Patience rewarded.

It's a funny old business this narrow boating, I think other boaters wait for me to start my engine then suddenly de-cloak and appear, this morning I set off at 9am, in between two boats neither of which were in view when I fired it up. It was lovely and warm and I was feeling confident today would be a good one.

The boat I was following was just leaving the first lock of the day as I arrived but walking up to the lock (Aynho Weir, another diamond shaped one) I could see a boat heading towards it, so I waited for him and locked him through, by the time he was done there were two boats hovering behind me, someone had moored on the end of the lock landing so they couldn't get on to that, the people of the first boat waiting closed up for me and I headed off the short distance to Nell Bridge lock (32), you have to walk across the B4100 road to get to the lock from the landing at this one.

The approach to Nell Bridge lock, no access under the bridge
 so a walk across the main road.

It's 8' 8" deep and the canal bends around as you leave but there was no one waiting or approaching so I took my time to allow the boaters behind to catch up and close up for me again, well why not, they were four handed and it gives them something to do :-)

The stretch of the canal from Aynho to Banbury has 10 lift bridges, luckily most if not all of them are permanently up.

I took 3 pictures of bridge 183 with the M40 just beyond and although the road traffic was streaming through none of them had a vehicle in it, strange the way some things happen.

Passing beneath the M40

It was getting hotter and the towpath had now changed sides so I was on the lookout for a suitable painting spot, but the first section between Nell Bridge lock and Kings Sutton lock was no good, however the views were very pleasant.

Kings Sutton lock was against me and as I was filling it looking ahead was a nice low piled section of bank, but it was on a tight bend, a boater came along and the lady told me to stay aboard, as I was almost ready to exit the lock she asked where I was heading and I explained, she told me the canal straightened after the bend and they had just left a mooring there, lovely, I hoped.
It was very suitable, so I have moored up, and tomorrow weather permitting side two can commence! The only problem is there does not appear to be a shop for miles, so the bike might have to come out of hibernation for the milk run, further investigation needed, and I may have to do a bit of grass trimming at the edge.

Current mooring:

Total today: 3 miles : 3 locks : 5 lift bridges (all open)