MM Visits Enslow, where she was Launched.

Monday 17th September 2018 near Somerton.
An overcast morning turned into a beautiful afternoon.
The village of Thrupp has been used as the location of a number of episodes of "Inspector Morse" and is one of the prettiest villages on the Oxford canal.

Much to M's relief, most of the lift bridges on the Oxford canal are left permanently in their raised position.

The locks that lead the canal on to the River Cherwell tend to be quite shallow and are diamond shaped so that more water is flushed into the pound below each time the lock is used than would be the case if they were normal narrow locks.

Enslow Wharf is where MM was launched nearly seven years ago. We couldn't possibly go by without dropping in to Kingsground's workshop. Their 115th boat, nb "Impossible Dream", is currently in build and is very unusual in that it is 8ft wide, destined for the Mon & Brec canal that has slightly wider locks.
Richard at Kingsground was quoted silly money to dredge his marina, so he bought his own dredger for a fraction of the quoted cost!

Heyford Wharf does a brisk trade in hire boats and today was clearly a handover day as many new hirers were being briefed.

In the process, they had let the raft of boats drift right across the canal, so we had to stop and wait for them to sort themselves out. Much hauling on ropes required!

The 15th century tithe barn at Upper Heyford looks to be in beautiful condition. It's slightly smaller than the barn at Bradford-on-Avon but it is of a similar date. The Rector must have had a very good living.

At Allen's Lock, M fell into conversation with a bystander, Jeff, with his dog, Jasmine. He said that he had never seen a lock operated before and was clearly fascinated and asked lots of questions. So, we gave him and Jasmine a lift to the next lock. He was totally overwhelmed by the whole process and left resolving to try boating for himself.

We tied up this evening near Somerton, a lovely mooring that we have used in the past.

On either side of the canal are two large meadows connected by a bridge over the canal. The local farmer arrived on his tractor with a large round bale of hay.

Initially, the cows ignored him but gradually they all followed him to see what goodies he might have brought them.

How lovely to see a mixed herd with so many calves with their mothers, grazing together.

As night fell, the moon rose between the trees.

Today: 11 miles, 7 locks and 6.4 hours.
Trip: 316 miles, 201 locks and 211.2 hours.