We left you in Banbury from there we headed south to a little place called Lower Heyford where there were long stay moorings and a handy railway station.
We secured Maya, watered the plants and waited for a train to take us back to Banbury and another train back up to Manchester.
Back up north I went and did the VHF radio course and passed too. I'm now qualified to operate and use marine VHF radio equipment.
Then we had to kill time until we found out about collecting our new boat. The devil will find work for idle hands and he pushed me in the direction of the bike shop. I traded in my two old bikes and got a new one more suited to two up travel so the captain and I can roam around in comfort.
We hadn't seen rain in months but we got plenty that week, which as it happened was something of a blessing because we got the call to pick the new boat up on Thursday. More water in the locks which was a good thing.
The next day we sailed Chug to Wigan, bit of a culture shock, it's like stepping up from a car to a truck, he's huge.
Then on the Saturday morning we ascended the infamous Wigan flight with the VERY gratefully received help Mum & Dad D, Skipper Tony and crewman Kelly. Thank you guys.
Sorry no pictures, we forgot the camera. D'oh
With all missions complete we headed back south to the sun. Maya was fine and the flowers had survived too, but the fridge was empty and there was no phone signal to let anyone know we'd arrived or blog. So the next morning we struck out for Thrupp. Tiny little place, maybe a dozen houses and a pub.
Not just any pub but a pub used in an episode of Morse no less. There was also a shop in the next village a short walk away where stocked up.
Then today we made our way under clear blue skies down to Oxford, though the going was not all easy.
We made it to a mooring just a few minutes walk from the city centre,
where tomorrow we'll play proper tourists, catch a tour bus and everything.
Then in the evening we had a walk to look at our next challenge.
The Thames.
