Sun?

Friday 26th

Had to confirm with passers by that it really was the sun and not an illusion. Well, that certainly wasn't in the forecast. 

We had breakfast and, foregoing the washing up, set off from Thrupp.

Our first lock of the day, Shipton Weir Lock.

We both tackled opening the lock, me one side pushing on the gate and Brigid the other side pushing on the beam. 

I then brought the boat in and we swapped places so that I takled the top gate onto the river. The reason for the changeover being that the shape of the lock necessitates an angled beam and these are always dodgy to operate at the best of times.

Still, we got through and we're on the river again. 

And the captain's in charge. (When isn't she?) 

This gave me a chance to look at the patterns made by the propeller as we went round the bends. 

And, all too soon, we've arrived at the Horse Bridge just below Baker's Lock which takes us back onto the canal.

As we rose up the lock, into sight comes the Whitehill Earth Station. 

We then retraced our steps past Kirtlington and Northbrook, back to Lower Heyford.

Opposite the water point, where we stopped on the way down, are these magnificent garden ornaments. 

Under the bridge and then a matter of scraping our way through all the moored hireboats. I pride myself on not touching other boats when cruising (doesn't always work) but this time there were so many boats that it couldn't be helped.

Next past Upper Heyford where, at Allen's Lock, a fallen tree had been transformed into a seat, complete with a Green Man carving.

We then managed to work through Heyford Common Lock before deciding that enough was enough, so we tied up just below Somerton Mill Bridge.

In all, 9 miles, 6 locks in 5 hours. A long day for us.