Bartimaeus

Yesterday afternoon we were sitting in deckchairs on the towpath under the shade of a tree when we heard a big splash.  A muntjac was swimming along the far side of the canal and trying repeatedly to get out but not managing to get high enough.  We're pretty sure it escaped though, because a couple from further along the canal had driven to the next bridge and walked back towards us looking for it.

This morning we were surprised to wake to light rain.  The air was still so warm that we decided to set off anyway - the forecast was still threatening temperatures of 32°C in the afternoon, so getting our travelling done early seemed a good idea.

We were soon at Hawkesbury Junction again.  Clare hopped off in the narrow section with the recycling and glass to take over the bridge while I did the U-turn under the bridge that takes us on to the Oxford Canal.

There was no queue for the stop lock, so once Clare got back I worked us through it.  The few inches rise takes only a minute.  During that time I spotted a boat coming the other way so we were able to drive out without closing the gate.

Just around the corner, a man walking along the bank called to us to warn us about something in the water.  He wasn't sure what it was, and was mainly concerned for the safety of our boat.  Sadly this was a muntjac that had not found its way out of the canal.  It is unlikely to be the one we saw the previous day unless it had managed to get out once and fall in elsewhere.

We got as far as Ansty soon after midday, intending to moor up for the day.  I carried on past a shaded mooring spot, hoping for better solar panel conditions around the corner.  The two couples in the first boat we passed were just heading off to the pub for lunch, but finding a lot of brambles overhanging the towpath.

There was a splash and a shout and I looked back to see that one of them had fallen in.  It soon became apparent that he was able to stand up and was mostly alright, but had some difficulty getting on to the towpath again.

There were no moorings available around the corner, so I ended up reversing back (with some difficulty) to a spot alongside where the fall had happened.  I decided it would be A Good Thing to try to clear the towpath.  I found the protective hedgehog gloves and my small mitre saw.

The hedge was a mixture of sloe and bramble.  The saw was a useful enough tool, but it would have been easier to attack with a decent pair of secateurs - perhaps we should get some.  Fortunately, there was enough space under the hedge to allow me to stash the trimmings, so I was able to make a pretty good job quite quickly.  We cycled along here last month - leaving thorns on the towpath would have been treachery.

As the afternoon heated up, I was glad we hadn't moored in the sunshine after all.  I remembered a trick I'd heard for keeping cool - sitting with your feet in a bowl of water.  I'd tried this yesterday with a bucket - it was effective, but not very comfortable for my feet.

I mentioned this to Clare, who soon reappeared with a freshly emptied storage crate - perfect!  I organised a deck chair on the rear deck and was able to sit in cool comfort for much of the afternoon.

Later we realised there was room for another deck chair, so Clare could sit with me and cool her feet too - but she insisted I change the water first.