Car Shuffle

Today's Canal - Oxford

The forecast for today was not very good whilst it looked a bit more promising for tomorrow. As a result, Mike opted to do the car shuffle today.

National Rail Enquiries gave options either via Birmingham or Oxford and Worcester. Both were the same price and little difference in time. However, the route via Birmingham involves a walk between stations so he took the Oxford option instead.

The timings gave around 10 minutes for both changes. However, the first train had a delayed departure and so was over five minutes late into Oxford. Fortunately, the next train was already waiting at the adjacent platform so there was about two minutes spare!

The next section was the longest and at least there was an at-seat service of coffee. However, it, too, ran about five minutes late and the change at Worcester Foregate entails going down a substantial set of stairs and up the other side. As we pulled into the station one of the on-board staff pointed that the train was already coming into the [platform. Mike had forgotten that it was the shuttle between Worcester and Whitlocks end so had slightly longer than just a normal en route stop. 

On the journey Mike had book a taxi to meet him at Droitwich station which quickly dropped him back at the car in the marina.

After a diversion to Waitrose for lunch material it was on to the motorway. Despite the rain making visibility a bit of an issue the journey was straightforward although a blockage caused by a car fire just after the junction to exit for the Heyfords meant that the slip road was backed up. However, his was not a problem as the schedule gave around an hour wait for the last train back to ban but (only a one in two hours service) Our mooring was only a couple of minutes away from the station entrance.

Meanwhile  Christine had been preparing the boat ready for us to leave it on Friday. Later she went into the nearby shopping centre (somewhat down beat compared with how we remembered from when we moored at Heyford). But she did return with a pressie for Mike!