We set off in the morning, having reversed over to just outside the wharf deisel point for two nights. We managed to get five loads of laundry done, borrowing the leccy and water. Marvelous!
We set out just in time to move out of Oxfordshire Narrowboat's way, as they prepared to turn around 4 boats for new hire. Alongside Rugby Boat Sales at Stowe Hill Wharf, Oxfordshire Narrowboats (from whom we bought our Bella) now has one of its hire centres.
We moved east, found the winding hole and Pete did a TEXTBOOK turn. Just awesome!! Along the way, we noticed the range of fowl in a local garden - chickens, Mallard ducks and Canada geese. Lovely. We passed Stowe Hill again to wave goodbye to mates and set out northwest toward Weedeon, then Whilton.
Just as we set out, it began to mizzle and by the time we were working the Whilton, then Buckby flight, we were drenched!!! We moored up below Buckby top lock this time in the meandering pound by the fields, just as the rain stopped (!) then happily watched the sheep opposite.
As we watched out the hatch, we noticed a brilliant boat, Beatrice, glide by us. She was driven with a steering wheel, handled by an elegant woman in a wheel chair. Beatrice had been modified so that Ms Beatrice could roll on, lock her chair in to place, drive Beatrice, then lower her chair into below decks. Elizabeth gave her an enthusiastic thumbs up as she passed and Ms Beatrice grinned. What a brilliant sight! Boats are not out of reach for anyone.
The night closed in with one of our wonderful views and one of the reasons Elizabeth likes being on the cut - the peaceful reflections in the water.
