I'm back after a Wi-Fi-less pause.

Due to lack of Wi-Fi this is a bit of a long catchup post, sorry!

Thursday 19^th May

I spent 5 nights at the lovely mooring spot just before Somerton and managed to get some more painting done in the bow well deck on the dry days, yesterday the weather was not great, it rained almost all day and particularly heavily in the early evening.

Today we decided to move on and the first obstacle, lift bridge 193, proved to be no obstacle at all as two Canal and River Trust workmen were in attendance and opened the bridge as we approached.

A pleasant short cruise to arrive at Somerton Deep lock (34), which at 12ft deep is quite imposing, by the time I arrived Karl had already entered it and closed the top gate so he stayed aboard Lizzie Jane while I locked him through, another boat arrived to go up so I locked him through as well before entering the lock myself and going through.

Half empty

Waiting for the helmsman to re-board

Somerton Wharf is a lovely well kept small residential wharf with room for five boats, slightly spoiled by the sound of the mainline railway which passes quite close behind it.

Everywhere around us now new life is growing rapidly, with calves in the fields fattening up

and mummy duck teaching the ducklings that sometimes it’s better to take to the towpath.

The next two locks came and went and I arrived at lift bridge 205 which was down as is normal for this one, it is quite high above the canal and not at all balanced, it’s also metal and quite heavy, but as I had already tackled it last year I was prepared, stopping with my bow nudging the bank on the towpath side and armed with a length of chain and padlock I stepped off at the bow taking the bow rope with me and walked across the bridge. I then pulled the balance beam down raising the bridge and sitting on the beam I passed my chain through the ground ring (the only good thing about this bridge) wrapped it around the beam and padlocked it in place. It was then a matter of pulling the boat across so that I could climb down onto the bow, walk along the gunnels and take the boat through, then reverse so that the stern button was touching the high wall abutment of the bridge and climb up carrying the stern line, release the padlock and chain to lower the bridge, checking the tiller was clear of the bridge first, climb back down onto the stern and continue on my way pleased that nothing had gone wrong J

Karl had already gone through having a bit more luck than me; a boat was coming the other way as he approached, and they opened the bridge allowing him to go straight through without any problem.

Just around the next bend in the canal was the chosen mooring for the night at Lower Heyford which although very close to the railway is quiet and pleasant with only the lack of Internet and phone signal being a slight problem, although sometimes it’s good to lose technology for a while.

Tonights mooring:

Totals today: 5 miles : 3Locks : 1 lift bridge

Friday 20^th

This morning Karl decided he wanted to move on but I wanted to walk into Steeple Aston and have a look around so we parted company for a while again.

Having looked at Pearson’s guide I noticed there was a circular route available by walking back to lift bridge 205 and then following a footpath across fields to the village, returning along a country lane and road. So I set off on foot taking the two pictures of the bridge 205 en route. As I entered a large field I read the warning notice that cows with calves were grazing but thought nothing of it, about halfway across the field some of the youngsters decided they didn’t like my presence, and took to charging towards me bellowing as they approached but stopping about 10 yards short of me, this did not faze me but when a few of the mums decided they might have fun harassing me I quickened my pace J.

These remains were quite a way in the distance and I don’t know what it is and without Mr Google available at the time of writing I probably won’t ever find out.

The walk into the village was about 2 miles across country and mostly uphill but it was worth it, I spent an hour walking around Steeple, Middle and Lower Aston here’s a few pictures of this charming hilltop retreat.

Walking back down the country lane and onto the B4030 I had a distant view of Rousham House of which Pearson’s informs me the gardens are open daily, no dogs or children under 15!

The total walk was probably 6 to7 miles taking around 2½  hours, sidestepping cow pats to begin with J

Saturday 21^st

The weather was decidedly iffy this morning and I had all but decided to stay put for another day but with a brightening sky (slightly) I decided to move in search of a signal on either the phone or the Wi-FI, contact was needed to arrange things for a potential visit.

So at 10:15 I released mooring chains and was away, I got about 10 yards along towards a narrowing and spotted a small day boat heading towards me, he must have been lurking amongst the bigger boats, he was closer to the narrowing than me so I had to reverse back, the stiff breeze making it more of a task, but he was soon passing safely and on I continued to the water point. Right opposite is this lovely house with its own boat, looks like it’s used for entertaining large numbers of passengers, maybe an ex hire day boat.

A family of ducks showed and interest while I was filling up, searching for food no doubt, the little ones seemed to play ‘circle mum then head off in all directions’

They are very cute though J

It was not a very pleasant day for cruising, the wind picked up and there were sporadic showers of rain, I had some luck though, at both locks (37&38) I met boats coming the other way negating the need for me to shut the bottom gates.

Not really camera weather but I snapped ‘Cosy Rosie’ just before Pidgeon’s Lock,

I had intended to go through the lock but looking ahead I could see the moorings beyond were taken so I pulled the boat back and moored before the lock. I had both phone and Wi-Fi and could see no reason to continue in the blustery damp conditions, the canal will still be there tomorrow (or Monday!).

Tonight’s mooring:

Totals today: 4miles : 2 locks