Slow but steady towards Oxford

 Monday 29^th August; Thrupp to Aristotle Bridge

It was a lovely quiet night again, although what sounded like the bin lorry must have gone up to Annie’s Tea Rooms or maybe the facilities block at some early hour.  We were away at about 9, and went down to moor below Roundham lock as we needed some shopping.  I walked over the bridge and across the railway, following my nose through a housing estate to come out opposite the end of the pedestrianised shopping area.  As it was bank holiday most shops were closed, but the supermarkets were open and I got all we needed.  Dave and Meg meanwhile explored the footpaths on the towpath side of the canal – a very popular dog-walking area.  We were off again when we got back, down Kidlington Green lock where the bolts are loose on the gate paddles – I need to report that – and on towards what used to be my nemesis, the dreaded Drinkwater Bridge.

Drinkwater Bridge - how will it be today?

This lift bridge used to be a nightmare to operate – not lifting the bridge itself, but getting the locking mechanism open, which was extremely difficult, and then to close it and get your key out again afterwards.  In the past, the chap who lives on the boat moored there has come to help – he knew its little quirks.  I bet he’s pleased that it now sports a hydraulic mechanism which is much easier to manage.  That’s a relative term mind you – it takes 60 turns to open (though you could probably get away with 50) but merely 12 to close.

Hydraulic operation now

We noticed that the towpath has been ‘improved’ from here.  (In fact, on our way back north a few days later we realised it now hosts the national cycle route no. 5, which joins the canal at bridge 230).

National Cycle Route now

We pulled in on the 14-day mooring for lunch, just in front of the boat in the picture.  Lunch was rather delayed, as the gas bottle ran out before the kettle was boiled.  Dave went to get the gas spanner from its usual hook under the top board of the cratch … blast, that was on Chuffed!  We looked everywhere one might have been secreted away, but there was nothing – so it was lucky the adjustable spanner was just big enough, and even so it needed a little gentle help with the mallet.  We could have asked to borrow from the boat behind, but it was Watt Knot – all-electric.  So we would have had to go down the line of permanent moorings till we found someone at home.

Anyway, we eventually had lunch then carried on towards Oxford.  Duke’s lock was no trouble, then the lift bridge 233 under the A34 bridge was nowhere to be seen!  Once when we went through I had to stand and support the thing to keep it open as it kept trying to close itself – there was no chain to pull the beams down from the offside.  There is a stoppage notice extant (though the bridge number is wrong) as work is ongoing to replace it.  The works are obvious, and on a working day we are warned to expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

But it is Bank Holiday so nothing was happening.  It was long slow crawl now as there are a lot of permanent moorings to pass, then at Perry’s lift bridge (234) two young families were ecstatic to see the bridge being raised (easily, everything working well) and then they beetled down to Wolvercote lock to watch us go through and ‘help’.  They were thrilled to push the gates.  The bottom gate (unlike so many others on this canal) is so well balanced that three children under 4 opened it all by themselves.  Great fun!  We carried on to Aristotle Bridge moorings, where there was plenty of room, and after a cup of tea had a lovely walk on Port Meadow.  We have never seen the Thames this low – and certainly not seen so much blanket-weed on a river!  It’s supposed to prefer water that isn’t flowing.

On our way back we saw a canoe-like craft without paddles, effortlessly cruising upstream, with no visible means of propulsion.  It was silent, so it must have had an electric motor, and on cropping and enlarging the image it appeared the chap was controlling the rudder with strings.

Not magic

We had a relaxing evening back at the boat, and arranged a family visit for tomorrow.

5½ miles, 4 locks, 2 lift bridges.