It's been a very busy week, we started the week catching up with relatives before we headed south to Goodwood. Next it was off to meet up with Ian, Simon and Ellie for a full three days of cars and beers. Friday it rained nearly all day the carpark was a disaster. People were getting bogged all over the place. We came close but managed to just get out with a little bit of forethought and not rushing. Saturday was a much nicer day with the highlight race of the weekend St Marys Trophy, a race for 1950 - 1959 saloon cars but at the end of the day the rain returned. Sunday started ok but like Saturday the weather deteriorated in the afternoon and the wind picked up, the highlight for Sunday was the TT race for closed sports cars. Millon dollar cars swapping paint and rubbing panels. That night the wind was so strong the caravan was bouncing around more than the boat ever did. We needed to feel superior to the Englishmen so we spent the day checking out their beaches at Bognor Regis and Little Hampton. They were deserted now that schools gone back. We have to be at the airport by 8:30 in the morning so we spent our last night at the Hilton Gardens hotel Heathrow. Good old Kate managed to get us a room for free. Now we are looking forward to getting home and catching up with everyone.
After our whinging about the weather the last fortnight has been fantastic. Great cruising weather (except for one day where we had to light the fire and it rained all day).
After we left Oxford we were back on the canals. We found Oxford canal to be peaceful and picturesque. Apart from Banbury it was all small villages.
Still meeting lots of nice and helpful people. One old fella even gave us a lift into town to pick up some paint.
We had to do the laundry at Fenny Compton and the laundrette is at the back of the pub so we had to have a pint and got chatting to Kathy and Ian also doing their laundry. Next thing you know we were back at their boat drinking. Good fun was had by all.
Over the last couple of weeks we've touched up the boat to get it ready for sale, so the cruising up the Oxford was nice and slow as we made our way to Crick and lo and behold we spotted our old mate Paul who we travelled up the Avon with. We didn't think we'd ever see him again.
Last night was our last on board and we drove away this morning with a tear in our eye.
Here are the last pictures and videos from the our canal travels. We are now looking forward to the Goodwood Revival.
