Millionaire and Good Chums

 I had meant to have included these yesterday.  As we sat surveying what I have come to regard as our meadows, I noticed an odd looking rig-up with metal looking something like a height restriction to an entrance to a car park, I couldn't make it out so got my camera out and zoomed in, then it started to move. 

Then it took off, it doesn't look like it but this is the bottom of someone's garden.  Two passing dog walkers muttered something about "Him going to Oxford".....  but actually the Oxford Airport is only 17 minutes from his house according to Googlemaps so I expect even this millionaire was going further.

The next morning we were up and ready to lend a hand to good chums Steve and Denise to get through Somerton Deep Lock, Denise would have struggled alone.  So we frogmarched through the undergrowth that is the tow path around here, windlass in David's hand, and arrived well in time to prep the lock for them.  

Here they come into view.

David did shut that paddle on instruction.

Today this is the best view of Denise.

Now the beady-eyed Reader among you will recognise this boat, it's literally on its way from Crick where it was exhibition to The Thames, NB Riverside is brand spanking new and it's a bit of a WOW BOAT!!   We were so pleased to see their new boat and them of course after a good couple of years and to have them pop up right next to you almost is such a treat.

We went down onto the meadows, drank coffee and chewed the fat then  about two hours later moved on down to Kirtlington and Pigeon Lock where both boats got on the back of the busy moorings and had supper together up in the village at The Oxford Arms, our second visit this summer.

Supper for me was potted shrimps, Seabass  think it was and chocolate and hazelnut torte, yes and as someone asked me recently how can I eat three courses well I can and fairly easily too.

The next morning we were all up, thanks to David, and set off at about eight O'Clock to get a mooring where we really wanted to be.

I've not seen many Herons down here, but have seen many many Red Kites instead.

There's an all too short and beautiful section of the River Cherwell here, these are nice new shiny river height  levels signs which are solar powdered, the very bottom set of green were flashing today. 

WaL in Bakers Lock.

Grey boat grey river.

River Cherwell.

WaL in the lozenge shaped lock.

Steve and David 

The lovely Riverside didn't get even a tinny scrape in here today, WaL might be a different matter.

So here we both landed at Thrupp.  A real "Honeypot" mooring hence we landed here at about 09:45, a nice lady opened the lift bridge for us as her boat was on the water point, their boat, another 70' had just vacated so we slipped in their spot as did another five or so boats during the next hour.  Full up by about 11am.

Lots and lots more fat chewing went on plus lots of laughter too as happens when old friends meet up again.

Steve was a bit of a SuperHero and bled our bathroom radiator, then refilled the water into the system.  I paid careful attention and so did David, but he can't be trusted alone as Steve showed him several years ago.....
Result!


Supper was cold salmon with couscous and lightly pickled coleslaw with coriander.