Backwards traffic jam

The Thames is known as the Isis as it passes through Oxford and the stretch from The Head of the River downstream to Iffley Lock is one of the busiest in the country. Over the last couple of years I've been on a steep learning curve as I get to grips with rowing jargon and also learn the names of various parts of the river - Green Bank, Longbridges, Regatta Finish, and the narrow winding stretch known as The Gut. I see the river and towpath differently now, looking out for the Bourne Stone by the Isis pub that marks the start of the 1850m Isis Sculls race and the corresponding Cox Stone which marks the finish, I'm also much more in tune with the light, the flow of the river and the wildlife along it.

The river can get very congested, especially when the novice University college eights crews come out of the water in October - all power and no steering - it can get rather alarming for those of us on the towpath on bicycles trying to watch where we are cycling with one eye, the other on the river trying to make sure the boats don't crash - after all rowing is a sport you do backwards which significantly increases the chances of collisions.

Today we had the added complication of an angling competition, with anglers setting up every 20-30m along the towpath. Many people use the river and towpath for many different purposes, walking dogs, pushing buggies, cycling, jogging, angling, wild swimmers, stag parties in narrow boats, tourists in punts, and in general we all muddle along steering round each other, giving way, smiling and tolerating.