Monday 28th April 2008
Rushey Lock to Tadpole Bridge
Not a bad day as far as weather goes, the sun was spotted several times and I was able to cast off one of my many layers for fear of overheating. V has a saying “Ne’er cast a clout ‘til May is out” which roughly translates as either don’t throw nails or keep your vest on until June 1st.

Rushey Lock’s bush-work boasts a Lock Ness monster, which didn’t photograph too well, and this ‘ere frog. It was too far away to throw money in its mouth so I dropped a penny in Rushey Lock and made my wish (only joking!).

The wish came true as we ground to a halt under Tadpole Bridge and found an empty mooring outside the Trout Inn.
By midday our guests Rip and Dot had arrived.
In the year of their diamond wedding anniversary this couple are still driving hundreds of miles to see old friends. We’ve known R&D for over 25 years and could tell you many funny stories of people and places and problems like missing the boat to England and felling trees across neighbour’s fences. Food has always had its place and today was no exception as we shared a meal in the Trout Inn. Thank you Rip and Dot for spoiling us yet again.

It was sad to see these guys leave because we have no idea when we’ll see them again.
I’ve offered to try and find Rip’s crew mates from his WW2 days aboard minesweepers MMS217 and BYMS2181 so if anyone knows of 80 year old RN types who spent time in Scotland on experimental minesweeping or sailed a new sweeper from Chicago to the Indian Ocean between 1943 and 1945 please let me know.
Not only that but if anyone has pictures of these two boats (ships?) then gissa-copy for my gradually expanding ships website.

Tuesday
Set off from Tadpole Bridge with the wind behind us thinking the road was clear only to see the top of a sail heading towards our next bend in the river. How does one deal with a sailing boat tacking on a blind corner? Needn’t have worried, he’s rowing, phew!!

Pulled in at the little mooring above Eynsham Lock with time to spare so messed about with a single sideband transceiver and an assortment of aerials. The best results came from a 65 foot wire slung over the trees with a fishing weight on the end. Managed to talk to G8LUV (Hi Graham), Malcolm and Trevor with a short link to someone in the Isle of Mull.

Rain stopped play and it turned so cold that we lit the fire. Lit the fire several times because we’re doing solid fuel rather than wood and my skills with paper and sticks, sorry kindling, never reached Year 7 standards.

Wednesday
Started off under a cloud and hadn’t gone far before the sky started leaking. Not severe, not enough to make me wear waterproof trousers, I hate those things, they slip down or feel like they’re going to slip down and they restrict ones jumping distance. I know what you’re saying, you shouldn’t jump, always step not jump. I tell V the same thing but don’t always follow my own advice.

V spotted a mink on the way down river, a moorhen in the bushes was flapping and squawking and when we got close we saw this mink pulling back from a nest licking his lips. Yummy an egg, he said, where’s the bacon?

No lockie at King’s Lock, just builders making a visitor centre. V did her stuff and was soon wielding the giant’s boat hook to shut the far gate. So many talents in this girl.

A very pleasant cruise down the slope into Oxford, only one rower to avoid and we saw thousands of baby geese pecking the meadow grass, yes we’ve seen diddy geese and ducks but no coot or moorhen chicks.

Thursday 1st May 2008
Two things to do today, one is to meet a Tesco delivery and the other is to meet Mike (ex nb.Hyperion) who is helping me move the boat northwards on the Oxford Canal while V house sits in East Anglia.
Thanks Pat for sparing the old fella, glad the decorating could wait, ‘though he’ll need a holiday after this.

There will be more news to follow but I can’t say when it will get done, might be too busy having fun.