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 😂)