Plan C it is

Monday 25^th May; Somerton Meadows to below Dashwood lock

Although we had been in reasonable shade yesterday and the boat hadn’t become too uncomfortable, it was still too hot to sleep without all the porthole glass removed.  We were up fairly early, not to move the boat as you might have thought but to ensure a cool morning walk for Jess. 

7 am, Somerton meadows

Our original plan for this trip had been to go onto the Thames and up to Lechlade before returning to spend time in Oxford, then leaving the boat at Enslow Marina.  We abandoned this plan early on.  I have been having tendon and cartilage trouble with my right knee, which is very painful.  Dave's arthritis is also a painful nuisance and we realised that it might well be dangerous to attempt to use the rough moorings on the Upper Thames with unreliable knees.  Then it occurred to us that our normal stays in Oxford involve quite a lot of walking too, either on Port Meadow or around the city.  With the heat still building we jettisoned that idea and adopted Plan C, to turn at Thrupp and return to Calcutt. 

It was not long after 9 when we set off, but it soon became scorchingly hot.  We met boats as we left both Heyford Common Lock and Allen’s lock, which speeded things up a little.  At least when we were on the move there was a sight breeze.

This fallen tree turned into a seat with a carved face alongside has been here for years

A boater walking on the towpath used his Key of Power to open Mill Left bridge for us which was nice of him.

The automated lift bridge

This section was in delightful cool shade for a bit of respite from the heat.  We were keen to take on water so waited at Heyford Wharf bridge for a hire boater to finish with the tap before we topped up.  It was so hot now that we decided to cut short today’s cruise after Dashwood lock where we grabbed a good patch of shade in time for lunch.  Even in good shade, with the hopper windows out, it was gaspingly hot.  At 9 pm it was still 25 degrees outside and 26 inside, even with all the hoppers still out.  I know it was hotter elsewhere but this was quite enough to deal with, thank you.

4 miles, 3 locks, 1 lift bridge