Drove down to Oxford in the AM with Dad.
Original plan was to be dropped off at Peartree Park & Ride so that Dad could help Rachel and Ben view a house they were interested in buying.
But as we were going down motorway, I noticed that Rachel and Ben were in Oxford. (Rachel was getting her hair dyed a lighter shade to hide her greys because she is one of the older people working at her startup.) They decided to cancel their viewing and had lunch w/ me and Dad at Jamal’s in Jericho.
Was a bit rushed at lunch because Jamal’s closes at 2. But it worked out! Was good briefly to chat with them outside of the craziness of the upcoming marathon.
Then dad drove me to boatyard.
Becca arrived next in Lucy’s car, which is a Ben-Scott type car, viz a red coupe. Not a Becca car at all! Didn’t open the gates for her because couldn’t see who was in it.
Richard/Cath we’re running late (Cath had just bought Richard’s Leaf EV and I think they might have had a charging delay en route), so Becca, Dad and I did the “test” turn with a somewhat ornery gent from the boatyard. Quiet spoken and quick to frustration. I think I heard him say “fuck” under his breath when his opinion of how I should be approaching Isis lock differed heavily from mine.
I’m not trying to say he was wrong. He was trying to explain how to do it the single-hander way, which is slower and involves always getting the back in, always getting off at the back, never walking along the towpath with a windlass, etc. I feel like I learned a lot by implication.
It DID NOT HELP that Dad opened the paddle at the lower end while the top paddle was open/ gate closed. Embarrassing brain-fart. There’s only one top paddle at Isis lock, I wonder if he half-thought he was doing the other one?
Anyway, we winded and re-ascended Isis lock successfully. Picked up Richard and Cath. Said goodbye to Dad. Set out up to the junction w Duke’s Cut and back.
I was sure there was something around the propeller... Becca had a good go at freeing the phantom obstruction.
Richard was v insistent that we don’t drink before running tomorrow. So. weird. on. a. boat. not. to. be. holding. a. drink. in. the. evening.
But somehow we managed. Everyone goes to sleep early! Weird. Thanks, Melatonin for helping me do the same. (Thanks, Anna!)