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Awoke at 4 a.m.! (Daylight already) got up at 7 30, breakfast and off for the day. Lots of sheep and lambs in the fields. The canal follows the contours for the first 4 miles, lots of curves but no locks. I had a very sound sleep for an hour or so. We started off wearing shorts and sandals, but it got colder and rained so change of clothing was required. Tony’s parents drove to Fenny Compton where we had lunch; then drove to Claydon to see the Museum of Bygones-since it is the first Sunday of the month some of the steam engines were running. Back to the boat, stopped to get another canal guidebook as our Oxford one had disappeared yesterday. Then through the "Fenny Tunnel" area-very narrow-Tony hit another boat at the entrance!-not too hard, then got stuck in the mud!! Railway beside canal for a while. Fortunately we didn't meet any other boats in the 1000-yard narrow stretch. 9 locks this afternoon, stopping at Cropredy for the night. Cheese and bread and biscuits, then walked into the village for a drink at a local pub. Couldn't get Canadian Grande Prix on TV.

Up at 8 a.m. (sore and stiff) off at 9 a.m. 3 locks to Banbury, then got water just before the Banbury lock. Someone was waiting for us so I hurried and fell in!! as I was putting the hose away and getting my lock key. Tony fortunately (for him) didn't rush to get the camera but rushed to pull me out instead. Then through the Banbury lock and footbridge that had to be held open-we were helped by the couple waiting for us. Then on other side of lock we moored-I changed and got dry, then into Banbury for pub lunch and food shopping at M&S. Drizzling. After lunch we did 4 locks including one where I slipped and fell down when opening a gate! Huge bruise on my bottom… Tony laughed when I sat on the ground at the lock! Rained all afternoon, gradually getting heavier. Stop at Aynho Wharf for the night and the rain stopped. Walked to the pub-not open at 6 p.m.; then back to boat. To pub again soon after 7 p.m.-now drizzling again. Back to the boat for a very welcome bath for me. Tony phoned his parents from the pub to arrange tomorrow-lunch at Lower Heyford.

Rain stopped in the night; very windy when we got up. Tony got up at 8:30 a.m. which basically forced me to get up! I managed to have one piece of bread before I had to jump off at the Somerton lock - very difficult to hold onto the boat because of the wind and we needed to use spikes - I finally used the ones from the boat in front. Got help from a fellow from the next boat - 8 (4 men, 4 women) on their boat. This is the deepest lock on the canal system, over 12'. Just started to write this and 3 toots of the horn from Tony - clear away coffee cups and give him his map book. Hopefully a few minutes of peace and quiet now - Almost finished dishes when I got summoned again - he wanted my company! Two more locks then a stop at Upper Heyford to use a red phone box to get messages - 1 from Robbie. On a short way to Lower Heyford where we met Tony's parents and Cassie; The Bell didn't serve lunch so we drove to The Fox, a few miles away. Back to the boat and filled up our water tank. Afternoon - variable weather - sunny, then pouring with rain, then sunny, etc. Passed a golf course with golfers on tee (with umbrellas up!). Stopped for the night at Enslow. Supper at The Rock of Gibralter pub (in between rain showers).

Tony planned to play 9 holes of golf this morning (and I was going to have a good rest)); however it was raining so he read a book and I slept in. Off at 10:30 a.m., got water, shopped and had lunch at the Boat inn at Thrupp. A few more locks and lift bridges in the afternoon and arrived at Oxford. - One "minor" problem - at the last lift bridge (Frenchcay(?) Bridge) I slipped and fell on my side in the mud and one of the handles of the bridge crashed into my right thigh - swollen, bruised and painful but I don't think broken! Moored quite close to the center of Oxford. Very little rain in the afternoon. Went for a walk to see the locks out of Oxford, then had appetizers at a pub in Oxford; sat outside near the Market Square.

Sunny and fairly warm today for a change. Off at 8 30 a.m., through the last lock on the Oxford canal, until we returned Saturday p.m. (there are lock keepers on the river Thames). We had planned to get water before the Osney lock but couldn't find the tap (I'm sure it was there yesterday when we walked past!) So we had to moor just before the lock, as it does not open until 9 a.m. (unless you want to open it yourself). I didn't secure the front line properly, so Tony had to come up and help, then he (and I helped) got to pole the stern away from a fast rushing weir! Went into the lock, got our Thames license for two days cruising. Through Sanford lock, then turned around just before Abingdon lock and got water. We then walked into Abingdon for lunch, small shopping and general sightseeing. After lunch we headed back up the Thames, stopping at Binsey (The Perch pub) for the night. Went to the Perch for a drink to check it out, then back there later for supper. Spots of rain during our evening drink.

Up late, finished our books after breakfast. Set out for our walk at 1045 a.m. walked through Lower Heyford to Rousham House to see its huge gardens-kept as they were centuries ago. Then walked to Steeple Aston looking for the Red Lion pub. We were just across from the White Lion when a woman in a car stopped to ask directions for the Red Lion. We asked a local fellow where it was and the lady then gave us a lift. Had lunch there-also found out the results of yesterday's world cup soccer games. Talked to the pub owner (for 26 years) and a local, then walked back to the boat through the village and fields. Some parts muddy as they were yesterday. One of our spikes had come out and sunk into the canal but the other two were still holding and the boat still there. It drizzled for a bit on a walk. Off again, through three locks and moored at Aynho Wharf (where we were last Monday). Had an ice cream at the store. Walked into Aynho (1 mile up hill) for supper, then walked back-much easier going downhill.

Raining, sometimes quite hard this morning so we lazed around for a few hours, got water and started to pack. Tony phoned the boat yard to check on returning the boat tomorrow rather than Saturday. Off soon after 11 a.m. on our "lock-less "day, unfortunately still raining so I couldn't sit outside and enjoy it as I had planned. Stopped at bridge 124 and walked through a couple of fields for lunch at the Butcher's Arms in Priors Hardwick. We had a 7 p.m. supper reservation so canceled that. The lunch was excellent. Walked back to the boat to discover we had lost another spike. A boat had moored in front of us and secured our boat to a canal siding. Now down to one spike. Not raining so we started off again, deciding to go through three locks today while it was dry. Stopped for a couple of hours to watch a football game, then decided to go through the rest of the locks-another 6. NO MORE LOCKS. Drink and desert at Folly Inn, close to our final mooring.

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