Boats travelling along the River Thames in Abingdon normally have the necessities on board including a galley kitchen. Favorite meals for boaters include roast dinners, and bacon, eggs or sausage sandwiches.

However boaters going through Abingdon Lock are advised to lock up those enticing cooking smells.

A notice has been erected warning that such cooking is prohibited at the lock, and such items will need to be passed to the lockstaff for safe disposal.

Thanks to John for emailing this wonderful picture – ‘an illusion of lips from red bushes reflecting in water of the River Thames’.

Nearer to town I too had a walk in the November sunshine by the River Thames at lunchtime today.

For the first time in ages I pushed open the metal gate to the Old Gaol grounds. There is a key pad by the gate but it is left open to visitors during reasonable weekday hours.

The sunlight was dazzling in the direction of St Helen’s Church.

Looking back to the Nags Head Inn the reflections were as clear as a mirror. The Old Gaol is a prime location for anybody wanting to run a restaurant in Abingdon, by the River – with stunning views.

On visiting Abingon Lock today we saw the Esme Dowling shield. Richard Hawkin, and Frank Jordan have been awarded the prestigious Lock Keeper of the Year award for Abingon Lock. There was a big presentation a couple of weeks ago.

At Abingon Lock a lot of boats were passing through the lock gates on the hottest day since the start of the school summer holidays.

The Esme Dowling Award for Lock Keeper of the Year is voted for by members of APCO Hotelboats. The award is for outstanding customer care and performance and is open to all lock keepers on the UKs inland waterways.

The swan, and two cygnets, caught by the swan uppers about three weeks ago have not been scared away from the Marina by the experience. They were back again this evening.

A little way behind was the other parent swan, keeping a distance.

When they were gone there was just the view of a sunset over the Marina.