Friday 8th May, Christchurch Meadow, Oxford.
Starting at 7.45am before the lock keepers start work, we have to operate Pinkhill Lock ourselves; Myra walked down to get it ready. It was just as well. There were four camping skiffs tied up taking all the length of the lock mooring. She could not have got off the boat without us risking serious damage to the skiffs from our 14 tons of steel being blown sideways onto them. I managed to lasso the back dolly of a moored narrowboat on the other side of the lock approach; holding back until Myra commandeered some of the campers to open the other gate for us. They helped with the sluices and gates and we were soon on our way towards Eynsham.
What is it with Myra, myself and Martlet? Have we replaced the RSPCA as floating animal welfare officers? We came around a sharp bend close to Eynsham Bridge and there it was: another animal in the water, this time a lamb swimming in the middle of the river and bleating for all it was worth.
Here we go again – Myra yelling at me DO NOT DO YOUR BACK IN, BE CAREFUL.
Backing Martlet up, I managed to use the wind and the boat to shoo the lamb towards the river bank by gently nudging it in that direction. There was a narrowboat moored close by, I tied to the back of it making a triangle with the bank, by which time the lamb was against the bank, but unable to get out. I got onto the bank and bending down, grabbed a handful of woolly scruff of neck with one hand and one fore leg with the other. A quick two six and the lamb was back on land. After a moment gathering itself, it wandered off to find mum who was not far away and was walking towards the lamb.
A good result, albeit a bit emotional as far as I was concerned.
Down through Eynsham Lock and heavy, squally showers of rain for the three miles to Kings Lock. We stopped and chatted to the relief keeper whilst another squall passed by.
We carried on through Godstow Lock and were heading along Port meadow; I looked over my shoulder and the sky was very dark and threatening. It would take about 40 minutes to Osney where we intended stopping for lunch. The squall seemed to be about 10 minutes away at most; when it arrived, just for a change it consisted mainly of hail!
Passing along the Sheepwash channel I saw a heavily camoflaged boat; an attempt at licence evasion?
By the time we had moored, it was a clear, sunny day. Our Great British weather.
We had two excellent meals in the Waterman’s Arms and then moved down to the tranquillity of Christchurch meadow for overnight mooring. Watching the rowing eights and fours practising, and later, the crews walking back along the riverside as dusk was falling: I wondered how many of them realise how fortunate that they are to be there.
2009 Totals – Locks 161; Miles 247; Bus pass uses 2.
