We could see small circles on the water as we had breakfast, the sky was a uniform grey colour. We were not put off, today we will be on the Thames; which is probably our favourite boating area.
Arriving at Thrupp, Myra went to operate the recently mechanised lift bridge. This lift bridge was a classic example of something working well that was just waiting to be changed and for money to be wasted yet again. Previously, it was easy to operate manually and well balanced. Now it has broken down almost every day during the first week and once, a council transit was driven on to it in an attempt to bring it down when it stopped in the 'up' position. I have seen more substantial hydraulic rams fitted to engine lifting cradles than the one on this bridge.
The locks are not too bad at this end of the Oxford canal, and soon we were dropping in Dukes lock ready to turn right and enter the Thames via Dukes cut lock. It is a very inauspicious entrance to the Royal River, but in our opinion, still to be preferred to the alternative Isis lock.
As we made our way along towards the river proper, there were two Roe deer and a Buzzard on the meadow to our left, a lovely welcome. We paid our licence fee to the Relief lock keeper and headed away from Kings lock.
I could see a long tug style narrowboat moored some way in front, it was Nb.Herbert, the lovely Roger Farrington built boat belonging to Andy and Annabel. We came alongside and woke them up, well, it was 9.45am! After a suitable interval, we joined them on board; it was the first time that we had seen the finished article as Andy had ben fitting it out by himself. He has done a beautiful job, of which he can be justly proud.
As we went aboard, we were immediately struck by what a relaxed, homely feeling the boat posessed. We spent the morning chatting and left them at lunchtime as they were heading back up the Oxford canal to Crick.
