9th/10th July
For some reason we were up early on Thursday, so decided to press on, fully intending to stop at the top of Stockton locks for the night, but when we got that far it seemed daft not to continue to Napton. I picked up the car from Wigrams turn marina, as we turned on to the Oxford Canal. Wigrams had kindly allowed us to leave it for these weeks. I was slightly alarmed to find it all on its own and cordoned in though. They are apparently rearranging their car park so that all parking is on the tarmac in marked spaces, this all happening whilst we were away. We are obviously the last car to shift! It strikes us as odd that they had allowed us to park and instructed us as to where to, without taking down any of our details. Anyway, all was well and we are grateful for the safe and free of charge parking at this smart newish marina. I drove to The Folly, whilst Pete boated there. Once again we ate at this favourite pub at the end of a hot and sunny day. Our mooring opposite the sheep bleating and goats calling (what sound do goats make? Should ask my great niece! ) was very pleasant.
Another Heath Robinson device has been brought into play on Ani. We have finally worked out how to get a reliable TV signal by rigging up the extendable boat hook and attaching our digital aerial to the top of it. Until now on this trip it has been hit and miss as to whether we would get any signal with the contraption we had before, not that it matters that much. This one is not particularly aesthetically pleasing but does the job. Some people have rigging twice the height, which must be such a palaver to have to put up and take down, but of course height is what you need.
Pete moved the car to Marston Doles at the top of the Napton flight and on Friday morning I did the locks with the help of one or two volunteers, Bill not one of them because they are still out cruising. Took the car to Fenny Compton to wait for Pete to boat there. Another lovely hot day and we are now safely back on our home mooring, TV signal sorted ready to watch Wimbledon, cup of tea on the bank beforehand. Missing Jenny and Sid here though, they are just resuming their cruise we believe.
Home tomorrow. We seem to have an enormous amount of stuff to take off, not least of which our strawberry plants, now somewhat decimated, but we have managed to plant the runners, so should get more yet. We imagine our garden will be a jungle and the grass knee deep, Margaret has kindly been watering for us. More work, but hey ho, can't have it all!
This has been a brilliant successful trip and most of it in good weather. We'll be back on board in the last week in August for our Autumn Thames trip, hooray.
Working barges in the early morning sun
I've managed to keep our bow table really girly on this trip! Flowers, solar lanterns and candles! Not a screwdriver, rope or log to be seen!!
Sunset at Napton mooring
For some reason we were up early on Thursday, so decided to press on, fully intending to stop at the top of Stockton locks for the night, but when we got that far it seemed daft not to continue to Napton. I picked up the car from Wigrams turn marina, as we turned on to the Oxford Canal. Wigrams had kindly allowed us to leave it for these weeks. I was slightly alarmed to find it all on its own and cordoned in though. They are apparently rearranging their car park so that all parking is on the tarmac in marked spaces, this all happening whilst we were away. We are obviously the last car to shift! It strikes us as odd that they had allowed us to park and instructed us as to where to, without taking down any of our details. Anyway, all was well and we are grateful for the safe and free of charge parking at this smart newish marina. I drove to The Folly, whilst Pete boated there. Once again we ate at this favourite pub at the end of a hot and sunny day. Our mooring opposite the sheep bleating and goats calling (what sound do goats make? Should ask my great niece! ) was very pleasant.
Another Heath Robinson device has been brought into play on Ani. We have finally worked out how to get a reliable TV signal by rigging up the extendable boat hook and attaching our digital aerial to the top of it. Until now on this trip it has been hit and miss as to whether we would get any signal with the contraption we had before, not that it matters that much. This one is not particularly aesthetically pleasing but does the job. Some people have rigging twice the height, which must be such a palaver to have to put up and take down, but of course height is what you need.
Pete moved the car to Marston Doles at the top of the Napton flight and on Friday morning I did the locks with the help of one or two volunteers, Bill not one of them because they are still out cruising. Took the car to Fenny Compton to wait for Pete to boat there. Another lovely hot day and we are now safely back on our home mooring, TV signal sorted ready to watch Wimbledon, cup of tea on the bank beforehand. Missing Jenny and Sid here though, they are just resuming their cruise we believe.
Home tomorrow. We seem to have an enormous amount of stuff to take off, not least of which our strawberry plants, now somewhat decimated, but we have managed to plant the runners, so should get more yet. We imagine our garden will be a jungle and the grass knee deep, Margaret has kindly been watering for us. More work, but hey ho, can't have it all!
This has been a brilliant successful trip and most of it in good weather. We'll be back on board in the last week in August for our Autumn Thames trip, hooray.
Working barges in the early morning sun
I've managed to keep our bow table really girly on this trip! Flowers, solar lanterns and candles! Not a screwdriver, rope or log to be seen!!
Sunset at Napton mooring
No comments:
Post a Comment