Floodwatch - All night vigil.

Still moored above Osney lock.
547 locks, 677 miles, 18 Tunnels, 37 swing bridges and 10 lift bridges since Nov 2006

This morning we took advantage of some fine weather for a trip into town. The crowds were over whelming to the point where there was no enjoyment in doing any sight seeing. We did manage to find our way to Isis lock to check out the conditions on the Oxford canal which although high in water were calm.

No go area, the red boards are up on the Thames

This afternoon we had a visit from a very attractive police woman who has been going door to door along the street warning residents that EA have posted another flood warning for the area. The river is supposed to rise later tonight and peaking some time early tomorrow morning. Householders have been boarding up their front doors in anticipation of what might be to come. If the water comes up high enough to flood the street it will be a rise of 18” to 2 foot and we will have to be on our guard to adjust mooring ropes.

Rising flood waters

The mooring pontoon below Osney lock is now underwater with levels still rising

The lock keeper feels certain that it won’t come to anything but there are no certainties in these matters. So it looks like we will be keeping a 1 on, 1 off all night watch.
The fire brigade has just done a surveillance visit. Hopefully we won’t require their services but we are making preparations should evacuation be necessary.
There are a lot of nervous people wandering up and down the streets on both sides of the river watching the river racing past.