arkholmethesecond: Lechlade

We said goodbye to the locals at Rushey on a VERY windy morning.

Radcot Lock is the first of four and Trev is reminiscing about his front rope duties on a holiday on the Canal-du-Midi, he does like a change from being on the tiller now and again.

The well kept gardens around the locks are a credit to the lock keepers.

Radcot Bridge, 13th century in origin and generally regarded as the oldest on the Thames.....

we however pass beneath a 'new' bridge built in 1790 as part of improvements to the Upper Thames.

Wet weather gear is in play now. The pill box in the background is one of numerous seen along the banks, there's no way those Gerries were going to get the London!!!

Water stop just beyond Grafton Lock.

The captain was eyeing up this vessel......no sir....we need to go smaller not bigger!!!!

Old Father Thames adorns St John's Lock

St John's was self-service- twirling the wheel is so much easier than winding and the beam is balanced perfectly!

So here we are moored at Lechlade, the ONLY town

on the upper reaches.

Lechlade or Half Penny Bridge dates from 1793, its name derived from the toll paid by pedestrians, unless they could convince the toll-keeper that they were bound for the church!!! This went on until 1839.