Recently there has been a piling barge near Abingdon Lock, and it was there again this evening.
The new home of the Kingfisher Canoe Club is taking shape on the land between lock and weir.
Some canoeists were paddling in the surf near Abingdon Weir as the sun went down.
They paddled back towards Abingdon Bridge as the setting sun turned the sky purple and pink.
There is an area of paved land north west of Stratton Way that is owned by Abingdon -on-Thames Town Council and in Feb 2020 (before Covid-19 struck) there was a proposal that the land be disposed of.
The land has a restrictive covenant in place, and is hemmed in by the underpass, and garden walls and so uses will be limited.
At one time people must have parked their bikes here but that does not happen much as it is off the beaten track.
There are a couple of benches: one on the lower terrace, and an old metal bench in a secluded place, up some steps, at the back.
There is a flower bed at the front that has been recently replanted for the winter.
The first pansy has just appeared.
The land does not give the impression of being a well loved or wanted, and it will be interesting to learn if anybody knows any more about it, or whether anybody does love it.
I went for a walk and reached Thrupp Lake (one of the Radley Lakes) at about 3:30 pm. Going in by a gate next to the cycle track I found the path got very muddy at first.
Instead of doing the usual full circuit I stayed on one bank and gazed across the water.
At first all the birds seemed a long way away.
In the trees of the central islands some large birds (Cormorants?) were already roosting.
Flocks of smaller birds flew around, landing in the high branches above the large birds and then taking off again.
Nearer at hand, some ducks drifted by.
A Grebe kept diving and reappearing. There were also coots diving but they did not travel such long distances underwater.
The sun set behind me and a young swan came up very close. It must be familiar with humans as a source of food and waited in front of me for a little while before drifting away.
It went on to join another young swan dipping the lake for vegetation.
As the light faded, the moon became clearer. I retraced by steps back across the mud and back on the cycle path.
The busy Abbey play area can be seen beyond this backwater. One of the last things to reopen after the first lockdown were the play parks. This time round the play parks have been kept open and at weekends look busy.
Before reaching the play area I saw a man litter picking. He is a key worker and does many hours litter picking as well as his work. He now counts the face masks he picks up. Last week he counted about 400.
A friend reported going to visit B&M on the Fairacres trading estate yesterday but then decided not to join the large queue. B&M have done very well during both lockdowns as they sell both essentials and non essentials.
Businesses have received letters telling them to prepare for the change to trading and employment rules as a result of the end of the one year transition period.