Oxford to Abingdon

We said goodbye to Oxford and set off for Abingdon at around 9.30am. The trip took us about 4 hrs at a reasonable pace as the river is now a great deal wider and you don't have to worry too much about moored boats although still slowing when passing them. We met up with some people on a cruiser who said that there was nothing much to Abingdon and that Wallingford was the better of the two towns. Despite his advice we moored in  Abingdon had some lunch and then took a tour of the town. We are so pleased that we decided to stop off as we discovered the Abbey and its surrounding buildings and although the Abbey is just a ruin the adjoining buildings are very much intact. It had all been preserved so well and was very informative as the body responsible for the upkeep had put up a "Timeline" relating to The Abbey and Abingdon. We then had a walk around the town and soon realised that as far as shopping was concerned it didn't have much on offer but to make the discovery we did made it so worthwhile.





Goodbye to Oxford. Sailing past the boathouses of the various Oxford Colleges.

Sad to see good boats ending their days like this

 Lovely Old Bridge at Liffley Lock



Sandford Lock (very large must be to cater for the Gin  Palaces that abound)



The Kings Arms at Sandford ( I am sure this has been on either  Morse or Lewis)

Getting into Money Country

 

 

Now this is what you call a Riverboat Queen




Abingdon Waterfront



The Abbey Church and Free School

Christine modelling todays Ensemble (Oh! and an old building behind) The Abbey 670 AD

 

 

 



The Checker Hall at Abingdon part of the old Abbey



The Long Gallery

 

The Vaulted Ceiling in The Checker Hall





 

The Unicorn Theatre (Inside the Checker Hall)



Christine in The Gallery

Looks like the boat people have arrived in Abingdon

 

Isn't it always the way. You wait all day for a Gondola then three come along at once Mama Mia!!!