Not a fishermans tale.

 May 6th

That Thai meal, delicious, but oh did we suffer from eating too much. overnight. Three courses, I somehow think we may have chosen wrong by going for one of their set meals. Anyway the place was called Thai Orchid, they were very busy which is a recommendation in itself. 

 

Back at FS and a strange substance was seen on the back deck. Hmm, ice cream maybe? We pooh-poohed it, thinking a child may have tried climbing on board, but this morning Ian noticed something on the cabin side looking remarkably like a shoe print! All I can ask is why? I could swear and call this person's parentage into question, but I'm too lady like for that!!! And now I'm wondering what that stuff was on the rear deck!

Looking back as we left Banbury, not a single mooring to be had. Very glad that we managed to find a space, although I don't think we will be stopping on these moorings again. It's not just the locals shouting and hollering at some silly time of the morning, but the whole place was lit up like Blackpool illuminations! Every time we awoke last night, I thought it was time to get up! And here am I thinking everyone was on board about trying to save energy! 

Snow on the canal. Well, that's what it looked like! This time of year the blossom falling caused this lovely carpet of white.

 

Someone was strimming at Elkington lock, (not CRT, no life jacket and turned out he was a farm hand,) and we had given him quite a start when he suddenly realised we were there. Anyway, with this nice weather, all the butterflies and bugs are out. Now I have mentioned this because this morning on the Beeb, a story about a bug count that will happen at the beginning of June. The decline in bugs are concerning the RSPB. Birds rely on them to feed their young, and a good few are also pollinators. A splatometer is to be handed out to the public to count how many dead bugs are on the number plates after a journey, and the data collected will help build a picture on insects populations. So I was very concerned that this chap was strimming along the fence perimeter, I felt an unmown strip could at least be left for the insects, Not one to hold back I explained why he should stop going right up to the edge. Slightly taken aback, he did agree in the end because he too had seen the article on the news. It would be nice to think he will leave a strip, but out of sight, out of mind, and all that.

We stopped where we said we would, below Claydon locks. Looked a lovely spot with trees either side and the sun flickering through the leaves and branches. The towpath was also wide enough for a BBQ, that would do nicely. Table and chairs came out, and we sat with coffee and a sandwich. Thought we would tune the TV and that's when a discussion was had whether we stay or go! Not a single channel found, and the Snipe 2 just spun around and around trying to lock onto Astra 2. And to top it all, internet was also abysmal!

So after only being there an hour, we set off for Claydon locks. Moorings could be had between the first two locks and third and fourth. First moorings was a no, very low pound, and we didn't fancy getting stuck. Middle lock had a lockkeeper on. He advised against mooring after this lock and the next. All the boats on the moorings were listing this morning, and he had to refill the pounds to get them floating again. So we continued to the top and here we found the perfect mooring, in the open where the satellite would find its target. 

Oh, and we had a fly past! A Hawker Hurricane banked and came in our direction. How good was that!

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Determined to go fishing, I left Ian to do the brasses and give the cratch board a second coat of green. Having caught a few Roach, I couldn't believe it when the elastic in my pole was stretched to breaking point. For 5 minutes I never even saw the fish, but wow, when I did I was amazed. Got it into the net, and it was the biggest perch I had ever landed. I sent a photo to son-in-law Kev (A Pike fisherman) who estimated it at least 3lb. I really must learn how to hold it properly for a photo, 'cos the tail can't be seen, but it was well over 15" in length.

And wildlife, a bit of a bug theme, and all photographed at Elkington lock