October 4th 2009
Soon after 10 o'clock, Ellie and Alice arrived for a day on the boat - Jessica stayed at home as she was suffering a bit from her cold. After a while we set off, with Ellie opening the Thrupp lift bridge.
Because we had not filled the water tank yesterday, we thought it wise to try again - the tap was just around the corner from the lift bridge. It turned out to be almost as slow and after 45 minutes we gave up and carried on. Who knows how full we were? (Makes the case for a meter read out system!)
It was a pleasant day as we cruised up through three locks - at one we had a queue of two boats already waiting ahead of us, so it was not fast progress. Also, through Enslow there is a long line of moored boats.
As we waited below Pigeon Lock we had our lunch and then it was not long before we arrived at Kirklington Quarry where we moored up at the old quarry quayside. Soon, Ellie was off with the rope swing which she had brought with her (the rope was a spare one we donated to them last trip!) She found a good tree with a suitable branch and easily climbed up - cat-like - sling the rope around and tie it off. Perhaps not the most exciting of swings but Alice certainly enjoyed it.
One of the main tasks was to pick blackberries, but it was not easy - a poor year generally for this autumnal fruit. However, the quarry is a great place to explore and, at one stage, it seemed as if everyone was scattered all over. On the flat area there is a maze laid out - Alice enjoyed learning how to find her way to the centre and back out again.
One of the main tasks was to pick blackberries, but it was not easy - a poor year generally for this autumnal fruit. However, the quarry is a great place to explore and, at one stage, it seemed as if everyone was scattered all over. On the flat area there is a maze laid out - Alice enjoyed learning how to find her way to the centre and back out again.
The rest of the Oxford crew arrived, bearing bribery (in the form of chocolate cakes) in exchange for tea. It was a brilliant autumn evening - Alice took to cleaning the roof of the boat with the mop.
Finally, the three girls plus parents left for home. We tried out the new sat dish but could not 'see' the right signal as a tree was in the way. It took only a few minutes to move across to the other side and around a bend to find a moorable bank and line of sight! Andrew stayed on for roast dinner.
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