A Voyage On Sammy Jo: The End 10-9-10 to 28-9-10

From Friday to Mon 13^th we motored on towards Reading going through the longish tunnels at Crick and Braunston and suddenly we were on the old familiar territory of the Oxford Canal where we spent enjoyable trips when we had our old boat Zenobia. Strangely we did in fact pass Zenobia 2 which was built to replace the one that we bought and on chatting to the skipper who I think part owns it found out it was 18 years old. So that was how long ago it was that we bought Zenobia, wow. We got to Banbury on 16^th Sept and while we were there we had a visit from Sue and Clive who were driving down to Oxford, to help out their son in his house, so they popped in for a coffee and chat. We went to the cross and took photos one of which we sent to Danni for it was here that we brought her when she was little, for a holiday with Granma and Grandad. We left Banbury on Friday at 4.30pm and moved for about an hour then moored up at a good spot on the off side and stayed until the Tuesday. The reason for the long stay was to do some well overdue work on the boat. We cleaned and polished her and I rubbed down the gunnel and put a new coat off black gloss on one side (had to get more paint so still one side to do). In order to do both sides we had to move back to the tow path side as well. While we were there we got chating to the many dog walkers that went past regularly and got quite friendly with one couple called Amanda and Brian. She really fancied having a boat one day so we showed around. When she left that day to “do her baking” she said she would bring us back an apple crumble. Sure enough at about 5.00pm she turned up with an apple and blackberry pie and even brought a tin of evaporated milk to go with it as she thought we wouldn’t have any cream. She popped back the following morning to collect her dish….thankyou Amanda it was lovely! At Oxford on the 24^th we had a visit from Sam, tom and Harry who was coming to stay for the weekend as is was his turn on the boat. He had a lovely time with us and we went to Oxford Castle and shopping. In the evening once we had just moved of the Oxford Canal and on to the Thames we saw a chap fishing for Crayfish. So we thought we could do that and with a bit a bacon tied on string and a net we caught about 7/8 and then we cooked them, they tasted like prawns. You only eat the tails and the claw meat so there wasn’t a lot but it was good fun. We got to Abingdon by Sunday and waited for Sam to come back and collect Harry and he brought Luke with him so it has been nice to see them all, especially Tom who has changed quite a bit since family camp and is now running everywhere. Moday27th we moored for the night at Goring-on-Thames and that just leaves us about 10 miles to do to get to Reading and journeys end. On Wednesday I am getting the train back to Chester to get the car and on Friday we drive to Cornwall for a weeks holiday in Polzeath with Hilary and Mike and Lyndsay and Chris. Then its back to the boat for a week to help Joe with his move and then a week at Sam’s to look after Tom before we go home to Kent. We are taking Harry with us for a few days as it’s half term and then on the Wednesday we bring him home and collect Luke for his turn. So it will be November before we are back to normal by then I will be super fit and ready for squash as I am still jogging a bit and yesterday 27^th sept I ran for 50 mins phew!