The Oxford Canal beat the Danube and the Styx to be awarded the world-famous City Barge Autumn Tour for the 2025 season. After hours of meticulous planning, the tour was almost derailed by a last- minute participant, Storm Benjamin. Due to a stroke of planning genius, the unwelcome gate-crasher was thwarted by starting a day early on Wednesday, 22nd October.
A hastily press-ganged crew answered the call, rushing to the sandoli like scrambled Battle of Britain pilots. The sandolo Allegra was heroically delivered to Thrupp, where her metaphorical hatches were battened down in preparation
for Benjamin.
The following day her sister sandolo Serena was towed to Thrupp and launched using the “push and pray” method
of trailer launching. As she gracefully slid into the canal, the relieved trailer seemed to jump for joy, landing neatly atop the captain’s car. The onlookers mused, is there nothing that Pauline would not sacrifice for the club?
The storm whistled off into the North Sea and Friday dawned cold and bright. As the two Sandoli slipped their moorings, the ten rowers pondered what lay ahead. They quickly found out. Benjamin was hanging around, and the Oxford Canal is a tad narrower than the Isis. Despite the wind and width, all went well until an oar split under the immense strain of the occasion. Game over? Not at all. A roll of duct tape was sweet talked off a tow-path stranger, and oaken offcuts purloined from a nearby boatyard. The resulting repair entered service and the epic day resumed.
Shortly afterwards, the watery metropolis of Lower Heyford swung into view. Our mariners wondered whether Kizzies Bistro was a mere mirage, but were soon relieved when they really could smell the coffee. Mooring up beside the marina, both crews disembarked for their well-earned lunch. Soon they were joined by the heroic chairman John, who despite suffering terrible man-flu had answered the emergency call and driven up with a replacement oar.
Lunch-sated and re-oared, the afternoon session passed in pleasant banter between the boats. As the sun dipped towards the horizon, the much-feared Somerton Deep Lock presented itself. Some say it is still inhabited by a long-lost tribe, others that it is inhabited by the devil himself. Armed with nothing but windlasses and good cheer, the lock was conquered, and the Great Western Arms at Aynho reached in the dying rays of twilight.
Ensconced within the cosy inn, pleasantries were exchanged in the bar with visiting boaters and regulars alike. After a couple of preprandials, a hearty dinner was taken before crew members either retired to their (allegedly) haunted rooms or returned home.
Saturday morning saw new crews take shape, including Bev and Jeremy who left their canal boat moored at Aynho. However, it seemed as if Benjamin was playing a trick. The wind was gustier than the day before, and the menacing clouds dumped rain and hail. But the sun shone too, and a return visit to Kizzies kept the paddlers well fuelled. After a long day of rowing, Thrupp wide was reached, and the boats once more prepared for a night under the stars.
The final day saw yet more changes in the crew line-ups, and another wonderful day ensued as the fleet sailed towards the boathouse. Ahh, home at last. An epic 4 days, covering 42 miles peppered by 32 locks, powered by 16 gallant vogatori.
Well done, City Barge!
Peter Damer, 02/11/25