Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Owl and towpath facilities etiquette

Monday 12th May
After a horribly windy day and then a very quiet night in the woods with just an owl for company (and Pete), we travelled on to Thrupp. Wooded along the Cherwell River, this stretch is particularly sheltered and the wind had dropped, sun was out and it was warm! We moored in Thrupp, a well kept spot looked after by a proud boaters' club. This makes for a beautiful mooring and The Boat Inn is a very pleasant pub.
We had a pint and dinner while a thunderstorm passed overhead and went back onboard as the sun reappeared and set.

We needed to fill up with water at Heyford. It's an awkward position to have to stop in especially if there is someone already using the tap (which there was), being just after a bridge, with boats moored both sides. I went on foot to assess the situation and discovered another boat which appeared to be waiting. When I asked the owner who was just holding in with his mid line, he said we could go first as he was happy to moor for the night here as their boat was going into the boatyard next morning, so he would wait. A very kind gesture by a very kind Frenchman (the boat advertised Monsieur Jardin design business and had a beautiful roof garden). This is what boating is all about. People helpful, thoughtful and generous and in no hurry.

The other friendly young man who was already filling his tank was chatty and helpfully pulled his boat forward so that we could wait behind him away from the narrow bridge.

Jolly boatmen!





Mad hare guarding property at Heyford



Ruined abbey at Hampton Gay, near Thrupp
Location:Tackley

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