Time on my hands......

..... a bit more painting then.

Not much has happened since the last post, I am currently killing time, having arranged an engine service in Braunston on Friday 4^th.

My mooring at Napton-on-the-Hill had a very weak Wi-Fi signal and so on Saturday I moved a mile or so further up which improved it, but I was on 48hr moorings and so that meant a move today, obviously being a bank holiday the weather was foul, just consistent rain, I really feel sorry for the holiday makers in this weather, it can't be any fun especially if you have children with you.
So it was on with the wet weather gear and at 10:30 I set off intending to stop around Lower Shuckborough just a couple of miles further up but once again I didn’t like the moorings, trees and bends in the canal, so decided to keep going and find somewhere more to my liking.

I have ended up just before bridge 100 about 1.5miles from Braunston, and having got moored up the first job was a cuppa, then a nice hot shower. Wi-Fi is reasonable but phone signal is weak.

If the weather is ok I will walk up to Braunston tomorrow and check out the moorings and if they are 48hr I will move up on Thursday to make it easier for the mechanic to get to me.

No photo’s of the travel because of the weather.

I did manage to get a little bit more painting done, the gas locker lid is removable so I took it inside and spent a pleasant three hours rubbing down and de-rusting before priming undercoating and glossing it, replacing it this afternoon, I will be doing more on the bow deck as weather and when enthusiasm allow.

I've picked out the hinges in black.

Tonight’s mooring







Total travel: 5miles : 0 Locks

Can't stop...I need milk!

Another bright start to the day, I cast off at around 9:30 and headed through the countryside to the first of the nine Napton locks, a descent of 55ft 3ins in total, the top lock (16), is tucked away just around a bend and you can’t see it from the landing area, so I tied up and went around just in time to close the bottom gates for the couple exiting the lock. That favour was returned to me by the couple running behind me.

Qunquireme disappearing into lock 16

And that was how it proceeded through the next two locks.

Watching lock 15 fill

At lock (14) the water buffalo were in the adjacent field, there’s supposed to be lots of these on the route of the Oxford canal but these were the first I’d seen.

Water buffalo busy doing little, look at those lovely clouds.

Not a bad life.

Leaving the lock there is a short run down to the flight proper, 6 locks forming this final approach to Napton-on-the-Hill.

The work was fairly even with me usually closing bottom gates, filling the lock myself, then being joined by the crew of the following boat who would close the bottom gates as I left, that was until I reached lock 10, the third to last, where there was a lock volounteer, so it was stay on the boat and graciously allow him to operate the gates and paddles J assisted by a painter who was working on the white areas.

At lock 9 another volounteer so the process repeated but they left me to do the final lock (8) on my own which was fine. 

Approaching the final lock of the flight, the services are in the building with 3
little windows and the water point is through the bridge and on the left.

I then pulled onto the services and emptied the cassette and found a Windlass laying on the ground, always handy another spare, that’s 3 spares now. I then moved across and did a very quick top up on the water point before proceeding around the sharp bend to moor on the 48 hr visitor moorings virtually where I stopped on the way down so no mooring photos.

Then as the title suggests I nipped to the store which is handy and bought my milk.

Totals today : 3 miles : 9 Locks

Chaos at the water point.

Yesterday was another should I or not start, it was raining first thing, showers, technically I would guess I was on the 48hr moorings, well 25% of the boat anyway, but wasn’t too bothered by that, I waited to see what would happen and around 10:15 it looked like it would brighten so I got ready and moved off around 10:30.

I wanted to stop at the water point (there are 2 side by side) which is opposite the winding hole ( a turning place) and immediately before bridge 136A, it was only about 500yards ahead and as I came around the bend I could see it was clear. I tied up and started filling the tank.

I had only been there 5 minutes when a boat appeared and the lady asked me if I would be long, so I pointed out that there was another point right in front of me, she tied up and then another boat appeared through the bridge wanting water, he asked the lady if he could brest up (tie alongside her boat) and she said yes, so now there were 3 of us, a couple of minutes later a boat came down the canal, he held position blocking the canal in that direction( nothing coming so not a problem), a couple of minutes later another boat appeared through the bridge, he moved into the winding hole and waited there, now there were 5 and it was getting crowded, then a few minutes later another boat appeared through the bridge and waited in the bridge hole, now 6 boats and we were blocked both ways.

