After the previous days steady rain it was clear with a cool wind, in fact it was the coldest day we had moving on the canal since last April when we set out for the summer.
After two hot summers forget Benidorm, the English canals are the place to tan up.....
We had to take a couple of nostalgic photos.....
Leonie on the locking job.....
Steering coming out of Banbury......
And me having a go... Notice the precision.... Dead centre of the waterway......
As we left Banbury we rounded a corner to see appropriately on our last day one of the canal Icons and fighter for the good guys rights....
Maffi with Millie checking us out... just mooring to pop over to the Morrisons, as we had just done, for some supplies....
Maffi later moored in Aynho and I joined him in the Great Western to destroy a few ales....
We approached our last lock....
Under Weir bridge ....The bridge from which the farmer spied Leonie raping his favourite mushroom paddock, last year, (blog... Mussheess, 24th Sept, 13) and proceeded to head her off at the pass on his tractor named Blue....
A slow filling lock is the unusual shaped......
Aynho Weir lock... it gave us time to reflect.....
And then with 300 Yds to go.....
Both hands on deck... My bloody good 1st Mate......
On Friday we spent a day and night in London. Drove to a park and ride in Oxford and caught the Oxford Tube / bus to London.
In the afternoon we visited the Tower of London to see how the planting of the 888246 ceramic poppies to represent those lost in the First World War was progressing.....
And what a sight.....
Across the front of the Tower...
To the corner by the entry to the tower.....
Along the side....
Around the corner........
To where the volunteer planters are now assembling each poppy and planting...
And down the other side with more planters.... Never saw a weed in the bed........
Very spectacular.... They are to be sold for 25 quid plus postage with proceeds going to charities...
We then caught up with a couple of mates at a bar and had a good time... Arrived back on NB FireflyNZ at 2am.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Good luck on your next adventure guys. Looks like you're getting out at the right time - seems like it's going to be raining for the rest of the year. We've just decided to do a quick week or so done the Llangollen.
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Kevin & Vicky
We just seemed to miss each other every time we were close. You certainly had some great times on the canal. We are just now back in sunny (22C) St. Helens Tassie, but will be off again to uk next April. Good luck and good health with your next venture. Will miss your great blog and fab photos. Jennifer and Peter nb Mactra's Filia
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