Is it summer ??

I left Cropedy at 9am, the weather was cold, a body warmer and fleece, and quite windy especially as I passed the quite open area formed by Cropedy Marina.

It’s quite narrow through Cropedy and lots of moored boats both before and after Cropedy lock (25), as I approached there was a boat ahead just going through in the same direction as me so a little wait before I could prepare the lock and move through.

The service point is just after bridge 153 and I wasn’t in desperate need but thought it might be an idea to empty the rubbish and cassette, it’s a funny layout here, the elsan point is at the back of the winding hole and a very short section to moor on for it or the water point, probably about 40ft long, I wasn’t going to bother but as I passed a boat came into view ahead so I thought I’d stop and get out of his way, I reversed back and tied up, as I was doing so he moored opposite as he wanted the water point, I was sticking about 15ft across the winding hole because of the short space when another shorter boat appeared and moved into the winding point and moored in there, it was a bit chaotic but I was soon done and moved away quickly.

Slow progress until I cleared all the moored boats both visitors and permanent, I had two canoists following me and they were hesitant to pass but did so on a wide bend, I was glad to get them past because the wind was making things a little more difficult than normal, then the canal widened a bit and progress was good.

Reaching Slat Mill Lock (26) I could see a boat tied up but he was quite a bit short of the lock and there were volunteers milling around painting the lock furniture, I had just made the decision that he must be moored and started to head for the lock when he moved away, nearly a little faux pas on my part, anyway they got through the lock with a bit of help and then I had help from the volunteers and the crew of a boat behind me, time to take a picture.

I love a bit of help.

Even time to take one of the top gate behind me.

Traffic was thundering past on the M40 oblivious to my 3mph progress through beautiful countryside.

It didn’t take long to get through the last two locks and I was soon pulling into a mooring in Banbury just after bridge 163, who should be in front of me just about to move off but Sue (N.b. Kes) again, she stopped what she was doing and walked back and chatted while I was tying up and just as I was finishing Dusty the fuel boat came into view, perfect, I was going to ring him to see where he was now I didn’t need to, Sue said goodbye and moved off and shortly after 96 litres were making their way into my tank, what a result and 79p a litre compared to £1.05 at a boatyard I passed further back.

No mooring pictures, I forgot.

Totals today: 5 miles : 4 Locks