The Bottom Was Too Close to the Top!

Sunday 16th September 2018 at Thrupp.
Our overnight mooring was very quiet, despite being opposite the perimeter of one of Kidlington's housing estates.

We set off mid-morning to travel the short distance to the Jolly Boatman pub to meet our friend Richie for a late lunch. The pound was very low and we frequently touched the bottom, even with the engine on tickover.
Well, there's never a dull moment on the waterways and today was a classic example! As we approached Roundham lock, we ran firmly aground in the middle of the canal. M managed to get off and walked up to the lock to help as there was a boat coming down. In the meantime, MM had hit an obstruction underwater, which stopped the engine dead. With help from some of the people on another boat coming up behind, R managed to get MM to the side and cleared the propellor.
Meanwhile the boat coming out of the lock ran firmly aground too and had to be manhandled close to MM, where the canal was deepest.

They were still firmly aground, so M opened both top paddles of the lock to flush some water through and, with some human shore-power, we managed to get the boats going.

More human shore-power was required to get MM moving and more water had to be flushed down so that R could drive MM into the lock as the water flushed down, bouncing along the bottom all the way into the lock.
No photographs of this bit of the adventure as we were both kind of busy! Getting through this lock took the best part of an hour.
By this time, there were another two boats queueing behind us - and there was another boat waiting to come down. MM draws about 30in, but the boat waiting to come down drew a full 36in. R recommended that he flush his boat out of the lock with water through the top paddles (the pound above was full up to the bywash). We later found out that, unsurprisingly, he had real trouble getting out of the lock and clear of the waiting boats.
Thankfully, the pound above the lock was fine, so we soon arrived at the pub.

Luckily there was an empty space right outside and we were able to moor up to wait for Richie.

While we were waiting, M fell into conversation with Cynthia and Jason, two delightful Americans from Colorado who asked if they might take a photo of MM.  So naturally, we invited them on board for a tour and an introduction to the world of narrowboating.

As they were leaving, Richie arrived with his "Grey Ghost", Dylan, and we had an excellent lunch sitting at the tables outside, next to MM. We have eaten at this pub on a number of occasions and the food has always been first class. Dylan was allowed a little beef from the Sunday roast too!
Finally Richie had to leave, but it was great to see him and have a catch up.

As we are doing well for time, we decided to stay here tonight and continue in the morning.
Today: 2 miles, 1 lock and 1.5 hours.
Trip: 305 miles,194 locks and 204.8 hours.