Ball Games

It's the first time I've seen this activity! Does anyone know what it is called?

Perhaps this wider-angle shot will give a better idea of what is going on. For the floating balls, the "riders" get into a deflated balloon, which is subsequently pumped up. It's evidently great fun!

The jollity is taking place by Thrupp Bridge on the Oxford Canal. This bridge is Aubrey's Lift Bridge, Bridge 221 in the series, and shown being opened here.

Close by is the hamlet of Thrupp itself, where this colourful pub can be found.

Here is a nice web site about the canal and its bridges.

Further along the canal towards Kidlington comes the Sparrowgap Bridge, Bridge 223. What's become of Bridge 222, I wonder?

The Sparrowgap Bridge also has its attendant pub.

[For orchid99: the [url=http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12342825/Canal/DSCN5228FM.JPG]trees by the railway near here[/url] look decidedly more autumnal than those I showed two days ago (Thursday 22 Sept), even though the latter are at most just 1 km to the south.]