Communication is very important on a boat. When you yell from 70 feet away, "go that way" or "that way" and then they go the other way with the excuse that they did not hear you, ok, but when you whisper "that blasted bugger" they catch every word! Not sure what mechanism this is, probably the Grandpa Joe selective hearing technique!
Needless to say, the un-staking of Rikali was a little more challenging than staking. We might as well of been Three Stooges Minus One! And not listening to each other! We both had our own plan! Did I say communication is important?
Kirk had discovered, the night before, a boarding plank. Made the leap of faith to the bank much easier, less questioning where do the weeds end and bank begins, always a mysterious question with dire (dryer?) and wetter consequences. We were both on land pulling our stakes up. There is this mechanics issue at play...when pulling one end of the boat in the other goes out. Kirk pulls his side in and tells me to get on board, I am in the middle of loads of lilies, weeds...and have no idea where the bank ends. Kirk, at the other end, is also standing there looking longingly at the plank, as I say "did you get the plank back yet?"which is already aboard. So, the boat was ready to go and there we were standing on bank staring at each other, you jump! LOL a little pushing, yelling, jostling, we managed to get aboard. Off we go, then the motor struggles...great, in the middle of the Thames, now we are longingly looking at the bank! Managed to land again, yelling, pushing, did I mention jumping and cat walking the rail so the back end would not float out to the middle...then taking the leap of faith......land ho! And yes stake one end run to the other before it swings to the river....No small feat in 5 foot weeds and swamp like stuff, yelling a bit, but we did find land. When you choose a landing place it is important to find not too tall weeds, a trimmed bank if possible, and no monster thistles that had grown over your head...they hurt! Nice spot if you are an alligator!
Kirk looked at the engine, determined there was nothing we could do, no tools anywhere on the boat, so we tried to start it again, it probably needs a new fuel filter. Like everything else in this boat, very dirty, but the engine itself was amazingly clean. Also found the board to go across the railings in the stern, so the driver had a seat...very nice! So a profitable stop. Something always good usual turns up when faced with a challenge...oh stop it, Gale!
We managed a clean getaway from the bank, not leaving either of us on the bank, thought we were clever...oops! Yelling starts, do you have the extra stake, do you, no? ....then you have the shifty eyes of blame...you forgot it, no you did ...we left something on the bank. Kirk jostles the boat around and drives the nose onto the bank, I go scurrying about, as Kirk keeps engine going to keep nose on bank....no stake, Kirk instructs me on where exactly it is, I must be blind! No stake, then I hear, Found it, Dear! Yes it was on the boat..... I think the transom has a good name on it Tiddly, known as a slightly drunk Brit! Well done chap! Hiccup. Only problem was we were both stone sober!!!
We decided to take a chance and continue our tour and finish the Oxford Canal instead of cutting off through Kings Lock and heading back. Quite lovely, more than a few lift bridges and locks. We were a bit tired from the mornings antics and forgot to put levers down and it took longer to fill locks, that is until we realized the paddles were up, does not fill up so fast when they are not down. Oops! Need to stop at a pub to get adjusted!
Got through the Isis Lock and Sheep Wash Channel and headed to the Watermans Arms, which is now named The Punter.
Took a nice walk about town, this place oozes with history, one more day on the boat, then off to the Bath Place Hotel, not a block from everything old downtown.
No rain! ? Where are we really! Sun is shining, beautiful Oxford, sunniest place in Britain.
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