Day 3 - Saturday. Drive down to Oxford w/ Dad, pick up the boat,
prep for marathon
2022-10-15 - TZ: Europe/London
Drove down to Oxford in the AM with Dad.
Original plan was to be dropped off at Peartree Park & Ride
so that Dad could help Rachel and Ben view a house they were
interested in buying.
But as we were going down motorway, I noticed that Rachel and
Ben were in Oxford. (Rachel was getting her hair dyed a lighter
shade to hide her greys because she is one of the older people
working at her startup.) They decided to cancel their viewing
and had lunch w/ me and Dad at Jamal’s in Jericho.
Was a bit rushed at lunch because Jamal’s closes at 2. But it
worked out! Was good briefly to chat with them outside of the
craziness of the upcoming marathon.
Then dad drove me to boatyard.
Becca arrived next in Lucy’s car, which is a Ben-Scott type
car, viz a red coupe. Not a Becca car at all! Didn’t open the
gates for her because couldn’t see who was in it.
Richard/Cath we’re running late (Cath had just bought
Richard’s Leaf EV and I think they might have had a charging
delay en route), so Becca, Dad and I did the “test” turn
with a somewhat ornery gent from the boatyard. Quiet spoken and
quick to frustration. I think I heard him say “fuck” under
his breath when his opinion of how I should be approaching Isis
lock differed heavily from mine.
I’m not trying to say he was wrong. He was trying to explain
how to do it the single-hander way, which is slower and involves
always getting the back in, always getting off at the back,
never walking along the towpath with a windlass, etc. I feel
like I learned a lot by implication.
It DID NOT HELP that Dad opened the paddle at the lower
end while the top paddle was open/ gate closed. Embarrassing
brain-fart. There’s only one top paddle at Isis lock, I wonder
if he half-thought he was doing the other one?
Anyway, we winded and re-ascended Isis lock successfully. Picked
up Richard and Cath. Said goodbye to Dad. Set out up to the
junction w Duke’s Cut and back.
IMG [IMG]
IMG [IMG]
IMG [IMG]
I was sure there was something around the propeller... Becca
had a good go at freeing the phantom obstruction.
IMG [IMG]
Richard was v insistent that we don’t drink before running
tomorrow. So. weird. on. a. boat. not. to. be. holding. a. drink.
in. the. evening.
But somehow we managed. Everyone goes to sleep
early! Weird. Thanks, Melatonin for helping me do the
same. (Thanks, Anna!)
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