I finished filling and untied the bow holding my rope and waited to see who was going to make the first move, the chap on the boat blocking the canal shouted to his wife to tell me to move away so he could get to the water point even though it wasn’t his turn, I wasn’t moving until I knew what the boat in the bridge hole was doing because that’s where I wanted to go, if he came into the winding hole as I moved off it would have been very tight, but he could come into the winding hole before I moved or reverse back, fortunately he pulled his boat back clearing the way for me and off I went leaving them to sort out themselves, all good fun, as I cleared the bridge another boat was heading towards the water point so I warned him not to rush!

A nice lock free cruise through open countryside followed.

I was nearing the 9 Napton locks and with the weather looking iffy I decided to leave those for another day so I moored in open country.

Today the weather looked good, so at 6:40 (no-one around) I started the engine and did a wash-load, (I have an inverter which converts 12 volt battery power to 240 volts but the washing machine would quickly drain the batteries so the engine needs to run to put back some charge) I then got it dried on the towpath just before the rain showers started, happy days.

In between the showers I sat on the towpath reading and the gardener arrived to mow the grass, very considerate, so it all looks neat now.

Todays mooring

Total travel: 8 miles 

Fenny Compton in the rain.

After a quiet day yesterday with only the F1 of any real interest (for me that is) I was feeling a little too relaxed this morning, a bit bored actually, it was spitting with rain on and off so I was not sure whether to move or not but it brightened a little so at 10am I quickly got myself ready and cast off the stern rope just in time for two boats to appear, so I stood and waited for them to move slowly past then off I went.

An uneventful cruise along passing a few boats heading the other way and through the narrow former tunnel section

Approaching the 1000 yard former tunnel section

and looking back having got safely through

Just after this point there is a narrow bend and as I approached I saw the bow of another boat moving fairly swiftly towards me so I sounded the horn and watched as he threw his boat into reverse and then moved over towards the bank just clattering into it slightly, as he passed me he shouted “it’s a bit narrow there” so I said “it gets a lot narrower but at least you can see ahead”

And that was my cruise, exciting stuff.  I’ve moored just before the Wharf pub at Fenny, ¾ of my boat is before the marker post that says 14days without charge and ¼ is after on the 48hr section so I guess if I stay and get a penalty I only have to pay ¼ of any penalty charge J

It has rained steadily since mooring up around 12, some boats have there fires lit, a bit different from Saturday, all the moorings are now full and there has been very few boats moving past, the forecast is for much of the same all week, so Kindle fully charged and see if the urge to move again overrules the urge to stay dry.

Full moorings behind 

and ahead

Total Today: 5 miles : 1 Lift bridge

I used to be indecisive........

.......but now I’m just not sure.

One of the many joys of this life is you can change your mind whenever you like, we’ll get to that later.

I wanted to watch the Formula 1 qualifying today, 12:15 BBC1, so I set off from Banbury at just after 8am to give me chance to find a suitable mooring in Cropedy with that dreaded TV signal.

You see some unusual things on the canals, this house has a picture of the owners displayed on the rear wall.

Dink & Malc, when I came down this canal Malc was in the garden and greeted me as I went past with a comment about the weather and a wave, he seemed a nice man, and with a name like Dink I’m sure his wife is lovely too.

The first lock of the day Hardwick lock (28) was in my favour with the gates closed, I could see no boats waiting or in the lock and no water escaping from the gates so I gently nudged up against the gates and left the boat on tick-over to push them open, I emphasise gently here, if you go bashing into to lock gates you will bring down the wrath of the boating gods and be smote with the ‘windlass of shallowness’, this will cause you to run aground often and slow your progress generally.  If you use this method and find the lock is actually full simply keep the boat on tick-over against the gates while you empty the lock, if however someone is actually in the lock you will have to reverse back with an expression of ‘I am an idiot’ all over your face.

