Day 38 - Monday August 7th - Aynho to Thrupp
13 miles 2 furlongs, 8 locks, 7 hours 35 minutes
Somewhat later start after yesterday's exertions, setting off at
10.05am. Chisnell lift bridge appears to have been refurbished and put
back into use since I last cruised along here :-( fortunately, I arrived
at the same time as a boat coming the other way, and was able to go
straight through. Arrived at Somerton Deep to find a boat going down in
the lock and a short hire boat from UCC in front of me in the queue. By
the time the UCC boat was entering the lock another boat had arrived
behind, followed by a short boat with a very tall exhaust and clouds of
steam. Laplander had arrived. A quick check found that Laplander could
fit into the lock with the UCC boat, so they overtook the other
narrowboat and me in the queue. Had a good chat with Sean while they
were in the lock. Soon it was my turn, and with a steady stream of
boats arriving below the lock I was able to leave the lock operation to
others. Caught up with Laplander again at Heyford Common lock, but
after that some other boats had set off after Laplander had passed and I
saw them no more. Arriving at Mill lift bridge I was helped through by
an old gent with a walking stick. When he saw that I was nosing up to
the lift bridge rather than putting someone ashore he realised that I
was single handing and opened the bridge for me. I later found out that
he used to work for BW before retiring, and was now over ninety! Bit of
a queue at Pigeon's lock, and I spent the time chatting to a couple of
BW guys. Shipton lift bridge had to be tackled next, there being no
boats or walkers about, I had to deal with it on my own. There was
nothing to hook the chain to, but I managed to get a screw into the
block of wood that just about held the bridge open. I arrived above the
lift bridge in Thrupp at 5.40pm, and tied up briefly on the services
moorings. A quick check with one of the Thrupp Cruising Club guys
revealed that there was fat chance of getting on the limited VMs beyond
the bridge at this late hour, but he said that I might be able to get in
the gap opposite. I commented that the signs said something about
authorisation being required to moor there. He replied that he could
authorise it! The gap was about three feet shorter than Arun, but the
couple on the boat in front of me agreed to move along a little bit to
make enough room. Showered and wandered off to the pub for a bite to
eat, but passed Felis Catus III on the VMs below the bridge. Stopped
and chatted to Wendy for a bit, before resuming my journey towards the
pub. Discovered that Mike was in the pub chatting with Sean, but Sean
must have left just before I got there, as I met Mike between FC III and
the pub.
Weather - Sunny Intervals
Tomorrow's Forecast - Sunny Intervals
Terry Streeter
NB Arun - Thrupp
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
