Sunday 24th May: Not a brilliant day light showers started while dog walking first thing and continued as we moved the boat onto moorings by Banbury Castle Quays shopping centre.
Had 3 separate forays out food shopping using M&S and small Morrisons and Tesco outlets which are only real local possibilities within walking distance on a Sunday. Once stocks replenished went through lift bridge and lock to water point to fill up again and then moved on down the Oxford setting off from Banbury about 01:30. Pleasant enough cruise all though we had to keep putting coats on and off either too cold, too warm (after exertion at locks) or too wet. Little sunshine but still not spring weather let alone summer! Through Aynho about 5pm and looked for suitable place to moor for night and to possible chill out (or tackle the starboard side of the boat) tomorrow. Though being a bank holiday Monday I do not hold out too much hope for a nice day weather wise!. Finally moored beyond Aynho just before the lift bridge prior to Somerton Deep lock.
Monday 25th May: Well whilst not being a spectacular Bank Holiday Monday the weather was fine for polishing and painting the boat. We did see a little sun and it was dry all day but cool and grey generally. Repeated exercise of a few days back this time on the starboard side.
Took longer for some reason - mainly because the paint work was worse this side but also because I spent some of the morning tidying the log and coal box chopping wood etc before I started so my back was already fairly bent before I started!
Tuesday 26th May: After all our exertions yesterday we decided to stay put and enjoy the scenery.
Took the dogs a walk down past Somerton Deep Lock and took lots of photo's.
Weather was much improved so much so that I sat outside and read for some of the afternoon and evening and unlike yesterday we failed to light a fire for the evening. Paid the price for this overnight when it turned cold and we recorded a minimum temperature of 0.6 degrees.
Noticed over the three days here how the lift bridge is left. When we arrived it was in the up position and boats were sailing through unhindered. But noticed three local joggers that passed used the bridge and left it in the down position. Boats then found it necessary to stop and lift the gate and drop it after them. Unless they were single handing in which case they lifted it and got back on the boat from the offside leaving it raised.
So it was with some despair that we found ourselves having to lift the bridge to go through on wednesday morning after an early morning jogger left it down!
No comments:
Post a Comment