We set out from Thrupp just before noon to moor up for water, just past the lift bridge. As we were filling, Elizabeth took advantage of the book swap, contributing Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street and No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and taking away Sheilds' Happenstance, Carter's The Magic Toyshop, Bowering's What it takes to be Human and Seth's An Equal Music. The choice in the surrounds of Oxford is certainly better than the swap choice at other places!
We moored up at the Rock of Gibraltar in Enslow, tied up and stowed quickly, then took Kate's car keys to her car parked just over the canal where she had left it on her journey north. We drove to Thrupp, collected Reg, then both drove to Banbury where Kate is now moored post play performance. We had lunch with Kate, then car keys and parking permit safely handed over, did some shopping and collected a stainless steel barrel shaped BBQ which fits under the cratch when cool and some citronella oil to burn in the aromatiser to rid us of the bugs.
Reg got us back to the Rock at Enslow and after a small stop in the pub garden for light refreshement, BBQ assembly and a spot of knitting, we then got Bella's engine going again by 6pm and set out. Oh and we watched the most hilarious mooring by a College Cruiser hire boat loaded with a bunch of sports club lads having a hoot of a time. One threw the bow line to a helper from the pub - and realised it wasn't attached at the bow! Great good humour all around.
One hour and Pidgeon's Lock later, we moored just east of Tackly station as the crow flies, but what feels to be the depth of the Oxfordshire countryside.