Just after the lock the M40 passes overhead, would you rather be in this lorry?

Continuing up through Bourton Lock (27), the lock keepers cottage in need of some TLC and a new owner I think, I wouldn’t mind but I have a lot of canal mileage to cover yet.

Through Slat Mill lock (26)  and I was soon approaching Cropedy, I did not like any of the available moorings on the approach so I stopped at the services to get rid of some rubbish and continued on through the lock, there were a few spaces but most were in the shade and some were only 24hr, no good as I want to watch the Grand Prix tomorrow, so 1^st change of mind.

How about this for considerate mooring, his stern pin is dead centre on the towpath and he’s kindly put a coloured bag close by which of course means it's ok, a bit like putting your hazard warning lights on while you stop on a Zebra crossing to nip into the shops, unfortunately an idiot that I can’t ‘name and shame’ as the boat had no name.

On through the next three locks Broadmoor (24), Varney’s (23) and Elkington’s (22) and then I stopped just past Clattercote Wharf and moored up, it was now 12:00 and very hot, I had a cuppa and a sandwich while tuning the TV, no signal on the Necvox, and after 4 attempts no signal on the new one either, 2^nd change of mind.

I moved on again up the Claydon locks (5no.) and moored on the visitor mooring after bridge 144.

No signal on the Necvox, 3^rd attempt on the ariel and it’s a winner, give that man a coconut J

I had missed qualifying but I have just watched a quick catchup on the red button and I’m staying here tomorrow for the Grandprix at least!

Travel today: 8 miles : 12 Locks

Tonights mooring 

TV or not TV that is the question.

I moved on Thursday, not a lot, just from my mooring by Morrisons to the other side of Banbury before bridge 163, first of all I needed to empty the cassette and take on water, the stop at the services was interesting, with a boat already on the water point there was nowhere for me to tie up, it’s only long enough for 1 boat, so I asked the chap if I could tie my bow to his bow he was quite happy but it left my stern drifting, I didn’t want to brest up (tie up to his boat side by side) as it’s close to the lock and I didn’t want to restrict the channel, so a very quick visit to the elsan achieved the first stage before my stern drifted out too far.

There is another water point the other side of the lock but after going through the lock, watched by numerous gongoozlers, I found there was a boat on that one as well, so I tied up and waited.

Waiting for the water point, lift bridge ahead Lock is right behind me.

It’s quite congested in this little section with a lift bridge, a lock and a water point all in a fairly small area  so I was entertained while I waited by various boats manoeuvring around trying to work out the best way to deal with it all, I was soon on the water point though and after filling I waited for someone to open the lift bridge (only a minute or two) and then I shot through before they did waving my thanks J, I then pootled through the very quiet town centre moorings.

Looking back at the lift bridge

and looking foward, plenty of available moorings.

It was packed solid when I came through before,  I carried on and found a mooring much nearer to Screwfix where I needed to buy my Tv Ariel .

Having ordered and collected my 3 parcels from Screwfix, Ariel, Mast and Signal Meter, I set about getting it all working, a cuppa was needed, the method I adopted was to look at the various bits and then scratch my head before deciding I really could do with a 5 year old child (you know the ones ‘it’s so easy a 5 year old could do it’), no 5 year olds to be found I eventually cobbled it all together with various cable ties and string, and it all worked. Now I have two systems, my original little digital Necvox which is great if there’s a good signal, and the new Ariel, I spent the evening working out how easiest to swap from one to the other.

Today I bought some nuts and bolts (well the cable ties and string wouldn’t last) and some TV connectors and finished it all off.

I am glad I don’t watch much TV, the Necvox is easy, set the Autotune on the TV and see if you find any stations, if not read a book.

This is my Necvox antenna.

The new Ariel is a bit more work, first use an app on the phone to see where the best transmitter is located and whether you need your Ariel horizontally or vertically aligned, assemble the mast and attach the Ariel, then use a compass to work out where the transmitter actually is, point the Ariel in that direction, set the Autotune on the TV, if at this point you find stations with a good picture celebrate with a large Brandy, if not fiddle with the Ariel, reset the Autotune on the TV, repeat as necessary until giving up, dismantling and storing everything and reading a book.

and this attractive beast is the new Ariel

I am sure it will be fine, eventually I will get used to being one of the many TV Ariel fiddlers I have seen on the canals, but only if the Necvox fails, and only in the event that there is actually something on TV worth the effort, Strictly Come Dancing, Formula One and maybe the odd film.

