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Oxford Canal Boat Day 1. Saturday 16/9/17.
It was a miserable grey and wet day in Chipping Campden, when the taxi came to drive us to Napton-on-the-Hill, 30 miles away. Forty-five minutes and sixty pounds later, we arrived at Napton marina and became acquainted with Constance our seventy foot long narrow boat.
Once we had unloaded our bags, we were given an amusing run through of how the boat worked. We learnt how to start and stop the engine and operate the inverter to get 230 volt power from the batteries. We learnt about how to clear the propellor via the weed box, to operate the bilge pumps and how to grease the shaft where it ran through to the propellor. After a bit of a discussion about managing such a long boat in the narrow canals and where and how to turn around safely at a winding hole, there was a demonstration of how to operate the lock system. Totally confused by all this information we set sail, or at least started the motor, turned left and negotiated a narrow bridge. The guide jumped ashore at this point and wished us luck with the next nine locks to come!
Rowan managed the boat well around some tight corners, but had to take a break to eat, so that I took over just as the first lock appeared! This meant Hett and Rowan were winding the paddles up and down to let water in from upstream and then sitting on the balance bar and walking their feet to open the gates, while Jane and I operated the boat. In this way we got through six locks in about two hours and finally tied up here in a pound below a bridge with three locks to go. We celebrated with a bottle of champagne and were just chilling out, when someone on the towpath knocked on the window to ask if we had a mobile, as someone was having a fit further along the canal! Henrietta had her mobile handy and her boots on, so off she went. Apparently it was a case of not taking medication and maybe excess alcohol? Anyway the guy declined an ambulance, despite a 999 call and seemed to settle so Hett came back to Constance. We had plannned a walk to a pub, The Folly but it is about six locks back, or about a mile so we decided to dine in, especially as it's cold and has been raining. It is very snug in the boat, a bit like living in a very long narrow caravan. Looking forward to lock duty tomorrow!
- comments
Kate Emery Make sure you take some photos of the interior - sounds cute if... small.
Geoff Emery Thanks Kate, have taken a few interior shots and yr right it is very narrow and very long. At 70 ft we only just fit in the locks! Dad
Martin It does sound quite fun! Maybe we go on one last family holiday sometime. And for old times sake - you guys pay. Thoughts? Weather back here has been pretty sweet of late and tomorrow is my last day of work for the term (though I do have a conference on Thursday). Probs wont be on my email/computer much as we're off to Yallingup next week. Glad to see you're all surviving the trip so far.xx