The heat starts to build

Saturday 24^th August; Aristotle Bridge to Kidlington, above Roundham lock

Another beautiful morning greeted us as we opened up.  Unfortunately the little deli was closed for a holiday, so no Saturday paper, at least to start with.  Meg was disappointed to be leaving this little park by the canal.

But she still enjoyed being in charge at the stern, at least till it got too hot for her to sit outside.

A lot of boats had left Oxford by the time we moved off at 9.30, and we caught up with a boat at Wolvercote lock, but then we pulled over at the small but comprehensive service point by Perry’s Lift bridge.  We made full use of the facilities – the rubbish bins are over the bridge.  We caught up with another boat at Duke’s Lock.  While I was turning the lock after they had left, I noticed how much the field where the dredgings had been spread had greened over in just a few weeks.

Chuffed approaching Duke's Lock

Drinkwater’s lift bridge was a pig again – it was very reluctant to give up my key, but I managed it in the end.  The previous lock, under the busy A-road bridge, is left unlocked now – the keyhole is damaged – but it has been weighted properly so unlike last year, when I had to hold it open at full stretch, it was fairly easy to do.  The man who lives on the boat moored on the offside at Drinkwater's often helps out if you are having trouble, but unfortunately they are off cruising at the moment!

It had become very hot by the time we moored between Kidlington Green lock and Yarnton bridge.  It’s about a mile to the Kidlington shops from here, but it was nearly lunchtime and we had run out of several things, so off I strode.  The market was on today, so I got some good veg, and the butcher was good too.  A few bits from Tesco – including the paper – and I went back to the boat, hugging the shade wherever I could.

It was so hot we didn’t want to go far after lunch, so we just went up Roundham lock and moored in some good shade a hundred yards or so above it.  Then we lazed around trying to keep cool.  At about 6, we walked up to the Highwayman at bridge 224 for a drink.  They were having a beer and music festival – there was a good rock band, with music very much to our taste even if we didn’t know it all.  It was a shame we were moored too far away to hear the rest of the evening’s entertainment, but we were tired and our meal was ready prepared back on the boat.

They were playing Woolly Bully when I took this. I had only had one pint so I can't imagine why they seem to be out of focus as well as playing on a slope!  Nobody dancing, which was a shame. I think some of the audience had been there all afternoon.

5 miles, 4 locks, 3 lift bridges and another left open.