Tuesday 26th May, Thrupp.
The stagecoach was on time for the short hop into Oxford this morning; no,we have not discovered a time machine, it was Stagecoach Oxford service 59a from Banbury.
On arrival, we made for the Museum of the History of Science in Broad Street. Science must be a slow discipline here in Oxford for the museum did not open until 12noon.
I proposed Plan B and it was agreed. We would catch the bus to Witney and instead, have a wander around there. We bought some pasties from a butcher in the covered market and went for the bus. Part of the outward journey was known to us as it passed through Eynsham, to which we had walked from the lock some 4 years ago.
Witney was bigger than I had remembered from my transport days, there were some interesting looking buildings and a nice green leading up to the church, where there is a row of Alms houses forming one of the boundaries of the churchyard
After a picnic on the green, we had a look around the church of St Mary the Virgin. The roof is under repair at present, there were other areas of the church that were in need of repair. We could not think of having visited a church in regular use that had such evidence and a feeling of neglect, we left feeling a little disappointed in the PCC. In contrast, the war memorial was a credit to the town, neat flower beds and well maintained.
Plenty of shops to look both at and in; including a personal favourite, Robert Dyas which began life as an Ironmongery and has branched out widely; both in location and stock. I did not buy anything. For me, this was a first.
We caught a different bus back to Oxford and enjoyed the scenery and the buildings on the outskirts. I wasted time in Waterstones until the Thrupp bus departure time, Myra did the same in Debenhams.
Back at Thrupp, we had finished supper when I heard the all too familiar bleat of a lamb in distress. On leaving the boat, I saw two people that had just cycled past Martlet; they had gone down the grass bank to the River Cherwell which flows past the canal there with just a hedge separating them. The lad (in his 20's) had shinned up a tree and crossed the river by a fallen branch. The lamb was reaching the opposite bank but was unable to climb out. The lad grabbed the scruff of its neck and heaved it out. It laid on the ground for about 30 seconds, then with a shake of the head, clambered up and scampered off to find mum. He did well and a good result for the lamb.
2009 Totals – Locks 192; Miles 356; Bus pass uses 8
