GopherProxy

	Day 3 - Saturday. Drive down to Oxford w/ Dad, pick up the boat,
	prep for marathon

	2022-10-15 - TZ: Europe/London


	Drove down to Oxford in the AM with Dad.


	Original plan was to be dropped off at Peartree Park & Ride
	so that Dad could help Rachel and Ben view a house they were
	interested in buying.


	But as we were going down motorway, I noticed that Rachel and
	Ben were in Oxford. (Rachel was getting her hair dyed a lighter
	shade to hide her greys because she is one of the older people
	working at her startup.) They decided to cancel their viewing
	and had lunch w/ me and Dad at Jamal’s in Jericho.


	Was a bit rushed at lunch because Jamal’s closes at 2. But it
	worked out! Was good briefly to chat with them outside of the
	craziness of the upcoming marathon.


	Then dad drove me to boatyard.


	Becca arrived next in Lucy’s car, which is a Ben-Scott type
	car, viz a red coupe. Not a Becca car at all! Didn’t open the
	gates for her because couldn’t see who was in it.


	Richard/Cath we’re running late (Cath had just bought
	Richard’s Leaf EV and I think they might have had a charging
	delay en route), so Becca, Dad and I did the “test” turn
	with a somewhat ornery gent from the boatyard. Quiet spoken and
	quick to frustration. I think I heard him say “fuck” under
	his breath when his opinion of how I should be approaching Isis
	lock differed heavily from mine.


	I’m not trying to say he was wrong. He was trying to explain
	how to do it the single-hander way, which is slower and involves
	always getting the back in, always getting off at the back,
	never walking along the towpath with a windlass, etc. I feel
	like I learned a lot by implication.


	It DID NOT HELP that Dad opened the paddle at the lower
	end while the top paddle was open/ gate closed. Embarrassing
	brain-fart. There’s only one top paddle at Isis lock, I wonder
	if he half-thought he was doing the other one?


	Anyway, we winded and re-ascended Isis lock successfully. Picked
	up Richard and Cath. Said goodbye to Dad. Set out up to the
	junction w Duke’s Cut and back.


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	I was sure there was something around the propeller... Becca
	had a good go at freeing the phantom obstruction.


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	Richard was v insistent that we don’t drink before running
	tomorrow. So. weird. on. a. boat. not. to. be. holding. a. drink.
	in. the. evening.


	But somehow we managed. Everyone goes to sleep
	early! Weird. Thanks, Melatonin for helping me do the
	same. (Thanks, Anna!)




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