I should add here that the Signal Meter I bought was as useful as a chocolate teapot, but I am hoping it is because the signal is too weak here and when the signal is a bit stronger it will be useful.

Total Travel : 1 Mile : 1 Lock : 1 Lift Bridge : how’s that for neat and tidy.

Retracing my route back up the South Oxford Canal

A chilly but bright start to the day was enough to encourage me to get moving, so at 9am I cast off on the way to Banbury.

Not an eventful trip, but a few snaps as I passed along.

Leaving Aynho Weir lock (33) the diamond shaped one is just visible through the bridge, the weir to the right is where the river Cherwell makes its way across the canal and has warning signs if the current is to strong to proceed.

A couple of canal side houses, there aren’t many to be seen.

 An interesting moment at lift bridge 182, it was open as I approached so I passed beneath and a short distance afterwards I glanced back at it and it was closed, now there was no-one around to be seen and it made me think it had closed of its own accord, very worrying, if it came down as you were going through it would do a lot of damage to the roof and solar panel etc.,  I tried to put it out of my mind but was very wary at the next few.

This weeping willow restricted passage slightly; the canal is overgrown in a number of places and could do with a bit of cutting back although this posed no real problem.

Grants lock (30) was in my favour, although the couple who had just left it didn’t see me approach and had closed the gate, as I entered the lock a boat was waiting for me to go up before they could come down and the chap told me to stay aboard while he locked me through, he also told me Banbury was busy where I wanted to moor, near Morrison’s so when I arrived at my intended spot I was happy to see a space right at the end of the moorings, I was as close as I could get to the bridge across the canal with Morrisons just over the road, unfortunately this is my view from the side hatch

Sometimes you have to put convenience ahead of scenery.

Two trips to the store as I was getting very low on everything, then nearby I found an auto-parts store and purchased a couple of spare fanbelts, I have twin alternators, one charges the starter battery and the other the domestic battery bank, so one belt was to replace the spare one used recently and the other because I didn’t have a spare one.

The weather held until I was leaving the store for the first time and then rained steadily all afternoon but its dry again now.

Now I am if nothing else a creature of habit, and since I began this life afloat breakfast on Monday to Saturday has been two weetabix, whole milk (when available) and honey, on Sunday, provisions allowing, it’s a fry-up, but, I have purchased some porridge and I am actually looking forward to it already, I know, I lead a wild and exciting life J

Totals today: 6miles : 4Locks : 10 lift bridges

Catch-up time

On Tuesday I moved from my lovely mooring in the countryside

and headed for Aynho where my new neighbours greeted me from across the canal.

I had a specific reason for being here and on Friday I got a taxi into Banbury and then the train to Surrey where I stayed over at my sisters house and on Sunday attended the thanksgiving and naming ceremony for my lovely granddaughter Hazel.

Hazel with mum and dad during the naming ceremony.

The celebrations continued afterwards at a local Pub where I met up with family and friends and everyone had a great day.

Hazel with mum and dad and auntie's Sarah and Chloe

Of course I got in on the action for a while offering some words of advice to my new little darling.

She listened quietly and probably ignored it

Yesterday I returned to Quinquireme and was pleased to find everything was as it should be and my batteries had been fully charged by the solar panel. Today I decided to stay put and do some laundry and generally sort out a few things and recover from my very enjoyable break.

Weather permitting I will probably move to Banbury tomorrow and stock up with much needed provisions. I am also going to source a TV Ariel which I suddenly realised would become a very important need when the new series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' starts, for I must confess I am something of an addict J

 Thank you Carol for your hospitality and Peter for providing transport and of course Adam, Natalie and Hazel and everyone who attended and made the day so enjoyable.

Not much going on.

