After two months on the river these locks seem narrower than I remember, the tinkling of canal bed debris on a reversing prop and the tick-over speed passing lines of moored boats has to be gotten used to again.
FL doesn't handle impeccably like she did on the deep wide Thames, she drifts away from lock landings while I try to get Sue ashore, she now won't reverse in a straight line, all to do with the depth or lack of water..... or maybe the lack of my skill at the tiller.
We got a mooring on one of the honeypot spots in Thrupp in front of FD and MH, a coffee on the bank with the crews before a nice lunch in Annie's Tea Room. A walk to the Jolly Boatman and a pint in The Boat's beer garden and a game of Aunt Sally finished off a lovely sunny afternoon.
Friday is a lovely warm sunny day. I woke to the sound of boat movement, I wondered if there is a space on the seven-day moorings (rings), there was but as I climbed out of the cratch to survey the situation Ray was awake and already moving for the vacant spot. Dam.... but no matter... a hire boat crew left shortly afterwards and we moved on to the space they left.
The paint came out and another section of the roof got the primer treatment after the port flank had a good wash down.
After lunch, The Manly Ferry came into view and Paul expertly manoeuvred her wide beam over the bridge to moor behind Annie's Tearoom.
Chairs, beer, Pimms and flatbreads came out on the towpath where we all got together for a catch up, later in The Boat pub we had a meal.
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| Paul, Andy, Ray, Diane, Sue and Elaine with Sammy & Bombo. |
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| Three belles |
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