Where did the wind come from?

The day started off well, eggs and bacon for breakfast. 

After that it all went downhill. The captain said that as it was a nice day she would be steering and I could do the locks. 

On the bright side it gave me time to take a picture of Mrs Duck and her family.

Many of you will have seen this garden before. There are various creatures and I think that Mr Toad is holding a shotgun. We are passing through Lower Heyford and the captain's still steering. 

Looks like all the hireboats are back at base waiting for the next holidaymakers to arrive.

Gosh, look, I'm at the helm. The captain enjoys working the lift bridge, lucky me.

Once again I'm in charge of the boat. There is a tricky entrance to this lock with a lot of water flowing out from the bywash. The consensus of opinion was that it was better if I bashed the boat about rather than the captain. 

Look at the sky, it's sunny. 

We're just approaching Somerton Deep Lock and the wind is getting up. The approach to the lock is totally unprotected and we got blown across the canal and almost got stuck on the opposite side. Luckily a chap who looked as if he played rugby managed to get hold of our centre rope and pull us out of trouble. 

The lock itself was no problem at all and there was plenty of help from other boaters. 

Managed to get a mooring at Aynho and now looking forward to a meal at the Great Western Arms. 

For the captain Smoked Haddock fishcakes and for me a pork and apple burger. 

Sweet dreams. 

Retracing our footsteps

Well, not exactly retracing footsteps, more like retracing propeller spins. 

A familiar sight, the lift bridge at Thrupp. I am driving at the moment and the captain is operating the controls for the bridge. She likes turning keys, stopping traffic and waving me through. 

I'm driving mainly because we need to stop the boat just on the left around this corner to get rid of rubbish and empty the loo. It's a tricky manoeuvre which I have been known to get wrong. 

I've lost the tiller now. We're back on the river Cherwell and I'm doing all the locks today. 

On the river bit we can go a bit faster than on the canal. Rivers are usually deeper and the boat moves along much easier. 

At the lock off the river we were confronted by a C&RT barge which took up quite a bit of space. Luckily there were 3 blokes on board who made sure that they didn't scrape our paintwork. 

Here's the captain coming into Pigeon Lock. The boat we secured the other day is still there and my makeshift rope work is holding up well. 

We've stopped for the night just below Dashwood Lock, almost at the same spot on the way up. 

A couple of downpours today but apart from them, not too bad a day.  

Return to Thrupp

As you know, we are moored in Jericho opposite the old wharf. What we didn't realise is that this is the base for the Oxford Narrowboats. It was only when boats started turning up at 9 o'clock that the penny dropped. 

The next thing we need to do is to turn the boat around so that we can head back towards Thrupp. To do that we have to go through Isis lock, spin round and come back through the lock again. 

So, into the lock. 

Here I am spinning the boat around. 

And back again. 

You can see from the green lights that water levels are OK. Luckily there were no strong winds or currents and the spinround went very smoothly. 

Now we are exiting Oxford. 

No pictures of our travels today as it's been overcast and wet. The captain worked all the locks and lift bridges while I weaved the boat in and out to drop her off and pick her up again. I did offer to swap, honestly. 

After about 4 hours we have arrived back at Thrupp and have stopped near the Jolly Boatman. 

And here is the jolly boatman himself rigging up a spring to stop the boat moving around too much. 

Guess where we are now! Pie for the captain and fish for me. 

Now back on board to watch an episode of Canal Boat Diaries. 

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.