Oxford Landing

Oxford

July 2014

Can this weather really last? Its been hot, hot, hot for the last two weeks we have been out and today just built on what went before.

 Montgomery graduates in Oxford

We trundled down the last few miles from Thrupp, passing through more lift bridges than locks and of course the long lines of residential boats for which the area is notorious. I had a discussion with Maffi about the viability of the town arm next to Louse Lock and was avised that whilst there was no winding for anything longer than 30ft, there was a tap and two visitor moorings which are almost never used - on account of the reversing out issue.

Street parking in Oxford

The arm takes you right into the heart of the city so we thought "why not"? We came in at a snails pace and winded Montgomery which then proceeded to become a tourist attraction with hundreds of photos being taken. This would probably be a good place to trade if we were not so low on stock. Our extraction from this rather unique mooring will be interesting as the arm is lined with residential boats but the hope is that dragging the butty behind us as a drogue will keep us straight and I will use the pole to keep us in the channel. We will see. One way or another we will escape...

Bridge of Sighs, Oxford

And so we arrived in Oxford with the dreaming spires being more akin to a roasting spit. Everyone was hot and whilst it was our wedding anniversary we just didn't have the energy to go to an over hot restaurant in the evening.

A celebratory afternoon tea for two

Instead we went to Maison Blanc for afternoon tea which included a celebratory glass of champagne before creeping back to the boat taking advantage of all the limited shade on offer.