Today we had a good opportunity to train up our new helmswoman Rosemary. The forecast was for some rain later, so she came prepared and wrapped up warm

Luckily conditions started off warm and dry though, and after a few S-shaped courses down the canal Rosemay soon had it cracked and was helming unassisted – or at least until any boats came the other way!

We were entering familiar territory today as we head towards Oxford. We passed the now massive Cropredy marina where we’d once considered basing our boat, and then going through the centre of Banbury made us a bit of a mini tourist attraction for a few minutes, as Sarah and Rosemary stopped the foot-traffic to raise the lift bridge by the shopping centre. We then headed past Aynho and through Somerton deep lock – the deepest narrow lock on the system (along with Tardebigge)

The rain hit us hardest towards the end of the day, but Sarah was well prepared with her Dryz-a-bone jacket from Anne, and her bush-hat from Keith – looking like the consummate Aussie we reckon!

We finished up in Heyford, where we enjoyed a short walk up the hill to The Bell Inn for dinner, which Rosemary kindly treated us to. The pub may be familar to some of our readers from a previous trip doing the Thames ring!