26th - 28th of February Verity and Ryan visit for Robin's birthday weekend.

Having moored at Heyford earlier in the week I awaited the arrival of Verity and Ryan on Friday. Verity arrived in time for lunch and we had home made Thai red curry soup and toast. We then set off and filled up with water by reversing down the canal to the water point then back to our mooring. Ryan arrived in the evening and we headed off to the Bell for dinner. Had a nice meal to start the weekend.


Setting off for the water point. Robin displaying his best view!!

We got up Saturday morning and headed off planning to have breakfast on the move. But after 2 locks the cold Easterly breeze forced us to stop for a warm up and breakfast indoors.


Ryan demonstrates his mooring skills by pulling the boat in and slipping over on his arse.

Fully refreshed we set off again heading north Ryan now getting over his lay down.... and me and Verity had stopped laughing.

 The happy captain and crew under way

Ryan complains to Dad that he's going far to fast.

 One brief glimpse of Ryan actually doing some work and not playing his game boy.

It really was that cold...
Having all got a bit cold we stopped for the day and moored just past Twyford bridge. We had dinner and spent a lovely evening catching up playing cards and had a glass of wine or two.......

On Sunday we headed off and into Banbury and then moored up for breakfast in the middle of the town. It was still quite cold and we then pottered along to Cropredy where we were due to meet Jo.
Safely moored up Jo arrived with a somewhat suspicious looking package.

The suspicious package on the car.

It turns out to Be Robin's birthday present a complete surprise. It's a paddle board and the old boy can't wait to get it out and have a paddle.

The paddle board unpacked

Robin sets off quite gingerly, somewhat worried about falling in to the freezing cold canal

Having got the measure of the board his confidence increases and manages to stand up and paddle up the canal a bit.

 

The old boy finally comes into the bank for a well earned rest having managed to disappoint everyone by not falling in.

 

Ryan also had a go and managed to stay upright as well avoiding a dip in the canal.

 

Proof that Ryan managed it as well.

 

What a fantastic end to a great birthday weekend. A big thank you to all involved in the paddle board surprise.