CHRISTMAS DAY
NAPTON ON THE HILL
Our Christmas gift to each other is to stay
put for the day to recharge after 3 very strenuous “lock loaded” boating days.
I had requested David’s scrumptious cinnamon rolls for breakfast this Christmas morning
and he sweetly delivered. Yum! Our day will end with calls to the kids to find
out what surprises Santa may have delivered this year.
On the 23rd after surviving the 21 locks the previous day, I had mentally prepared for 8 more locks on our journey on the 24th. However, we somehow overlooked 4 additional locks stretched over a mile of the canal when we had mapped out our day. We left at 8:00 am, and it rained all through the first 6 locks. We pulled over to empty our toilet cassette, and I was left holding on to a line standing in the slushy muddy tow path, cold, soaked and still being hit with rain gazing up at the staircase of six locks we would soon have to face and feeling quite sorry for myself. I had a mini meltdown.
I was tired and dreading the next group of
locks. I was over it. I was done. But, there was no where to go but forward,
and I knew that. I pulled up my big girl panties and walked up to lock #7. At
the top I was thrilled to see our lock buddy, Allen, who was opening the gate
for us. He had completed the previous locks all on his own. I felt immensely guilty
about the whining that had gone on in my head earlier. Just grateful it was a
temporary condition.
Some of the never-ending locks on the Grand Canal
We combined efforts and went through the
last 6 locks. David and I worked the paddles and gates and Allen drove the
rafted boats through. I still was exerting the same amount of energy but with 3
of us the process went twice as fast.
Those paddles on the Grand Canal often proved
to be a struggle for me. It took twice the number of revolutions with my wrench
to release the water. The gates were bigger and heavier, and some were miserable
to open.
In late November, David and I were seeing notices at pubs about making reservations for your Christmas dinner. The menus looked wonderful and festive. I was determined that we were going to have a proper English Christmas dinner. David worked out that we should be in Long Itchington by December 23rd so started researching possible pubs in that area for a holiday meal. I emailed three pubs and only The Cuttle Inn responded. I made reservations for 1:00 pm for the 23rd since they were closed over Christmas. Their website showed beautiful Christmas decorations surrounding the pub and inside. I was so excited.
We realized that we were not going to make
it through the locks in time to get to the pub by 1:00. I called and they were
willing to change our reservation to 2:00. It sounded like they were booked up.
We made it there 3 minutes before 2:00.
We were greeted by friendly staff and
seated in a corner. When the menus came, it was apparent it was their usual
faire with no holiday specials. There was a lovely Christmas tree on display in
the other room with a DJ set up playing loud carols, but where were all the
lights and decorations I saw on their website? And the Christmas dinner menu?
It is an understatement to say that it wasn’t
what I had hoped for or expected. Everything was so-so until we got to the
desserts. We had never tried Spotted Dick or Eton Mess so gave them a go. Both
were splendid. The rich custard on the Spotted Dick (a raisin cake) was
heavenly and the Eton Mess was a fluffy bowl of whipped cream, meringue, and
fruit. Both lifted our spirits after a disappointing menu and less than festive
atmosphere.
Allen had asked us to go through the next 13 locks together, so we met up around 8 am the next morning to tackle the last set of locks for some days to come. By noon we were through them all and heading to Napton on the Hill on the Oxford Canal. It was a gloriously sunny day and a welcomed relief from the rain of yesterday. We have gone full circle now and will be retracing our path heading back down to meet up with the Fullaways near the rental boat marina in Heyford further down the Oxford Canal. We have six days to do it. Plenty of time.
Allen went off in another direction to
deliver the boat to a marina to be worked on and then he was soon to leave to
pick up another boat to do the same. Seems like such a lonely job. I hope he
finds some other boaters to share the rigors of the locks.
We learned a lot from him. At one point we came to a “staircase” which was 3 locks interconnected. We would have treated it as normal, but Allen instructed us that the top lock had to be filled first so there was enough water for the two lower locks. We would have been in a pickle without Allen’s guidance.
After finding moorage yesterday, David
suggested we walk up to the King’s Head Pub to see if it was open. Most
establishments close on the 24th and 25th and some remain
closed for Boxing Day on the 26th. The pub was a fantastic idea.
They had the perfect cuisine we were wishing for to celebrate the holiday in
style. I had Beef Wellington and David had Sea Bass. The ultimate pleasure was
the Baileys Bread Pudding we shared for dessert. It was a most satisfying
Christmas Eve, indeed.
Beef Wellington
As of December 22nd we have traveled 164 miles on the canals, navigated 139 locks and accrued 126 hours on the engine burning 1.3 liters of diesel per hour
From our cozy boat to your far-away home, David and I
send our best wishes to you and your family for a joyful, safe, and healthy holiday
season. Happy Christmas!
Clever boat name
Comments
Post a Comment