Landed at Heathrow after about a hour delay due to traffic in the air. Then caught the bus to Oxford, omg, every time I turn around I think I am in a Monty Python skit. The bus driver kept calling stops and no one is getting off, this happens 5 or 6 times, I am ready for him to turn around and say, " damn it, you you and you are getting off at the next stop and that's it, I have had it! " but it doesn't and I am amazed.
Did you know that everyone is eating Cheerios here, they keep saying Cheerio, Cherrio, Cherrio, . I keep telling them I like Captain Crunch.
We get to Glouster Green, last bus stop in Oxford. I am hoping this guy is really going to meet us, communication was confusing and booking the boat was a little suspect. I did it over the Internet , yea, might be in big trouble. I called him again and there he was... Yea! He was for real.
He has a little red car, he was giving us a ride to the boat. Kirk went to get in the car on right front, which is the drivers seat in English cars...oh no you don't. Figured that one out quick. Then the guy started driving and I almost lost my breakfast, he was on the wrong side of the road, had to shut my eyes or I was not going to make it. How you can ever do roundabouts in reverse is a mystery, I keep wanting to go the other way. Luckily I was not driving and in the back seat, but I still did not like it.
We parked at Walton Well Road car park and looked like we were walking into a pasture. Ok somethings up? And sure enough he opened the gate and we walked right in, and there were cows everywhere.....he is taking us into the pasture to do Cow Tipping? And there were students picnicking in the cow pasture. Lots of pretty yellow flowers?Now I was sure I was in the middle of a Monte Python skit. Kirk is telling me to quit rolling the suitcase over the cow pies. Is this for real? Yep! The guy with a very English accent is telling us about the boat which is nowhere in sight, as we weave through the cows and students, right! I am loosing it, lol.
Walked all the way across the pasture and sure enough we ended up at the canal and the boat. No matter how many times you have gone cruising nothing really prepares you for any of this and especially the narrow boats! This boat is really narrow, could be cleaner and is under the bushes and trees. 70 feet long, 7 feet wide, how will we ever turn this around? He says when docking one person needs to be at one end of the boat and the other at the other end. Kirk and I have issues with a 30 foot boat..... I can see it now, Kirk yells, I yell back , he points one way, I point another, we yell a little more, this goes on for awhile and we are docked. Looking forward to this!
We got all checked out, and then the test...no it was no maneuvering the boat, it was to unlock the boat, someone (Kirk) has to walk along the outside of the boat, 3 inch rail to the transom to unlock the doors, what a crazy design. I have a funny feeling someone is going to get wet in a very obvious way, especially after a trip to the pub and a few pints. Hopefully this will not be me.
Went to a pub for dinner, picked up groceries and made it back to Rakali, moon was rising, perfect time for cow tipping! Kirk successfully tight rope walked the side, this was after 2 pints, and unlocked boat. Will keep you posted on this, big question...how many pints can Kirk drink and still unlock the boat...to be continued!
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