Banbury to the dark place

The arrival of two friends marked the departure from Spice Ball park, through the things necessary to get to the waterpoint for the neceesary exhange of goods for the passage south. Tom was substituted by Lucy who came hurtling in from the right and we were off. Boots and I set off walking to Grants Lock but our walk was curtailed by this lift bridge which I have never seen down.  Boots and I sat and waited for the good ship to loom into view before we unceremoniously hung for our lives to open it.

Getting Boots back on the boat can be quite interesting and sometimes desperate measures are called for. In such an event it is important to ensure that both creatures (human and canine) have the same facial expression.

We threw ourselves at Lucy who was sitting peacefully on the front.

Allan and I took it in turns to steer/lock while Lucy and Boots maintained position on the front keeping a look out for all adversity.

Aynho was beautiful as usual.

and I was quite surprised at the Algae leading up to Heyford Common

I even had a moment to sit on the front of the boat and look cool. Yes folks, this IS my idea of looking cool.

A glorious boating day.

We moored up somewhere dark.

The following morning the day went brilliantly until I came out of the last lock.  The gear box seems to be misbehaving. It was so sudden I am hoping that it is the cables rather than the actual gear box, but I didn’t have any time to look yesterday because I had to make room for my new piano.

YES!

 

PIANO.

Woo hooooooooooooooooooo.  My dear neighbour has PROMISED me she will sing out of tune at ALL concerts to ensure my piano playing sounds fab.