Before I start today's blog I forgot to say a few interesting facts about Abingdon, the first happens around the summer solstice, is that the people of Ock street, which is in Abingdon elects a mayor for one day, and Morris dancers preform outside of each Inn along this street.The second is bun throwing which is a 400 year tradition that's a cross between a ceremony and a bun throwing fight, this normally happens on a royal occasion, like a royal wedding.The third is swan upping where the Queens swan keeper, and 19 other men with copious supplies of tea, mixed with rum row up the Thames counting and tagging all of the swans, a tradition that dates from the 12th C, the swan count at the moment is around 1200 hic!
Also as said in last nights blog Denise bought a grannies shopping trolley, and whilst purchasing it, the shop keeper said that as we spent over ten pounds, then we could take our pick from the basket containing England football supporters memorabilia, I explained that as a proud Welshman that I would decline.....
Anyway on to today, another sunny morning off we set again, we leave the suburbs of Abbingdon and its not long before we at our first lock and the village of Culham a pretty village with replica stocks still in place, the river is a bit wider with farmland on both sides, the next villages to go sailing by is Appleford,long Wittenham with its museum of miniature models and railways,and Clifton Hampden. The river turns South passing the massive 114 acres of earthworks known as Dykes hill, next is Days lock where the the World 'poohsticks' championships take place each March http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poohsticks
We then pass very pricey houses that lead to their own bit of Thames, Dorchester is the next village, and the under Shillingford bridge with its handsome triple arched bridge, and the the village of Benson this. Town was once the seat if the King of Mercia, here Denise has to operate the lock, and its really the first lock we share with other boats, a wooden cruiser and a big gin palace speedboat,.
We manage to get a mooring at Wallingford one of the oldest royal boroughs, the town received its charter in 1155. We walk around and I also have my hair cut, we buy some milk in a big Waitrose shop, before coming back to the boat and watch all the antics of people trying to find mooring in their array of different sizes boats, so much fun people watching.
See you tomorrow
As we sat watching the six o'clock news I spotted two girls swimming down the Thames, no wet suits must be mad
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment