Woolly item found - No reward !

As I was maneuvering to moor at Banbury on Thursday I heard an unusual clunking sound from the engine, I’d forgotten about by the time I got settled, "it’s me age deary", but I remembered it again on Friday, so before I forgot again I decided a quick arm down the weedhatch was necessary, and all was revealed, wrapped around the prop was this item, I think it was a neckwarmer but whatever it was it is no longer.

Saturday I set of first about 8:30, I had to negotiate the lift bridge and lock and then get on the service point for the usual empty and fill and I wanted to put a load of washing in the machine so needed hot water (the engine heats the water). Once all that was done I moored opposite the service point to await Karl’s arrival and then we set off with him leading the way but not before I had taken a picture of ‘Spaghetti Limbed Pete’, a pirate figure made of 5mm wire then painted, who has stood by the lower lock landing outside the Mill Arts Centre since 2007, he was created by David Gosling and people with learning disabilities.

We were soon passing through the numerous simple lift bridges which are abundant in this area.

And also many more rapeseed fields, so common now at this time of year.

A bit of a snug fit as I passed moored boats opposite a brested pair of hire boats at Twyford Wharf but no contact was made J

I passed through the first two locks both giving and receiving assistance and all went well and somewhere along the route (I forget where exactly) was this sunken burnt hull, it’ll no doubt be there for some time before someone clears it away.

Arriving at ‘The Pig Place’, a small holding selling its ware’s, Karl had moored outside for lunch, there is room for three maybe four boats but no space for me as they were all taken, so I moored on the towpath side and made a cuppa and a sandwich. Karl sent a text to say he was staying overnight to avail himself of the electric hook-up, so I continued on through the next two locks, Nell Bridge lock (32) and Aynho Weir lock (33) which is a diamond shaped lock, I then saw my first Goslings of the year.

Continuing on past Aynho Wharf I moored at a favoured rural spot of mine from my last year’s visit.

Karl caught up again this morning but we were not moving on, I wanted to watch the Spanish F1 Grand Prix.

Views from the side hatch:

Totals this post: 5 miles : 5 locks : 2 lift bridges (actually operated, there are many fixed open)

Banbury.

After the glorious weather on Monday came the UK payment, one day of sunshine often rewards you with two days of rain at this time of year, we were on 24 hour moorings so on Tuesday morning we moved through Cropedy lock to find a 14 day mooring the other side of the village, a short cruise in the rain.

We sat out the rest of the rainy afternoon and the following day setting off again on Thursday for what looked like a pleasant day's cruise to Banbury.

This little chap had found his own little grassy haven to take in some sunshine.

With Karl ahead again I arrived at Slat Mill lock (26) in time to assist and was joined by the lady from the boat following me, so things moved ahead ok and I was soon leaving her to close the bottom gates for me.

With one gate closed, she is wallking around the lock to close the other gate.

Passing through the lovely Oxforshire countryside with vibrant yellow rapeseed fields and clear blue skies.

Entering Bourton lock (27) I had gained some ground but the following boat arrived again in time to close the gates as I left.

After passing through the last lock for today, Hardwick lock (28), I was soon arriving at Banbury, a text arrived from Karl to tell me there was room on the town centre moorings so I headed in and moored behind him.

I spent the afternoon doing a couple of shopping trips and then in the evening we regrouped to visit the GF Club, which although a private club, is open to canal users, we spent a couple of hours outside watching the locals and a visiting team compete in a game of ‘Aunt Sally’ which is played almost entirely in Oxfordshire only, more details HERE

It was an enjoyable day finishing with an enjoyable evening and a twenty yard walk back to the boat, and the beer was cheap J

Current mooring:

Total travel:  5 miles : 4 locks 

Only one word.........

.....glorious.

Having been at Fenny Compton for the weekend we decided to move on today, so Karl set off first needing to stop at the water point and I followed a little while later.

Passing beneath the A423 and looking back beyond that to bridge 137a.

 With a boat in front we passed through the old Fenny tunnel, now roofless, in a mini convoy, no approaching traffic so all was well and the vegetation had been trimmed back since I came through last year making it much clearer where the actual bank was.

After the narrows I did a quick bit of train racing, I lost again J

The chap in front had a couple of problems grounding on the offside of bends, stay in the middle unless a boat is approaching!

You would not get far if you turned left into bridge 142, it spans a feeder stream from Boddington Reservoir, adding water to this section as necessary.

Soon after that we approached the five Claydon locks dropping us down 30’ 6”, it was a bit busy with boats in either direction but everyone mucked in which makes things easier and we were eventually through those stopping for a lunch break just after the bottom lock.

Lunch spot 

We then moved on to the remaining 3 locks before Cropedy and with no-one else around it made my work a little harder, seeing Karl out of each lock, turning it (refilling it), going through myself and then shutting the bottom gates as I left each lock, but I quite enjoy it, keeping busy with the sun on your back and in no real hurry.

Entering Elkington’s lock (22)

And leaving Broadmoor lock (24) the last for today.

Arriving at Cropedy visitors moorings Karl had once again found a double space, so here’s my view as I sit on the bow having a quick cold beer, and the weather is and has been.......glorious.

Totals today: 7miles : 8 locks

Fenny Compton and Sunshine

Yesterday we set of from our rural mooring at about 9:45 to head along the summit to Fenny Compton, Karl went ahead and I followed a few minutes behind.

I really like this section of the canal, it meanders along following the natural contours of the landscape to avoid the need for locks, cuttings or embankments, it was however quite busy and we passed a large number of other boats, and as is the norm most at bridge holes, I had to give way or reverse back a bit at at least two bridge holes with other boats on occasion giving way to me as well.

Sheep country again and the lambs are rapidly growing.

This not so little chap looked like he was doing well!

Beautiful views all around and the sun was shining occasionally

Meeting the occasional strange looking craft, we are a very individual and mixed bunch in a lot of ways, just like our boats.

Passing one boat I could see a bit of a kerfuffle ahead, the lady on the tiller called out that the red boat had broken down, Karl was being waved past by said boat and was maneuvering slowly around the obstruction, but I could see the boats prop was rotating, as Karl moved past him the 'stricken' boat  managed to get to the bank but grounded himself quite badly. I approached slowly and asked if he wanted a tow of the bank, which he accepted, so he threw me his bow line which I secured and then towed him away, what ever his problem was ( I believe he said it was the clutch) it had seemed to have cured itself and after getting a thumbs up from him I threw his bow line into his well deck and continued along, watching for a while to make sure he was ok.

Passing the Radio mast which can be seen from various points along this section of canal sometimes on your right and sometimes the left due to the wanderings of the canal.

Seeing quite a lot of ducklings as well, although no cygnets or goslings yet. Mum hadn't deserted this lot, she was just out of shot behind J

After about two and three quater hours cruising we arrived at Fenny Compton where a nice double boat gap awaited us and here we stayed. The afternoon was lovely and after a trip out on the bike for provisions I took my book along to 'The Wharf' pub and had a couple of beers and read in the sunshine.

Karl told me the chap from the stricken boat had moored ahead and came along to say thank you but I never heard him knock on the boat, I was probably napping J

We stayed put today which started very nicely, so I did a bit more painting in the bow well deck area, little and often especially when it's hot, but the afternoon has turned muggy and thundery feeling with a short heavy shower of rain.

Current mooring

Totals this post: 7 miles

Ssshhh.... I think summer is making a showing.

Yesterday signalled the arrival of better weather and we had tentatively decided we may move on, Karl has been trying, frustratingly in vain, to renew his licence with Canal and River Trust but it’s been slow going due to them losing his details, so he decided to walk down to ‘The Folly’ pub, have a coffee and use their Wi-Fi, I needed some milk and bread so went with him and partook of a pint of ‘Old Hooky’ beer (I don't do coffee in pubs!) and eventually we decided to stay put. I did a small amount of painting preparation in the bow well deck area in the afternoon; I am slowly getting on with it J.

Today looked like being a good day, our 48 hours was up so around 9:45 Karl went on ahead, I filled the washing machine and followed on some 45 minutes later, as it is all single locks on the Oxford there is little point in actually trying to keep together, but first stopping to top up with water and then dispose of rubbish.

On the water point, services over on the left through the bridge
 and first lock ahead.

Looking across to 'The Folly' from the first lock (number 8).

Looking back down to lock 8 from lock 9.

It was quite busy with a number of boats on the move and nine locks to deal with before reaching the summit of the canal, but with boats coming downhill as I went uphill along with a volunteer at a couple of the locks it made for a pleasant cruise through more beautiful countryside.

Nice volunteer.

A little delay at the last lock for today due to congestion (even on the canals!)

Last lock, sharp right after leaving it.

I was soon enough through and heading off along the lovely meandering section between Marston Doles and Fenny Compton which is about 8miles of lovely lock free cruising.

Approaching the second bend I found Karl had moored up having decided this was the spot to spend tonight, and so I pulled over behind Lizzie Jane and it was get the washing on the airer in the front deck and settle down for a tough afternoon doing very little, tomorrow is another day.

Tonights Mooring

Totals today: 2.5 miles : 9 locks

It was all going so well.

We left our mooring at around 10:30am for the short trip to Napton-on-the-Hill, it was still a bit blowy with a chill in the air but it definitely seems to be improving.

Following on along behind Karl through some lovely open country.

It was all going well until we reached Wigrams Turn (Napton Junction)

Karl ahead, Napton Junction on the right.

At this point Karl decided he would head off towards Birmingham, he didn’t need to or indeed mean to, I sounded my horn when I realised what he was doing but too late for him as a wide beam was coming out of the junction, so he continued down to the winding hole just before the locks and then came back, meanwhile I found a temporary mooring and had a cuppa.

Karl reappears, on the correct canal once more J

We moored for a pit stop at The Bridge pub and walked along for a pint, closed on Tuesday’s, ok, that's not good , so we headed off again.

Approaching  Napton I had a very close shave with a hire boat on a bend, he was right over on my side as he appeared, I slowed and kept as close to the piled edge as possible while watching him panic initially then apply some power and steer to avoid me, it was touch and go but we missed each other with inches to spare and then came the often usual “thank you, sorry about that”, it all adds to the fun J

Karl again, appreciating the view, not the wayward hire boat

As we approached Napton-on-the-Hill Karl pulled into a lovely mooring space and once I had established it was big enough for me as well I reversed into the remaining mooring gap.

So here we are, a loose decision will probably be made tonight on whether we move tomorrow, they are 48hour moorings here so we can stay put if we wish.

Tonights mooring.

Total today : 3.5 miles

May has arrived.......

.......and they say the weather might improve soon.

Karl arrived Friday afternoon, I moved into Braunston on Saturday and we went over to the pub to have a drink and a natter, catching up is thirsty work!

We decided to move on to the Oxford South today heading for Napton-on-the-Hill, the weather forecast was no great but we'd see how things went.

First job for me was to head past Karl to wind and do the necessary empty and fill, while I was doing that Karl went ahead onto the Oxford and waited for me.

Karl waiting just through the bridge hole.

I had suggested that as I had already been down most of the Oxford South Karl should lead and then choose mooring spots of his liking rather than me influence his choices, so after passing the line of moored boats I slowed and Karl went ahead.

It was fairly uneventful until we past bridge 100 when the wind began to pick up, it's quite open along this first section, approaching bridge 101 we met a boat coming the other way which Karl gave way too, and then as Karl went through the bridge two more boats heading towards him along with moored boats and high winds made for an eventful few minutes with him being forced towards the moored boats by the approaching boats that were being blown that way as well, minor contact was made with the moored boats, meanwhile I followed behind tackling the obstacle course squeezing through just about avoiding everything.

Deciding it might be prudent to let the wind drop we temporarily moored for coffee intending to move again, but the wind didn't have the same idea and the rain decided to join the fun as well so we have stayed put, many hire boats are passing by with various different styles of wet weather gear on display but I think most non-hirers have decided tomorrow might be better.

It's now just after 4pm and the wind looks like it's blown over.







Tonights mooring



Totals today: 2 miles