Tuesday 26 June 2012

Wrong again!

The forecast today was supposed to be dry but cloudy ‘till one then heavy rain, I eventually described it as back-to-front and upside-down - Geoff was a bit more colourful 'ar*e about face’ he said!
Just before 9 and it’s supposed to be a fine day!
The backs of Geoff and George taking the hounds for their morning ablutions ...
... before we set off to the first lock of the day - Somerton Deep Lock house is very pretty
Rock n Roll is point today and here comes Seyella with Mags at the helm
The boys operate the sluices on the huge single gates ...
... behind me the lock cill (upon which the top gate closes) is higher than me - and in front I can see Meadland Bridge (195) ... as soon as I was through I nipped into the cabin to put the kettle on for a cuppa ...




... when down came the rain - my first thought was for Mags she was going to get a real soaking as she negotiated the lock.





A lovely dry-stone wall edges the canal here
The pollarded trees look grotesque along the bank ...
... what amazing sculptures!








The sky is ...







... so beautiful







... looking towards Upper Heyford









Lots of gongoozlers at Allen's Lock






... where soon afterward we spotted this lovely group of old building included the church which can just be seen above the trees by the middle rooftop ...











... and where the River Cherwell runs close to the canal ...






... and on the bend where it also narrows comes a boat in the opposite direction!






The tree house!
Passing Oxford Narrowboats where all was quiet ...
We’d been following Seyella following this little day-boat for an hour or so already - they were ‘taking it easy’ on tick-over!
But it didn’t worry us, we were not in a hurry - what a lovely place ...






... and a lovely boat too ...






... and fuel boat Dusty taking a rest in her mooring ...
2:15 and we’re mooring up a mile or so above Pigeon Lock.
We'd caught a number of sharp showers, some short and some not so ...







... but then the sun came out - time for the pack walk ...







... a good way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon ...






... behind this boat was a little bit of heaven - see next posting for more details ...
Anyone know what this marker means? The ‘arrow’ on the top appear to be M.O.D. markings








Passing a nature reserve on the other side of the canal ...






... and the boys and hounds take a breather while I take pictures ...







... I’d like to know where those steps lead to ...







Elderberry flowers ..






... and cow parsley

... and back to our lovely moorings.

2 comments:

  1. As I understand it, the DIS markers are the same distance above and below the lock, and the boatmen used to sound their horn as their went past. Whoever's horn was first was closest, and claimed the lock.

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