At last we have made it onto the Thames after an eventful day. More problems with THE tooth saw me make a decision to abandon our Lechlade leg and head straight to Oxford. Fellow Sea Otter owner John gave me some instructions and we headed for Sheepwash Channel. As the rain and wind increased we spied a gentleman and a dog waving at us, John and Jack to the rescue ! Guiding us through Oxford we refuelled at College Cruisers, a whole £25 which will get us home, and thru Isis lock onto the Thames. By now it was raining heavily, Jack being an intelligent dog had taken refuge in the cabin, whilst we stayed in the rain. There was lots of mooring at Osney Island, and a short walk saw refuge and a warm cuppa, thanks Eric ! Being ever helpful John drove us to the dentist, and Hazel shopped. Thankfully this dentist was a lot better than the last one I saw, THE BUTCHER OF WEST BYFLEET, and an abscess was diagnosed. The new filling adjusted and antibiotics administered saw instant relief. Well done Botley Dental Clinic ! He was my kind of dentist when he prescribed an antibiotic that could be taken with alcohol ! After all he said, you are supposed to be on holiday.

We also got to see Osney Venture, another 27′ SO and John allowed me the privilege of starting her up for the first time since its new starter motor was fitted. Subtle differences were examined, and their cratch table admired. The day finished off on a high with dinner at the local pub, along with 4 Canadian fellow canal boaters    we had being playing tag with at the locks that morning. Hopefully the tooth will now settle and we can enjoy the rest of the Thames. Once again a big thank you to John, Eric and Jack !

Dukes Cut junction with South Oxford canal

Osney Venture

What a cratch table !

Double locking !

Well we are moored up just outside of Kiddlington on the outskirts of Oxford. We had hoped to moor in the town or on the Thames but the weather closed in. Not so much the rain but the wind made steering difficult, especially when it was from the side. That’s one disadvantage of a Sea Otter, it weighs 3 ton compared to up to 20 tons the big ones weigh. The locks leading into Thrup were interesting in that we double locked in a narrow lock ! Our 27′ and a 42′ singlehanded squeezed in and went thru. Plenty of room once inside but a bit squeezey openning the gate. The lock exiting the Cherwell was a diamond shaped one like Aynho. We stopped at the Boat Inn for lunch, and moored up when a storm front approached. I’ll decide wether it’s Dukes Cut or The Sheepwas Channel for entering the Thames tomorrow after phoning John a fellow SO owner who lives on the river. Unfortunately my cracked tooth has started playing up again, so we will be a dry boat tonight ( to Penny’s relief ).

Shipton Weir Lock – River Cherwell

nb The singlehanded is removing his bike from the roof to fit under the lock bridge. We watched him tackle a lift bridge from the front of his boat using a boat hook. Most impressive !

Well a good day, with a slight rain delay just before lunch. Somerton Lock was impressive, it really felt like an elevator when the paddles went up and the water out. Most of the lift bridges were up, except 2. One we lucked out arriving just after another boat and were waved thru. The other required Hazel to pull down on a chain bringing the counter weight down. She could only just get it halfway and then was left hanging mid air ! Not enough oomph…. So I did it, and Hazel drove the boat thru by herself perfectly ! Unfortunately picking me up the other side wasn’t quite a graceful ! Still she can say I’ve captained T42. We are 1 day out of Oxford, but will probably take 2 and get there early to find a mooring. Hoping to catch up with a fellow Sea Otter owner who lives on Osney Island. Cheers Mark and Hazel

Aynho overnight mooring

Clematis

Isolated Lock Keepers Cottage

Somerton Deep Lock

Anybody who’s anybody knows that Banbury is home, not to some F1 Race Team, but Tooleys Boatyard. This is where Tom Rolt had his narrowboat fitted out as a live aboard just before WW2. He then proceeded to cruise on the waterways and caught the last hurrah of the No1’s before commercial trade collapsed. Writing about this in his book “Narrowboat” caught the publics imagination, and in turn led to public demonstrations leading to the resurrection of the Waterways as we now know them. Any narrowboater has to make a “pilgrimage” to Tooleys and thank Tom, even if he is no longer with us. Sadly the Worrkshops are surrounded by a new shopping centre. This was convenient for us, but being Saturday too busy as well. We have moored overnight at Aynho Wharf. This is deep lock country, a couple today have been around 9 to 10 feet deep, but the grand daddy is Sommerton Lock tomorrow, at 12 feet deep. They are known locally as Elephant Traps.

Tooleys Boatyard

Our mooring at Cropready

After a very wet day we have finally reached Cropredy, a delightful canal town. Unfortunately our SIM card has died and the replacement one isn’t uploading pictures well. Tomorrow whilst going thru Banbury we will try another one. Mark

After a good nights sleep we felt much better to tackle Napton Flight, 9 locks, 7 set against us. Got thru working well as a team, we seem to have a good system for these narrow locks. Then a long and winding summit pound to Fenny Compton. Here the local pub has a shop set up on the other side to the bar, also a laundry and hair dressing saloon. Overall a real boaters pub ! I’ll have a Chardonnay please whilst watching the undies go round……..

May Blossom

South Oxford Canal

South Oxford Canal

After a 5am rise and departure by 7 with Ray towing T42 we were at Calcutt Marina by 11. 3 wide beam locks and 2.5 hours later saw us collapse at the bottom of the 9 lock Napton Flight. We decided to moor at the appropriately named Folly Pub. We will do the flight tomorrow and get back to Pyrford within 4 weeks for our flight home. It’s a bit daunting at the moment but I’m sure we will get back into the swing of things soon.

Well T42 is high and dry ! Ready for our next adventure down the Oxford Canal and Thames. One bit of preparation I hadn’t planned on was this afternoons repair of a cracked tooth. Last night was spent in considerable pain, which was nothing compared to what the dentist did this afternoon ! A repeat trip was called for but, so long as it settles down, I think I’ll wait till I can see MY dentist in Australia. He does drive an Aston a Martin and understands about all these things. In the meantime Cheers, Ouch that Cider is cold……

High and dry

Our last day in port with Voyager, but what a day. After a damp Oslo the sun came out for our arrival here. A fabulous cruise in a 1954 ship saw some amazing scenery. A walk around the old and new town saw the last items purchased and lunch overlooking the fish market harbour. This was located on a canal connecting 2 bays and saw a steady procession of craft traversing between them. As the sun was out the food of choice was ice cream, and lots of it. All in all we have both really enjoyed the cruise, Norway and its people; and can really recommend Voyager. It’s a formal affair tonight with the Captain and what is bound to be an entertaining show, last night a pack of pirates served dinner and sang to us. We have a day at Sea, then Crick Boat Show followed by our trailering up to Calcutt Marina near Coventry, so it might be a while before the next blog. Cheers M & H

Both cruise vessels

Kristiansand

“old” Kristiansand

Goodbye Norway

A wet cold day, but no matter the Museums were good, especially the Viking Ship and Folk Museum.

“Queen ship”

“Chiefs ship”

Ornate carving on burial chamber

Stave church Folk museum