have certainly begun with a vengeance; there's noticeably more boats around and along this stretch of the river a number of places alongside where people can camp and/or park their caravan, along with such paraphernalia as their dogs, boats, BBQ's and fishing gear.

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 The school holidays have started - oh joy!

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                 Hire boats moored by The Swan Hotel                         Ducks hitch a ride in the lock

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 Lots of happy people around - England is a glorious place to be when the sun's shining

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 Arriving at lunchtime again so the lock was self service - Sandra had to hold the boat alone

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 The Trout Inn and weir at St John's Lock - scene of yesterday's the folk festival

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 Just the place for relaxing in the sun or shade at St John's Lock

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Everyone lends a hand - it's a large lock cottage here

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 A kayaker takes advantage of the spare lock space      Advertisement for crayfish nets £10.00 

We arrived in Lechlade late in the afternoon, and after travelling as far as we were able to on this part of the Thames (it's another 23 miles to the actual 'source'), turned around and moored up alongside a field full of cows. 

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 Swans, mallards, people and cows - a busy little riverside meadow!

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 The only Environment Agency moorings in Lechlade - but nothing to tie up to!

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 Happy days

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The Canal Trust short trip boat turns around under the weeping willow tree

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The Round House - the last navigable stretch and an abundance of watery activities to be found

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Such a graceful bridge and the Cotswolds' stone blends easily into the environment

 

 

 

It certainly has an air of relaxation, despite being quite busy with holidaymakers, and we had a long walk around the 'Market Town' to familiarise ourselves with the area and check out the bus stop to get me to Carterton and then Oxford on Monday morning.

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Need any last minute Christmas decorations?

 

 

 

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A new housing development built with Cotswold stone to harmonise with the rest of the village and surrounding area

 

 

 

 

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The High Street of Lechlade

 

 

 

 

 

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St Mary's Church beside the market square

 

 

 

We were most amused to return to Northern Pride to discover the tamest cows you've ever met almost aboard - they were licking the sides with relish, not sure why, maybe it was salty on the paintwork?

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Northern Pride fourth in line - St John's Lock Cottage in the distance - note the cows randomly licking our boat!

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 And still they slurp until we nudge them off - bizarre behaviour!

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 Cow watching through the porthole

 

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Kayaking past the second world war German lookout - these line the river all along to Lechlade but were luckily never needed 

 

 

 

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Returning to the boat in the light of the full moon

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This looks as though it could be a type of Lily?

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