Out and about

Woke up this morning to the patter of tiny feet. Actually it sounded like the timpani section of the orchestra. Ducks on the roof. 

As I said last night, after breakfast we set off immediately to see if there were any moorings nearer to the city centre. As we went along we noted all the available moorings should it be necessary to turn round and retrace our steps. 

There were in fact several moorings at Jericho opposite St Barnabas Church. 

I then had to deal with the calling cards that the ducks had left on the roof last night. 

Luckily the pressure washer came into its own and made short work of the mess. However, it did remove some paint in one or two areas. 

Take my word for it, it looks much better than it did before. 

We'd arranged to meet a friend for lunch at the Weston Library café but had time to see some of the sights first. 

Plenty to look at but lots of people all over the place. 

This building in Oxford was probably built in the 15th century. 

After a very pleasant lunch and catch-up we then returned to the boat to roast a chicken and settle in for the evening. 

A very enjoyable day. 

Oxford, here we come

We're leaving Thrupp past these stone cottages. They used to be called Salt Row and one historian suggests that they served as salt warehouses. 

And just in case you forget... 

We're on the Oxford Canal. 

But things can still go wrong. This preloved craft has been sunk at some time and is now looking quite forlorn. 

For the first time this holiday we've had to queue at the very first lock. Two boats ahead of us. One good thing, once the boat ahead goes through the lock there's a gap of about 15 minutes which means that when you get to the next lock they should be through and out the other side. 

Although the Oxford Canal is one of the prettiest, the closer you get to Oxford, the slower the journey. We have to keep stopping for locks, opening lift bridges and pootling past miles of moored residential craft. 

Just past Dukes Lock you can turn off to get to the Thames. But not today, straight on to the city centre. 

We've stopped a mile short of the end of the canal as we're not sure if, being Saturday, there will be any moorings. Tomorrow we'll motor further and if nothing's available we'll come back here. 

Well, look who's our neighbour tonight.

Bonus

Thought you might like to look at the boat ahead of us. 

Complete with resident cat. 

Many boaters have cats on board. I'd be worried that it would run off and get lost. 

A busy day on the way to Thrupp

We had forgotten how pretty the Oxford Canal is. 

Our first lock of the day, Northbrook lock. 

Having opened the paddles here's the captain monitoring the water level as I go down with the flow.

Now for the hard work - with plenty of verbal encouragement from me. I'm helpful like that! 

A couple of miles further on, after we cleared Pigeon Lock, the canal was completely blocked by a boat that had come adrift. 

Having got it back to shore here I am hanging on with the boathook while we tied it up as best we could with scrappy bits of rope found on board. 

We think that it is probably an abandoned craft but, who knows. 

We both love this stretch of our journey because for 15 minutes or so we travel along the River Cherwell. The water is deeper than the canal and the boat moves freely. 

All good things come to an end, Shipton Weir Lock which takes us back onto the canal. 

Once again, an octagonal lock where I took over on the gates because of the odd shaped lock beams. 

Just look at the countryside we're going through. Beautiful, isn't it. 

We realised that we love the Oxford Canal because it doesn't go near many big towns. It does mean that you have to plan your pantry needs as there are not that many shops. And some of the shops that were there have now closed down. 

Anyway, we arrived at Thrupp and, joy oh joy, two or three moorings available. 

Just time to celebrate at Annie's Tea Rooms. 

That's better, then back to the boat to knock up a beef casserole for this evening. We could have gone to the Boat Inn but who wants to pay out fifty pounds or more something that costs around eight pounds. And, our casserole will probably do more than one meal. Happy days. 

Sticky locks

Here's the photo I promised you yesterday. A much clearer sky than before. 

Just as we were finishing with the washing up after breakfast, a hire boat pulled in ahead of us and it was evident that they were having problems. Being a Jack of all trades I popped along to see if I could lend a hand. It seems that the engine temperature warning light was on even though the filler tank was full to overflowing. Also, the heating wasn't working, not that I could do much about that. I offered to open the lift bridge for them after they had arranged to meet an engineer at Lower Heyford. 

When we eventually set off ourselves, the captain went and opened the bridge. At which point another boat came through and we let them go in front of us. 

