The Oxford Canal (North), no tunnels, lots of locks, lots of miles
Well, it's been a while I know, but we will hopefully now be updating the blog on a regular basis again, either myself or Lynne.
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| Brumpoolie moored at the water point in Thrupp. |
After going down the Oxford canal, and passing through the lovely Banbury and Thrupp on the way, we now head north. We want to cruise the Shropshire Union Canal, which is a really pretty and lovely canal. Our route could have taken us through Birmingham and Wolverhampton, but we felt there would be limited opportunities for the dogs to have nice walks there, so we have gone a different way. Plus we were not too keen on going through a lot of urban canal areas. We will maybe when we are more experienced, but we'll take the quiter route for now thank you! So we are heading north back onto the Oxford canal, but this time the nothern section, then onto the Coventry canal. Which way we go after that, we will decide when we arrive (whenever that is) We do not move about in any kind of hurry these days, we like to take our time.
This wonderful new lifestyle that we are both enjoying, is very peacful and quite. You realise there is no need to hurry anywhere, plus there are always some jobs to do. An oil change was the latest job. I mean it's years since I done anything like that, but you have to look after the boat, it's your life support system, as well as your home. Now in the normal world an oil change is simple enough, but on the boat it provides extra challenges. Simply buying the oil and the filter makes you think. It's not as straight forward as ordering online and waiting for a delivery to your house. Our post box moves around all the time with us, and the address changes. Also, I can't just jump in a car and drive to the nearest shop, I don't have a car anymore. Plenty of buses though! How I sorted my oil and filter out was, we moored beside a boatyard and I asked them to order what I needed. And Kate Boats of Warwick were spot on. The said items came later the same day!! So the oil change is done and the engine is purring again.
Well since the last update I have been getting into a few scrapes. In one incident, we moored in the small Marina at Aynho (North of Oxford) It was raining in the evening and I had just finished the dogs walks. Well Louis had not quite finished his! He sat down on the path and was having a look around, in the rain! This meant he was not going to move. I would have to pick him up and carry him back into the boat. Well I can make him go in, but well he's so cute you can't resist him. So I climbed onto the boat to return some things I had been carrying, when I slipped and, ploosh I went into the canal! After some flapping about under the water, I ralised the water was only about five foot deep, so I was able to stand up with my head just above the water. There was a tyre between our boat and the boat next door, so I grabbed this and pulled myself out. Lynne had come outside wondering what all the commotion was about. Louis was sitting sniffing the air wondering where his carry back to the boat had got to!! After a clothes change everything was fine and we both had a good laugh about it. I always wondered what it would be like to fall into the canal, well now I know. I will tell of the other things that have happened in future blogs, there are a few to tell! Plus I will upload some pictures the next time.
