Car Shuffle

Today's Canal - Oxford

If the river levels permit, our trip plan is to visit the Kennet and Avon which we have not been onto for about 10 years, even though we now live just 50 m from the canal in Devizes! we hope, on a slow schedule, to get as far has 'home' this trip so today Mike moved the car back home.

This was a somewhat complicated trip beginning with a 90 minute drive back the way we came yesterday. The roads were, if anything, even quieter than yesterday so he made good time. Good enough to catch a bus to Swindon an hour earlier than planned. This will not affect the arrival back at Heyford station as the service there is only every two hours. However, it is always useful to gain what time is possible just in case of delays further on.

From the bus station in Swindon is was just a few minutes walk to the trains. After buying his ticket, Mike walked across to the correct platform only to be confronted with a message displayed that said that the service from Didcot to Oxford would be a replacement bus. Just as well he had the extra time!

The problem (which we had heard about but not connected it to this journey) is the failure of Nuneham Viaduct where the line crossed the Thames. Repairs to one of the supporting pillars earlier in the year proved insufficient and now a much more substantial project is needed and the line is closed meanwhile.

However, it seems that the schedule we had downloaded from National Rail took this delay into account and Mike arrived into Oxford with about an hour and a half to wait! At least this gave plenty of time to buy and eat a baguette from one the several food outlets in the station concourse.

The train ride to Heyford was very short and Mike was soon walking along the towpath back to the boat. Warned, Christine already had the kettle ready!

Meanwhile Christine had unpacked and stowed away everything we brought from home as well as the supermarket - we left it last night so that we had enough time to prepare for our evening out!

By now the water level in our tank was perilously low so we moved a short distance down to the water point. We knew that it was very slow but it took well over an hour to full up, we were so low! Fortunately the visitor mooring next to the water point remained free and when we rolled up the hosepipe we quickly bagged a space before anyone else came along. Actually, we were just in time as almost immediately another boat came alongside - there was just enough space for two.

0.6 Miles - 0 Locks