A balmy summer's evening at last!
Sadly they lost!
We woke to that horrible fine drizzle that soaks right through you so had a lazy breakfast and faff around. Jenny, optimistically, said it was getting brighter in the distance so we ventured off our mooring. It was a morning of waterproofs on and off but by the time we came across The Pig Place the sun was trying very hard to shine through. Pork for Sunday purchased and then on our way.
By lunchtime the warm sun had arrived which put a big smile on Sid and Jenny's faces. But, along with the sun came an ever increasing and challenging wind. Bearing in mind Sid is supposed to be on light duties it was with some concern that, having approached the bank to let Jenny ashore to prepare Somerton Deep Lock, he really struggled to hold on to Hunters Moon in the strong cross wind. Obviously, he managed to bring HM under control. Whilst Sid was battling, Jenny was having her own battle with the huge, heavy bottom gate of this very deep lock. On her arrival at the empty lock she noticed a boat approaching it, so, as is the etiquette on the waterways she tried to open the gate for the approaching boat to enter the empty lock. However, she was being beaten and just couldn't budge it despite having the paddles up, in case the water levels were not the same. By this time the poor chap in the other boat was having similar problems to those Sid had experienced, exacerbated by a strong bywash at the mouth of the lock. To the rescue comes a wonderful, beefy Ozzy, whose hire boat had just moored behind Sid. He managed to open a the bottom gate. The boat entered the lock and my hero Ozzy was able to close the gate, Jenny wasn't sure she would have been able to do it on her own!
When it was Hunters Moon's turn to enter the lock, to go down, Jenny asked rather cheekily, if the Ozzy was happy to operate the lock if she went back on board, rather than Sid having the problem of picking Jenny up on vacating the lock. He agreed and Jenny had the very rare experience of descending a lock on board. Hence the photos!
The pesky wind was making driving conditions very difficult and rather unpleasant so we found a sheltered mooring and enjoyed the warm sunshine and even enjoyed a bbq in the evening. Perfect!
Here we are chugging along the South Oxford Canal making our way through numerous locks, under characterful lifting bridges and watching the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside pass by, all under dark skies and too many showers. Where is summer?
We have been amazed at the large number of moored boats in the hot spots and even out in the wilds, which is where we prefer to moor.
We have made our way to Twyford Wharf today passing through a very busy Banbury and leaving a very busy Cropredy earlier in the day.
It is so good to be travelling despite the inclement weather.
Back on board after a busy time back home. Dentist, GP appointments, hospital appointments, sports day, dancing displays, grandchildren sleepovers and an operation. Sid is healing well and felt he wanted to get back on board. On top of all our activities at home we have had a couple of trips out and about viewing Bond Bugs! But that's another story.
On slipping our mooring on Sunday morning the rain started. We are heading south but didn't get very far before finding a convenient bit of shuttering to moor and dry out. It is surprising how wet and cold it can be, in just a short time on the back of a narrowboat! A very lazy lunch and afternoon followed despite the rain easing and the sun coming through from time to time. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
