Sunday Evening, 3rd May, Nr Duxford
Yesterday, at Abingdon, we met Caleb and Madeleine, our 5 and a half and 4year old grandchildren. They will stay with us until Monday afternoon, when their parents will collect them from Lechlade. They love the boat and we, of course, love having them with us. Every time they are entrusted to us, I am reminded of how many questions children can cram into one sentence; their desire for knowledge is wonderfully infectious.
It was interesting travelling along passing Christchurch Meadow at Oxford, threading our way between the rowing fours and eights, punts and skiffs, most of the latter two in inexperienced hands. The icing on the cake was delivered by one of Salter Brothers steamers backing away from the moorings at Folly Bridge at the same time a two skiffs rowed out from the landing stage opposite. No disaster ensued, it was all very civilised, good natured exchanges and friendly (honest!) waving of hands.
We have snack lunches on the move, as that leaves enough time for them to have a quiet interval in the afternoon. They wear lifejackets at all times that they leave the cabin, and enjoy helping out at the locks; with most of the lock keepers being happy for them to turn the big wheels to open the sluices on the locks above Oxford. Last night, we tied up on the bend above Dukes Cut with the lovely views of the wooded hills, and a nice meadow for them to work off any surplus energy before supper and bed.
Today, it was very windy to start; a sharp bite to it, the Sun had a bit of warmth, but not enough to beat the chill wind. It was only warming up a bit by mid-day; out of the wind it was nice. More boats were on the move, mainly cruisers, but also a few narrowboats.
We tied up near Duxford, close to Ten Foot Bridge. We moored behind Ken, a summer relief lock keeper on his narrowboat. He had a friend, Dave, staying with him.
I recognised Dave’s face from somewhere: we had met him in Sheffield canal basin on our visit 7 years ago when he was kind enough to keep an eye on our boat when we had days out exploring locally. The canal community truly is a close knit, friendly one.
We chatted to Ken and to Dave at length about our many mutual friends.
The evening was a sunny one, the wind still much in evidence.
2009 Totals – Locks 143; Miles 219.5; Bus pass uses 2.