There’s not much too blog about at the moment, and as I am retracing my route down here, not much to photo either, although coming past Somerton Wharf which is probably about midway down the canal someone had kindly erected this sign in case you didn't know where you were.

It's rather nice, water's a bit choppy though!

I left Pidgeon’s lock and moved up to Lower Heyford expecting to be there for a while, it had perfect access to the mainline rail station which was something I needed but it also had no phone signal and no Wi-Fi signal which was also something I needed, so I only stayed for one night, the railway was noisy as well and there is no shop to speak of.

I have moored up again out in the countryside which is lovely, no-one but me here most of the time, peaceful with lovely views and it has a Wi-FI signal, phone’s a bit iffy but that often is because of the fact that I am inside a big steel box.

Yesterday was beautiful but I felt a bit guilty doing nothing so I washed the roof and the stern and bow decks, I got my Henry vacuum out and went all through having a good old go at the soft furnishings, I cut up some wood which I have been moving about the boat since leaving Aylesbury and put it in the kindling box ready for winter. I checked the battery acid levels and topped those up, and did a few other minor regular maintenance items; there is always something to do if you want to find it.

Today I woke at six, it will be another peaceful quiet day where I am and tomorrow I am going to move to Aynho again where I will stay for a week while I attend to some personal stuff.

I am running low on nearly all provisions and the shop at Aynho is only small so I will probably get the bike out if there’s anywhere within cycling distance or get a bus into Banbury.

Bye for now, I must get back to my seat in the sunshine on the towpath and do some more reading.

A small project finished and a walk around two Villages.

My side hatch has been a security worry from day one, a lot of reports into break-ins of narrowboats cite entry being gained through the side hatch, mine is secured like a lot are with two little brass bolts, one top and one bottom, externally there is a nice small gap where the doors overlap just the right size to put a jemmy in and force the doors, I proved how easy this was when I locked myself out and gained entry through my fronts doors which were secured in the same way, a spanner was my only tool and slipping it in the gap between the doors I snapped both bolts and was into my boat in around 15 seconds, I have since upgraded the security on those doors! 

So after a lot of thought I came up with this solution.

Original with small bolts top and botom

A 5mm steel triangle to fit

Plate bolted to right hand door

Captive bolts on left door and wing nuts to secure

This secures it moderately easily (slip on the wing nuts and tighten) if I am leaving the boat for any length of time and the four visible bolt heads externally (cup heads so not undoable from outside) should deter any attempt, but I would like to see the rascals get those open now without an angle grinder. It’s not that elegant but preferable to finding my home trashed.  

My mooring is about equal distance from the villages of Tackley and Kirtlington with each about a mile away, so this morning I took a walk to Tackley. A footpath leads the way in from the canal. Picture captions will tell the tale.

Footpath crossing the river Cherwell

Skipping merrily through fields and meadows

Passing some of the locals

To reach the rail station which signals the start (for me) of the village or the end if arriving by road

The mandatory Thatched Cottage, I wonder what he wants?

Terraced houses on one of the 'main' roads

More terraced houses, shame about the cars and bins

There was a volunteer run local shop in the village hall, but not very picturesque, I did buy some milk spuds and a loaf to help the local community out.

Then this afternoon it was along the bridleway and into Kirtlington.

Along the bridleway passing the rear of Jane's teas it's canal facing really

and not open til 15th August, perhaps Jane's on holiday.

A new modern development at the end of the bridleway just before the village

Not bad eh, but where's the nearest nightclub?

Well the Dashwood hotel and restaurant might do dinner dances?

The village hall tucked away at the end of the village

Opposite the village hall is the Church of St Mary the Virgin

Some of these small villages have very grand churches.

A small Thatched terrace nestled between the Oxford Arm pub and the Village store/Post Office.
 That would do me very nicely thank you. 

and finally this one, it's To Let if you are interested.

I would love to have posted all the pictures I took but I would have used a month’s worth of data allowance on my Wi-Fi, for beauty Kirtlington won me over most of the properties were in pristine condition looking almost as if they had been scrubbed clean, the pictures don't really show that, for convenience if you wanted to commute Tackley with its rail link would be the choice, I don’t think either would disappoint.