River Thames:Sandford Lock

Another long line of moored boats to pass again this morning, then four narrow locks before we reach the Thames.   There is also a standard Oxford Canal lifting bridge to negotiate.  It has been fitted with a BW key lock on the towpath side.  You have to pressdown on the bridge to get the key to turn and then the bridge will lift itself on its counterbalance.   There is a chain to pull it back down again with to retrieve your key.  Seems a very sensible and simple way of making this type of lifting bridge work, especially for a single hander.    We were warned by a passing boater that Dukes Cut is very overgrown.   Actually not really any more than usual in my opinion, but to find moored boats in there definitely is a problem.  We only just managed to get past an opposite direction narrowboat in consequence.   The Thames was welcoming as usual with a beautiful display of lockside flowers.   The contrast going to CRT water could not have been more stark, if going the other way.   One might think "Is this how CRT would treat the river if it gained control?"    The bow rope snagged when using it to steady the boat on arrival at Kings Lock and snapped.    A bowline sorted that temporarily.    Osney moorings were full, so we continued on below Folly Bridge where a rowing regatta was in progress.   Boats all over the place and heaps of onlookers too.  We descended Iffley Lock and moored between the white bollards at Sandford Lock.    There is wind here and the wind-charger is humming, 1 - 3 amps and the rain has started again.