Oi, Thames, NO

The Thames has many many signboards and the vast majority of them feature the word NO.

NO MOORING
NO LANDING
NO FISHING
NO SWIMMING
NO FOOTPATH
NO ENTRY

 So how nice it was to arrive at Abingdon and see this sign

Very good moorings too, and the only place that allows 5 days.

Good on yer Abingdon.  You seem to be the only place on the Thames that recognises the value to the town of visiting boat tourists.

The Thames only skims the edge of Oxford centre, the most central bit being Folly Bridge.  It wasn't easy to see a way through here.

In fact you can pass through where the top of our roofbox is pointing, or to the left past the tall white building.

Thames visitor moorings in the city centre seem to be restricted to this row in a not especially smart area.

Above Oxford centre things suddenly get very rural.  We go past the huge Port Meadow, a huge flat grassy expanse inhabited only by geese, cows and horses, and then through a series of very sharp meanders into what we suddenly have to call the Upper Thames. 

With a little bit of time to spare, we continued on up the Eynsham, where we now rest for the night.  Tomorrow we say goodbye to the river and return to the canals at last with some proper locks.  Must look out the windlasses I suppose.