Left at 09:50
arrived at 13:40
We were up late to a
very wet day so we weren’t rushing to get started. 13 locks to do today and
then stop at Napton (I think) Braunston tomorrow to wait for Matt to pick Niamh
up on Sunday. Derek spoke to the NB
owner behind us and they were to share all our locks today NB Our Lass
Sue! An older man, his daughter and
son-in- law. It didn’t take long to get to the 1st lock, we all
worked well together and we were soon through.
Just beyond the 2nd lock was The Blue Lias, a gorgeous pub,
its outside hung in glorious flower planters, Derek said he knew it was there
but we said we didn’t want to do any more locks yesterday, he lied, he didn’t
tell us about it. At the beginning of
the flight there was a lockie, he prepared it for us and told us that one
paddle was enough to fill it to save us some work,he stayed with us right to
the top of the locks. We criss crossed with the other couple and him, getting the next
lock ready and closing the last one etc.
It worked very well and we got to the top quite quickly, achieving a
good time to complete them all. Derek and Mr Our Lass Sue, were quite expert by
the top, they sailed quite stately, close together from one lock, through the
pound and into the next one, looking quite majestic from up above the pound,
smart asses aren’t they. It had stopped
and started raining but the sun was coming out, it wasn’t at all cold even in
the downpour. We had a drink sailing
along to the other three locks, I got changed into myskirt as I was comfier and
cooler. There are a lot of boats round
here, we passed Ventnor Marina which looked really nice, then there was Calcutt
Boats and Marina,brokerage shop and general boat services. Mr. Our Lass Sue moors here when he leaves
his boat, he lives near Oxford with his wife, who no lo nger comes on the boat
with him. His Daughter and son-in-law live in Leicesster and come down now and
then to crew for him. The husband is an
art teacher and we think the Daughter is also.
At the Calcutt Locks (3) there was a boat coming down, we let him out
and went straight in, at the second lock another single boat went up, they
prepared it for us as they were stopping just above it for diesel. Then the last lock Niamh and I emptied it and
let our boats in, we pulled over to the water point, said our goodbyes to the
other NB and its crew and got some ice creams from the shop. Derek said we
would be mooring up shortly, we hadn’t had any lunch yet ( and I know what hes
like, his shortly generally isn’t short)
so I put the pizzas in the oven for lunch. We finally came to rest at 2
45 out in the countryside, behind a very large broadbem Jaybee. Niamh and I had eaten our lunch, locking
makes you very hungry, Derek would eat his when we were finally settled to his
liking. We had fish and chips for tea,
its Friday after all, plus Knicker Knocker Glories for D and N and fruit and
cream for me. We have tele and the
internet so we can post the last weeks blogs.
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