( An illustrated account of that holiday. )

Tuesday 20th August. Time - 8.75 hours Locks 9 Miles 18

6.45 a.m. Mooved off on an overcast and misty morning.

7.30 a.m. Into Duke's cut channel, and at 7.45 back onto the Oxford canal. David helping with the locks. Family asleep until with the boat in the lock under the railway bridge a train roared over the top!!

Through Drinkwater's lift Bridge, B 231 on my own, propping up the bridge with the boat hock as only David up, then a very quick clear up in the cabin.

Stopped briefly under B224, to pick blackberries from the offside.

Just before Thurp Yard Lift Bridge passed restored motor Renfrew from Stockton moored up.

10.15 a.m. Moored at Thurp yard to fill with water. Water very very slow as 2 other boats came after us and also used adjacent taps so pressure reduced to a trickle.

11.30 a.m. Finally full and moved off.

At Shipton Weir lock shared with a private 45 ft boat.

1.15 p.m. Stopped for lunch just before B215.

1.45 p.m. Moved on.

At Pigeon Lock with Cary's steering into the lock we were watched by four policemen, but never found out what they were up to.

At Hayford Common Bridge, B200, one of the lowest on the canal, and the chimney jammed under it, denting the chimney and removing chunks of brick from the bridge!! I later had to straighten it up with the pliers.

6.15 p.m. Moored up for the night just before Somerton village. The rear of a line of five well spaced out boats on the field moorings.

Go on to the next day.

Return to the general page for this holiday.