Nearing the end of our 2018 season

Here we are at the end of September thinking back on another memorable season on the water. We have visited some interesting new places, met some lovely folk along the way, and had a a few adventures. The weather for the most part has been wonderful and at times, dare I say it, too hot, so we have been able to enjoy some tasty canalside bbqs, many long evenings sitting out and some pleasant walks.

Despite the strong winds and heavy rain last week the past few days have been a real treat with gentle breezes, warm, sometimes even hot , sunshine and warmer nights. We have been slowly making our way northward on the Oxford Canal playing leap frog with another boat,  WaterLilleys.  The owners Sharon and Terry have had an exciting summer. Terry has walked 600 miles on the SW coastal path while Sharon  has spent her time taking WaterLilleys down the Kennett and Avon to Bath single handed! Any boaters will know that is no mean feat and we take our hats off  to her. She was ably assisted by her four-legged companion Ziggy.

One of the delights of travelling on the canals  is these lockside encounters with  interesting people,  who you keep meeting as we all journey along the same route.

During our shopping stop at Banbury Sid had to make his usual visit to Tooley's Boatyard. This resulted in us ordering a new chimney. Not just any old chimney this time but a hand built,  made to measure 18 inch chimney. It is made from 4mm steel, has a double flue, fluted top, twin lifting handles and has brass plate with Tooley's (Hunters Moon beneath) embossed on it.

Photos will follow when it is delivered.

We were also asked to let everyone know about Banbury Canal Day on Sunday  14th October 10.30 - 4.30. Also a note for canal lovers, a book entitled ' Forging Ahead' ( a history of Tooley's Boatyard ), by Matthew Armitage will soon be available.

Stormy Weather

Having moored back in the sheltered waters of Oxford 's East Street moorings to sit out the tail end of Storm Helene, which had reeked havoc to parts of the US East coast, we then heard that Storm Ali was on it's way.

Fortunately, Sid had some jobs to do. Firstly, to repair the ceiling lining on Hunters Moon, which we noticed had dropped in a number of places and secondly to try and sort out our persistent water leak!

Being in Oxford we were able to source the necessary bits and pieces needed. So Sid filled his day with making good the ceiling.

The water leak somewhere on the hot water cylinder is another matter. Ideally we need to be close to a water point because the tank needs to be emptied and then refilled. Sid also noticed that the tank was in danger of falling through, the now rotting floor where it had been wet for so long so needed to make a temporary repair under the hot water cylinder  to prevent this happening. To this end we left Oxford on Wednesday morning, very early, before the stronger winds picked up and headed south to Abingdon.

We had a rather blowy journey but made it safely to Abingdon, where  'lo and behold' Bente was assisting the lock keeper!  It was so good to see her and Erik and to hear that Erik, although rather bruised and stiff, had not suffered any major ill effects from his fall.
The mooring we had hoped to go on above the lock was full so we went through the lock, ably assisted by Bente, and moored just below, which was an interesting experience! Just as we were coming alongside the bank the boat got caught by the wind and we were in danger of running aground on a very shallow patch of water not to mention bring carried toward the foot of the weir.  Jenny  managed to get to the bank with the centre line but could not hold it then we changed places and Sid could not hold it so, with us both back on board Sid tried to manoeuvre us out of trouble. Eventually, the lock keeper and another chap , having seen what was happening from the lock side, came to our rescue and we managed to get Hunters Moon securely tied up.

The very blustery afternoon was then spent  dismantling the bed, the hot water tank being under it,  emptying the tank, ascertaining where the leak was, making a temporary repair to the flooring, sorting the leaking connection and then putting everything back together again!

The suspect connection at the base!

Job done at my then we heard Storm Bronagh was bringing more gale force winds our way.

So, here we are still on Abingdon waiting for the heavy rain at mind winds to move on.

ps Erik and Bente's boat 'Lady Louisa' came from Datchet not Le Boat . Just wanted to keep the record straight.  They moved on today so good luck to them in the strong winds. We wish you both well.

Decision Made

We have turn upstream onto the Thames from Oxford. However, after seeing the wind forecast for the week ahead have decided to turn round and head downstream. It was the twisty, turny and wide open nature of the upper Thames and the news that the remains of  Storm Helene was heading our way that changed our minds as we sat, listening to the wind building, on a beautiful mooring just above Eynsham Lock.

As Jenny stood in the galley, preparing vegetables for our roast lamb dinner, she glanced out of the side hatch and noticed a Le Boat hire boat coming in to moor a short distance behind Hunters Moon. As always, being very nosey, she looked out to see who was on board.  Just as well she was taking notice because the bank gave way under the chap who was endeavouring to secure the boat, resulting in him falling into the water between the bank and the boat. We leapt into action and ran to lend a hand. Erik,  who had managed to clamber onto the side of the boat, was very shaken as was his wife Bente, so we took control of making the boat safe  and Sid helped Erik to get to his feet and get inside the boat.

This lovely Norwegian couple, who have come to the UK for the past 20 years to cruise the Thames and who apparently know all the lock keepers, we're as you can imagine, grateful for our help and , after Erik had had a hot shower and felt much calmer, gifted us with a bottle of 'Norwegian  fire water'. Unnecessary but much appreciated. We had to sample it that evening and it certainly has a kick!

All in a day on the water!

Oxford

Arrived in Oxford and spent a very enjoyable evening with these two in the Old Bookbinders. The beer flowed and the steak was first class.

We spent a relaxed day on Saturday wandering through the busy but fascinating streets of this university city, doing a bit of shopping and enjoying the warm sunshine.

September 2018

We have returned to Hunters Moon after an eventful  break during August. It has been fun having our eldest grandaughter, Emily, to stay during the school holidays and we have caught up with family and friends. However, one thing we didn't bank on was for Sid to have a spell in hospital with cellulitis again.

Since his leg is still not completely back to normal we decided to have a very slow and gentle chug down towards Oxford instead of heading up to Birmingham as we had planned.

Gusty, challenging winds were with us for the first few days of our trip but then the sun has come through and given us a glorious autumn day.

We were able to catch up with our good friends  Jan and Tony whilst we were at Cropredy,  they only live and short distance from this lovely little canalside village now and we are due to meet our fellow boaters Sara and Pete in Oxford .

We haven't made up our minds about where we will venture once we get to Oxford, whether  to have a few days on the Thames, then whether to turn right towards Lechlade or downriver  somewhere or just turn round and head slowly back up the Oxford Canal.
It's hard making these important decisions!