A watery adventure on the South Oxford Canal

Friday, 09 December 2011 16:36

Moored by the Jolly Boatman at Thrupp on the South Oxford Canal, we have two water points within reach. Today it was time to decide which one to go to. Both involved a bit of reversing if we wanted to stay moored with our bow facing "upstream". Oops, I find I use river terminology automatically now - I mean, towards the summit of course, or maybe more appropriately towards Shipton on Cherwell!

We had heavy rain last night but all was calm this morning

Today, we had no wind, unlike other parts of the country, so hopefully it would be a short easy cruise - little did we know ......

We chose to go up to Thrupp Wide rather than back down to Langford Bridge, as it was a beautiful sunny morning. 

Here we go

John dropped me at the end of the permit moorings before Aubrey's Lift bridge and I walked ahead to open the electrified bridge. 

Aubrey's Bridge ahead

Fine, brilliant! This all went very well and we moored at the sani-station.

Operating the bridge

We connected the hose to fill up with water. The washing machine was going merrily on its third load. I swapped some books - not forgetting to donate in the box there. John did the necessary with the two full cassettes (we have three, but have only once filled all three).

At the sani-station

John took another photo of Jolly, awaiting an exciting day with the families tomorrow, and yes, that is a BW work boat, but it seems to have nothing to do with the TCCC towpath upgrade that is going on beside the moorings.

Jolly and the work boat

All was completed: full at the bows, empty in the middle and a boat full of wet washing which will soon dry by the fire. A cleaner John (he had a shower as we filled up) directed me to go and open the bridge so he could reverse back through. 

Oh dear - the lift bridge would not open. I tried again and again, even crossing to use the pedestal the other side, but to no avail. Our short easy cruise had turned into a long one with annoying complications. Grrr - a phone call to BW, but it was lunch time so the girl said she would pass the message on. We had our lunch and rang again - they were on their way.

Two hefty BW "operatives" opened the lift bridge manually and sat on the beams to keep it open as John reversed back though. After that it was plain sailing back to our mooring and time to settle down. 

Soon narrowboat Morning Mist reversed by us - I hoped that BW had mended the bridge and Kate could get through.

Morning Mist on her way to Aubrey's Bridge

Now we should be OK for a few days more until it is time to move again: this time we hope further north than Thrupp Wide!

Jolly Boatman Pub to Thrupp Wide and back, 1 hour 7 mins, 0.78 mls, 0 locks,
1 lift bridge (twice ...eventually)