Still the strong blustery winds this morning. A leisurely start, first to the water point above the lock and then the pump out. The light showing the pumpout available was not showing, so I spoke to the relief lock-keeper who was very helpful. Checked that my card had not been stamped and when it failed to work went and turned on the unit manually from the back of the sanitary station. Something wrong with the user operation control seemingly. Anyway we got our pumpout. Then the long cruise past the motocross field and the rowing club to Sandford Lock, then Iffley and finally Osney. There were very few rowers out this morning compare to yesterday. After lunch a quick walk into Oxford and back again. Osney lock has one of the new lock signs (see pic).
In my opinion the sign is all wrong. It looks as if it has been designed by an arts student or else a lot of money has been spent for a "new design"...Why? The standard lock sign is blue in colour and the legend is visible from afar. All boaters will recognise it instantly. This new sign is green. What is the predominant colour of the waterway? Green! So this new sign will never stand out against vegetation and if half obscured as some of the signs are, will be invisible. Navigation signs should conform to a standard. This one doesn't.
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