Unexploded Grenade

Saturday and we are up to date with the blog again.

Look at that shine, all the way along (my arms ache!) 

And here's our overnight view. Well, not quite the overnight view, when I got up at 5 with a touch of cramp, I couldn't see any of that. But what I did see was the Plough, Orion, Cassiopeia, the Pole Star, Venus and many other stars. A clear night with little light pollution.

This is the approach to Aynho Wharf, a long line of residential moorings. The rule is to pass at tickover so that you don't swing their boats around. In the old days I would quite often get an anguished cry "Slow down!" But, not anymore. In this respect, and this respect only, I have grown older and wiser. 

There, it's not only humans who like to go in the canals. 

Have just passed through Nell Bridge Lock and this is the C&RT depot with all the bits and bobs for canal repairs. 

After that, the Pig Place for lunch. Great idea, you place your order, they give you an order number, you text them your order number and name, they text you when your food's ready. Track and trace all covered. 

And here it is. 

And there's always someone around to help you out if necessary. 

Now, how's this for a mode of transport? The owner and wife set off in it while we were having our lunch. 

And a sort of thank you picture for the lady who allowed us to tie up alongside her boat while we had our lunch and went shopping in the farm shop.

And, there she is again, Asklepios. 

At this point, the water in the canal seemed much lower than in the previous sections. So we decided to push on to Banbury a) to empty the loo and b) to go through the lock and get back into deeper water. 

Arrived at the facilities to be greeted by a policeman and a policewoman who advised us to "Move along now!" as there was a hand grenade under the bridge and if it went off while we were emptying the loo, then we would really be in the... 

Although it was probably only a training grenade, we took their advice and moved along. Now moored in Banbury, almost where we moored on the way down. 

Steak night tonight - yummy. 

Water snake

What a lovely start to the day. (Friday, still a day behind) 

The sun just below the horizon. A corker of a day to come, no doubt.

We've passed this boat several times, and here she is again with quite a collection of ducks on the roof. 

Mr Toad fishing just by the bridge at Lower Heyford. Behind him somewhere is a white rabbit with a shotgun. Probably some sort of a speed trap.

The hire boat business the other side of the bridge is certainly very busy. They only have 3 days a week when they are not turning boats around. Obviously, because of covid, slower turnarounds but more spread out. 

Nature Note. After passing under Somerton bridge we saw a snake swimming across the canal. Not sure what type of snake but it was quite a long one. 

Doesn't she look good - nicely polished. 

Move forward and it's a different story. 

But, more on that later. 

Moored at Chisnell Lift Bridge after having to wait for 4 boats to come through. The farmer was using the bridge and, consequently, caused a bit of a holdup. In fact, the whole journey today was full of delays. There were queues at all the locks and we only managed 2 miles in 2 hours at one point. 

After mooring, I belatedly joined in a Zoom meeting - the marvels of modern day technology - and then we finished polishing the side of the boat. And, to finish the day, a glorious sunset. 

Red Kite day

There we are, our mooring for last night. 

And now we are pulling away from the services at Thrupp, having filled up the water tank. 

Got to the end of the river section of the Cherwell only to find a boat turning round in front of us. Unfortunately (for him) there was a strong cross wind and he ended up in a right 2 & 8. He graciously let us pass while he sorted his boat out. Nothing we could do to help, all you can do in these circumstances is back the boat off far enough to have enough room to move forward, cutting the boat through the water and making the turn. Which he did. 

Back again at Pigeon lock. Short delay while folk came through. 

Stopped for lunch in the sunshine. 

And then off again with more locks to be worked. 

Had the good fortune to see a couple of Red Kite today. We've seen plenty of buzzards which are almost becoming common place but these were our first kite of the year. 

This is Dashwood Bridge followed immediately by Dashwood Lock. 

Motored on a short way further and stopped for the night just before Lower Heyford. Right next to the railway line but that didn't seem to matter. 

When boating, we often pass a boat one day, they pass us the next, and so on. This year we keep passing Asklepios, a boat being taken to Rugby by two young ladies. Their problem is that it's not their boat, they are just moving it. So, every day we get asked our advice and hear about the problems they have encountered. A bit like 3 men in a boat except that it's 2 ladies in a rust bucket!

Sorry, meant to say no Internet, so this post will be a day late. 

Round we go

Walked up through Jericho, along the street where they filmed Morse, to get some shopping.

Looking down at the boat from the bridge over the canal. 

After all that shopping, time for a quick cuppa. 

We need to turn the boat round in order to retrace our path back up the Oxford canal. To do this, we have to go through Isis lock which is just through the bridge. 

Here we go, just closing the gate before letting the water out. 

Out we go, turning right (or starboard for those who are nautically bent). 

Nice big wide circle with a little backing and forwarding. 

And back into the lock, now facing the right way. 

Don't he look smug!? Well, it was a good turn round, even though I say it myself. 

All in and off we go. 

A picture of one of the bridge paintings I missed on the way down. 

Who says I don't do any of the hard work? 

It's just that I make more of a fuss about it! 

Arrived in Thrupp and, lo and behold, an empty mooring, just for us. We spent the early part of the evening polishing more of the side of the boat. 

Sausages in cider tonight, my reward for doing so much hard work today. (Ouch!) Our reward for doing so much hard work today. 

Those hallowed halls

I believe that you can count the times we've had breakfast outside on the fingers of one hand. But, today was one of those days. 

We even had a friend drop by for some crusts of bread. 

After breakfast we set off towards Oxford. 

Here’s Brigid waiting patiently for the lock to fill. I also achieved a first today by taking a Facebook video of us working through the lock. I nearly came unstuck since I hadn't thought out how to get back on the boat while filming. 

Not a special row of houses but, once again, we remember them being built. 

Only took this one because there used to be a horrible lift bridge just here. Glad it's gone. 

We've just left Duke's lock and the canal leading off to the left takes you on to the Thames. 

Such a pretty view back up the canal. 

Here comes the captain - she hates working the lift bridges. 

And she handles the boat beautifully. 

A couple of bridges have paintings on them. It certainly improves the towpath for all concerned.

Welcome to Oxford. 

And, for all the food lovers, our lunch for today. 

Once again, sitting outside.

A look at the outside of St Barnabas' Church, Jericho. 

In the afternoon we had a trot round Oxford. Just look at this building. 

And the cafés have spilled out on to the streets. 

Just some of the grand buildings that we passed today. 

Magdalene College. 

Stunning! 

Not exactly 3 men in a boat but they seem to be having fun. 

A little river at the end of the Broad Walk. 

Here’s the cut across from Isis lock to the Thames. You can see that at some point in time the railway bridge had to be opened for boats to pass through. Now, the captain certainly wouldn't like doing that job.