This was a blessing in disguise for us as the first lock of the day was Somerton Deep Lock. We've been stuck in this lock before. However, the good folk on the boat we let through stopped and made sure that we got through OK. It was still a tight squeeze and the captain worked wonders at the tiller. 

A point of interest for us was that the lock keeper's house is now occupied, having been purchased two years ago. No running water but they do have a sophisticated water purification system that takes water directly from the canal. 

Look carefully and you can see the other boat ahead of us. 

At Allen's Lock we passed the hire boat with engineer on board. The overheating was only a faulty sensor and the heating needed a replacement pump. While the engineer was getting stuck in the chap was trying his luck with a fishing rod. 

At Upper Heyford we pass a tithe barn which was built for New College Oxford in around 1400. It is now a Scheduled Monument and a Grade 1 listed building. 

Some of the locks not only stick but leak as well. If there's too much water coming in it makes it very hard to open the bottom gate. 

We moved on through Lower Heyford and at Dashwood Lock we were helped through by some other hire boaters who had themselves been helped by the boat before. It was just as well that they were there since we got stuck in the gate and I was driving! Luckily, with three people leaning on the gate beam, it was just enough to let us through. 

We've now stopped for the night just below the last sticky lock. You can just see it in the distance. Looks sunny but we've had a couple of rumbles of thunder and a few more spits of rain. 

Tonight's meal is going to be salmon on a bed of orzo garnished with tender stem broccoli, green beans and mange tout in an olive oil and lemon dressing. (I've been watching too much MasterChef 😂) 

Those April showers...

Those April showers that come in May! 

It's been a day of mixed weather today. First of all it was sunny when we popped into town to get some more essentials from Tesco Express. 

On the way back we spotted this Banksy style painting.

Now for a view of Polgara from the bridge over the canal. 

We are moored right outside Nandos and opposite the Premier Inn. The blue post at the front of the boat is an electric point which we could have used, had we needed. 

We set off under the lift bridge followed by the town lock. The other side of the lock there's a sanitary station but we had to wait while another boat took on water. It's always a good idea to offload rubbish whenever possible. 

Then, sunny skies to the side of us. 

Ominously black clouds following behind. 

All day it's been sunny one moment, raining the next. We even had a couple of hail showers. Luckily our wet weather gear is tried and tested and does the job well. 

Here's the captain hunched up against the rain while I was walking in the shelter of the bushes above the towpath. 

We switched roles for a time because Nell Bridge Lock has a very heavy bottom gate and I needed to prove my manliness. Also, Aynho Weir Lock, which the captain is now approaching, has an odd shaped gate beam to cater for the fact that the lock is octagonal. It can prove tricky at times but today, luckily, a boat had just come through and left the gate open for us. 

More showers and sunshine as we sailed majestically past Aynho Wharf and on until we finally stopped near Souldern just before Chisnell Lift Bridge. In our navigation guide we have put a star against this mooring it's that good. 

Watching the clouds rain on someone else for a change!

You'll have to wait until tomorrow morning for a sunnier picture. 

Ride a Cock Horse

Yes, you've guessed it, we're off to Banbury but by boat, not on a horse. 

It's funny really, just about to go under the M40, camera ready and not a vehicle in sight. All I got was this tractor unit. Not even a glitzy trailer on the back. 

Regular blog readers will have seen this house before. A picture of Dink and Malc on the front. We have waved to them before now but they were nowhere in sight today. Had to say hello to the dogs instead. 

Moored with difficulty in Banbury. We pulled in OK but the wind got a hold on the back of the boat which went zooming across the canal, nearly dragging the captain in as well. We managed to get everything back under control but to keep the boat in place we rigged up a spring which means that we have three mooring ropes, two of them at different angles. This effectively stops the boat from doing its own thing and wandering off all over the place. After that a walk up Parson's Street past Ye Olde Reine Deer Inn. 

A little further on, our favourite eating place, Pizza Calzone. 

A happy captain!

We started with Calamari. 

Followed by Pizza and Ravioli. 

Which all went down rather well. 

And a gift from the management, a panna cotta. Delicious! 

All this followed by some retail therapy and top up of the store cupboard. 

Wind has died down, 10 to 7 in the evening, time to settle in, have the remnants of my pizza from earlier and tuck the boat up for the night.