Thrupp

We were on the move again on Wednesday (04/08/2021) and Hilary was delighted to be off of the mighty River Thames and back onto the canal network with narrow locks.

We had four locks and two lift bridges to get through today. It was hot and sunny but we were mainly shaded by trees.

The tow path had become the Oxford Canal Heritage Trail.

Steve had to sit on the arm to keep this lift bridge open while The Duke chugged through.

The windlass was back in action and we passed through Wolvercote, Duke’s, Kidlington and Roundham Locks and dozens of permanently moored boats to arrive at the pretty village of Thrupp.

The Duke was moored across from some quaint terraced stone cottages. You can just make it out in the centre of this picture below.

This was a favourite mooring spot for Hilary in the days of family boating with her dad in the 1960’s and ‘70’s with three good pubs. We went to reminisce in The Boat Inn.

Later on we walked along the towpath to The Jolly Boatman and Steve continued to the Co-op at Kidlington to grab some essentials.

This chap seemed to be happily “working from home” on his little boat as it puttered along.

We returned to the boat to read our books on the stern in the sun. The grass alongside us was being mown so that provided the soundtrack while Vera got acquainted with dogs from the other boats, including Cocker Spaniel Shanti who was a live wire.

Another long term narrowboat hire boat passed us in the evening and we assumed it must be the Americans on The Squire that Dave had told us about at Wallingford. The man on the tiller and his dog were too intent on finding a mooring at this busy spot to acknowledge our greeting as a fellow narrowboat from Heyford Wharf.

We watched Professor T (Ben Miller) on ITVhub. Vera and Steve went to checkout the C&RT Services by the next lift bridge before going to bed early at 21:00 hrs.