Yesterday we had a short day, leaving Oxford early (about
9.00am) and we just cruised up to Thrupp. We found plenty of moorings there but
in the end we moored just before the Jolly Boatman, mainly so that I could hang
out the washing. I didn’t feel that the public sitting outside the pub needed
to see our smalls, waving in the breeze, even if they were clean!
We went and had lunch at the pub, which was really nice. We
had a pate sharing platter, two types of pate, plenty of toasted baguette,
butter, caramelised onion relish and a nice little salad, with no rocket.
Perfect. I also had a prosecco, which turned up in a small bottle with 2
glasses worth of wine in it, so all in all a very pleasant interlude.
We put the pram cover up as it looked a bit dodgy, although
all the washing got dried. Late evening, we suddenly heard torrential rain
which didn’t last long and as far as we could tell there was no more during the
night, but we were glad we’d taken the precaution of putting the cover up.
We left today a bit later and cruised up to just above
Dashwood lock and moored. Paddy had a good run in the open as there were no
other boats in sight and I got John his lunch (fast day for me). Then I looked
at the map and realised that we hadn’t gone very far and since our plan was to
get to Banbury tomorrow, we either stayed where we were and had a long day
tomorrow, arriving quite late for moorings, or else we went on a bit further.
We decided on the second option so got going again and we are now at Upper
Heyford. It’s a lovely open stretch of
tow path WITH pilings and Paddy has had another run without a lead. He really
does love to run free, it’s just such as shame he can’t be trusted if there are
people about.
We have spoken to a couple of people who have told us that
they couldn’t find anywhere to moor in Banbury yesterday. However there have
been lots of boats going Oxford way including lots of hire boats so we’re
hoping that they are leaving space for us. We shouldn’t have too long a day
tomorrow and so are hopeful that there will be a mooring for us, I’d be really
disappointed if we can’t stop there as I really like Banbury and I want to get
some bits and pieces.
We had a bit of an incident today, as we were filling with
water at Lower Heyford, a boat went past going in our direction and didn’t seem
very friendly, but some aren’t. Anyway we travelled on for a while having to go
slowly past moored boats and eventually came to a lift bridge, and they were
just going through. He didn’t look around from the boat and went on through the bridge and I said to John that
we’d better look as if we’re pulling in to do the bridge ourselves and see what
they did. Well what they did was shut the gate, and as she is jumping on board
she looks around and looks embarrassed and calls that she didn’t see us, I
waved them on and as John was going up to open the bridge the man looked back
and apologised as well. Strangely enough they moored up soon after that which
at least meant that we didn’t have to follow them through locks!
We’ve been extremely lucky with locks today, all in our
favour and other boats either coming out or going in as we come out, so life
has been pretty good. After a lot of wind and cloud, the sun is now shining and
it’s the best bit of the day.
We have no internet here, so I’m writing this up and shall
hope to post it tomorrow and add photos then.
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