We were lucky insofar as either the locks had staff or else someone else had got in before us so we (by that I mean John) didn't have to operate them, so both of us were able to hold ropes. I got instruction from one of the lock-keepers on how to throw a rope to get it around the bollard, but I haven't had a chance to practice as yet.
It's amazing how different the river looks going in the opposite direction. Quite hard to see the way at times, mind you having the pram cover up to protect us from the rain didn't help, each shower made the front of it impossible to see through.
Whenever I set out along the gunwales he said 'don't fall in you'll go straight to the bottom wearing that'. meaning my boat coat. At one point when I finished the sentence for him, he added the proviso that he may have to stand on my head to ensure it. Delightful!
After another long day we arrived at Osney Lock, which is the last one before going up the cut to go through Isis Lock to get onto the canal, we met Simon and Ally (sorry for spelling it wrong before) and we breasted up to them as there were no moorings available, plus officially our permit ran out at midnight and technically we were still on the Thames.
We went out and found a brilliant Pizza place plus we visited a pub that they'd discovered. Excellent evening with lovely company.
This morning we said our goodbyes again and set off for our 20min voyage onto the Oxford Canal. Oh joy! single locks again. It's the little things in life. We have a good mooring and are opposite the Italianate Bell Tower, which tinkles out a pretty tune. It's also not QUITE as far to walk into town from here.
We went back today at lunchtime to the pub of last night but they were shut. The Blenheim, worth a visit if you're in Oxford and like a good pint.
We did the tourist thing today which we haven't really done here before and visited the Castle.
A view of Oxford from the top of the motte. There were some people making a film from up here and there was some poor chap in the road below that was having to run down the pavement, trip, fall, get up and continue running. I don't know how many times he had to do it but I'm sure it constituted abuse!
Right up at the summit there was still a well chamber, to ensure that if they were stranded in the bailey for any time, they'd at least have a water supply.
The castle would have been huge when it was complete and we had an excellent guide who really bought it alive for us. It was also used as a prison up until 1996 and conditions were grim, but to be honest they were at least a bit of a deterrent!
Just up the road from the pub we saw this, also shut unfortunately but it appears to be a story room. Anyone who's read Lord of the Rings will appreciate these lanterns, I just couldn't resist.
We also had a walk around to Christ Church and were going to go in but the ticket was for the Hall as well as the Cathedral and we didn't have time to do it justice with the castle as well. I wasn't too bothered but John has just informed me that the hall was used for filming for Harry Potter, as the refectory, so I'm a bit more enthusiastic now. We're probably staying tomorrow as we have 48 hour moorings here so we shall see.
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