On the hunt.

Yesterday I picked up a few of the remaining bit's that I needed, I also fitted an external ariel point to tidy that up and rerouted the cable, the self tapping screws supplied weren't going to work so I bought a small tap and die set and some bolts, it's all neater now.

It was a cold start this morning, no sign of the sun I've got used to but I am on a mission to find some cable for my new tunnel light, the brass one looks good but is not very effective so I've bought a pair of LED spotlights one of which I will fit, I tried everywhere I could think of in Banbury including the chandlers at Tooley's boat yard but no one seems to stock what I need, narrowboat life is so difficult sometimes!

I set off at 9:30 leaving Banbury behind and passing the permit holder moorings.

And soon into my first lock for today, Hardwick lock (28), here's a couple of views from it.

The boarded up lock cottage from within the lock.

7' 6" so not too deep.

Looking back as I leave

It was surprisingly busy with boats, one little incident with a hire boat who had loads of room but did the wrong thing as I approached swung across the canal and reduced the available gap, his bow hit a moored boat and his stern nudged me, I never touched him :-) but it was no problem really, just a bit of minor excitement.

The next lock was in my favour and as I walked up and opened the gates another boat turned up so they locked me through once I was in.

Autumnal colours appearing now, Bourton lock approach.

I liked this on a residential mooring, outside pool table, BBQ and drinks table, all set for next year!

And at this time of year you start to see lots of this, residential moorers tend to buy their coal in bulk to get a discount.

Slat Mill lock (26) was next and I found it two thirds full, a boat was approaching a few hundred yards ahead so being the nice chap I am I opened the top paddles and finished filling it then l locked them through before ascending the lock myself.

I have passed through Cropedy three times before but never really had a look around so I decided that I would go through Cropedy lock and moor up then have a wander through the village and walk down to the marina to see if they had the elusive cable I was after.
It's quite narrow and bendy as you approach the lock but nothing was coming my way.

It's a nice little lock this one, only 5'6" deep and quite a pleasant setting.

Having gone through I moored up for the night, here on the 24 hour moorings:

Totals today : 4.5 miles : 4 locks

I then walked into the village, here's a few snaps of what I saw:

Nestled in the middle of this row of thatched houses is The Red Lion

Village green  on 'Chapel Green' road, so named because...

On the corner is this Wesleyan Chapel erected in 1881

Looking down on Cropedy Lock from the bridge, Quinquireme in the distance.

Having passed through this part of the village I walked the quarter mile or so to the marina which...... was closed!

Tomorrow the hunt will continue to Fenny Compton.