As I was maneuvering to moor at Banbury on Thursday I heard
an unusual clunking sound from the engine, I’d forgotten about by the time I
got settled, "it’s me age deary", but I remembered it again on Friday, so before
I forgot again I decided a quick arm down the weedhatch was necessary, and all
was revealed, wrapped around the prop was this item, I think it was a neckwarmer but whatever it was it is
no longer.
Saturday I set of first about 8:30, I had to negotiate the
lift bridge and lock and then get on the service point for the usual empty and
fill and I wanted to put a load of washing in the machine so needed hot water
(the engine heats the water). Once all that was done I moored opposite the
service point to await Karl’s arrival and then we set off with him leading the
way but not before I had taken a picture of ‘Spaghetti Limbed Pete’, a pirate figure
made of 5mm wire then painted, who has stood by the lower lock landing outside
the Mill Arts Centre since 2007, he was created by David Gosling and people
with learning disabilities.
And also many more rapeseed fields, so common now at this
time of year.
A bit of a snug fit as I passed moored boats opposite a brested
pair of hire boats at Twyford Wharf but no contact was made J
I passed through the first two locks both giving and receiving
assistance and all went well and somewhere along the route (I forget where exactly) was
this sunken burnt hull, it’ll no doubt be there for some time before someone
clears it away.
Arriving at ‘The Pig Place’, a small holding selling its
ware’s, Karl had moored outside for lunch, there is room for three maybe four
boats but no space for me as they were all taken, so I moored on the towpath side and made a cuppa and
a sandwich. Karl sent a text to say he was staying overnight to avail himself
of the electric hook-up, so I continued on through the next two locks, Nell
Bridge lock (32) and Aynho Weir lock (33) which is a diamond shaped lock, I
then saw my first Goslings of the year.
Continuing on past Aynho Wharf I moored at a favoured rural spot
of mine from my last year’s visit.
Karl caught up again this morning but we were not moving on,
I wanted to watch the Spanish F1 Grand Prix.
Views from the side hatch:
Totals this post: 5 miles : 5 locks : 2 lift bridges
(actually operated, there are many fixed open)
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