Oxford Canal (south):Thrupp

More rain, this time of the fine variety but still very cold.   Change of procedure today, so MF worked locks and Pat remained on the boat.   I have been this way a few times but never really registered that the towpath through the cutting after Somerton disappears into a field shielded from the canal by a mass of overgrown bushes.  No chance of horse boating here I guess.   Before Somerton Deep Lock we came to Chisnell Lift Bridge.   There’s just a chain to pull the bridge beams down to open the bridge and it took a huge effort and several attempts.   If the chain had a decent handle on it it would be much easier.   At Dashwood lock we passed a single handler with a collapsible ladder in the boat.  He has a bad knee and cannot use the roof to gain access to the lock ladder.  Walking along the gunwale is a messy procedure in a lock and he swears by his ladder which he can expand from the deck to the lock side.   Mmm, I think - what happens if the boat moves?   After my experience with the previous lift bridge I was very pleased to see that Mill Lane Lift bridge is now mechanised with a very sexy little pedestal.  You need a key!   We had been looking for nb DUSTY to purchase some solid fuel.  There she was at Lower Heyford, moored and all locked up.  Shame.  With all this cold weather we are going to run out in 5 days or so.   At Baker’s Lock the river levels were in the green.  Thank goodness.  One potential obstruction we don’t have to worry about.  Luckily we found a mooring at Thrupp.   What will tomorrow bring?