A weird day...........

.........that ended almost where it started.

I wanted to go to Thrupp today, maybe kill a couple of days there before starting the return trip, I have decided I don’t want to go into Oxford itself so turning at Thrupp seemed to make sense.

It began well again sunny but still very blowy, I set off about 9am through Pidgeon’s lock (39) and along the tranquil canal passing Enslow with its wharf, lots of moored boats

and the ‘Rock of Gibraltor’ pub.

I passed another blogger I follow Mortimer Bones (N.b. Bones) although she doesn’t blog much lately and she did not appear to be around.

Just after Enslow the river Cherwell joins the canal briefly, with warning signs before and after Bakers lock (40) about water levels and sharp bends,

but without any heavy rainfall lately it was in the ‘green’ zone and as calm as the rest of the canal.

Red Don't proceed, Amber proceed with caution, Green safe as houses

Shipton Weir lock (41) is another diamond shaped lock at 2 feet 5 inches deep, the second I’ve encountered although they are not difficult, just different.

Shipton Weir Lock, another diamond shaped lock

Lift bridge 219 was closed so I edged up to the non towpath bank walked along the roof and jumped of the bow onto the bank, which was not too overgrown, lifted the bridge and secured it with the chain, then jumped back on, motored through and reversed into position with the stern at the bank and making sure the tiller was clear of the bridge, lowered the bridge, hopped back on board and away I went, not too tricky considering it is the first one I have actually had to do alone.

Reaching Thrupp I decided quite late to wind (turn around) before the lift bridge, I then decided to pop onto the service point and top up with water and empty the cassette, who should be moored just by the services but Maffi (N.b. Milly M.) one of my favourite bloggers, and he was strolling about, so having emptied the loo and got the water started I went over and introduced myself spending the time it took the tank to fill chatting to him, before leaving I took a picture.

Maffi aboard the Milly M at  a busy Thrupp

In the time I had spent chatting the moorings had filled, there wasn’t a space to be had so that was the end of my first visit to Thrupp, short and sweet, I looked for a mooring en route as I left but they are few and far between down this way.

Back at lift bridge 219 again closed I thought I would try nudging up to the bridge instead of the bank and hopping onto the bridge, taking care not to strike the bridge with my roof, it all went well, or I thought it did.....

I was soon back at Shipton Weir Lock, because of the lock shape I was able to wait for a boat following and allow him to share with me, letting him leave first as I told him I was trying to find a place to moor, not far along the river section again I came across him and a boat coming the other way having ‘words’, they’d had a coming together on one of the sharp bends, and the other chap was none too happy with my lock partner, I bet he was glad I had let him go first.

The signs were there.

.... now when I was leaving the lock myself, I noticed my tunnel light was a little unusual looking and I realised I must have bent it at the lift bridge, I had forgotten about the height the light stands off the deck and must have just caught it on the underside of the bridge as I nudged up to it, lesson learned there, either take the light down, or stop a little bit sooner! 10 minutes work straightened it all out though no permanent damage.

A sad looking tunnel light and bracket.

All better again

I didn’t find anywhere to moor until I got back the Pidgeon’s Lock, the other side to last night though this time, so that’s where I am and will stay tomorrow and have a look around the village of Tackley.

Tonights mooring

Totals today : 7 miles : 5 locks : 2 lift bridges twice

Lazy Sunday

After my slightly frustrating day on Saturday, which ended with me moored in a beautiful location, I took these snaps in the evening.

It's Early Evening about 7pm

Looks like these travelers are in a missile, not a plane.

I intended to make some better progress yesterday, however, having had breakfast and taken a cup of tea up on the stern deck, I was looking across the view of the fields and taking in the sunshine when I made the decision to stay put, so I did, I sat out on the towpath reading my Kindle and let the day pass me by.

I was cooking my dinner around 5:30 when I happened to look up through my roof hatch and spotted six gliders circling around very high up and some distance away, this is one of them at 64x zoom

they eventually all peeled off one after the other and disappeared I presume to some nearby airfield.

This morning with the sun shining but the wind blowing I set off about 10:30, at Somerton Deep Lock I had a short wait for a C&RT workboat who was heading through the lock in my direction. 

Former lock keepers cottage at Somerton Deep Lock

another boat arrived and the crew worked me through.

At 12 feet deep it would be quite a dark damp slimy hole to get stuck in

The view was often just the twisty wooded canal but occasionally open fields. I found a section of piling and moored for a spot of lunch around 12:45.

Not a bad spot for tea and a sandwich

The lift bridge 205 was down, two boats had just gone through and I cursed my luck for missing them but as I was pulling over to work out the best way to deal with it a young lad about 14 shouted ‘would you like me to lift the bridge’, yes please, I was heading towards it slowly and for a second I didn’t think he was going to be able to raise it, but he did and it was looking a bit wobbly as he laid on the balance beam to hold it open, I was hesitant, I did not want that dropping on my roof, but he got it settled and I passed underneath safely, thanking him as I did.

I passed through Lower Heyford checking out the moorings for a stop on the return journey, it was very busy, Oxfordshire Narrowboats have their base here and there were holiday makers loading their belongings on board the boats along with the permit holder moorings, it looked like a popular stopping place.

Somewhere en route I passed this little tree house, I don’t know if it is still in service but I bet whoever used it, loved it.

I carried on through the next two locks and began looking for a mooring, not much to be had until just before Pidgeon’s lock (39) where there was enough of a gap just before the lock landing, I thought it was a little close to the lock, but not too close, enough room still for a couple of boats to get in if they wanted to use the lock, so I moored up, it was 4pm now and I was tired. A few minutes later a boat moored in front of me, now he is very close to the lock landing but hopefully he’ll move off early, I did hear one passing boater shouting about it but luckily it’s been quiet traffic wise.

Totals Today and Saturday:  10 Miles : 5 Locks : 2 Lift bridges

And it all started so well.......

So before I get into the saga hinted at by the title, an update on yesterday.

I was expecting a visit from my brother Dave and his wife Jo around lunchtime so before they arrived I pottered about a bit, did the washing up, swept the floor, all the things you do when guests are arriving, it took me all of 30minutes. It was a nice morning so I sat out on the bow deck reading my Kindle and about 11:45 a shout from the other side of the canal alerted me to their arrival, I walked up to meet them at the bridge and we were soon aboard chatting and catching up, we have both just become grandparents for the first time and the timings are similar, I was told by my son about his daughter just before I set of on my life afloat, and Dave and Jo are setting off on their own adventure moving to live in France. Anyway we went over to the Great Western Arms and had a superb meal, I would recommend this to you if you are ever in or near Aynho, a lovely meal, pleasant staff and Hook Norton ales, go on you know you should. 

Back to the boat and a cup of tea before Dave and Jo had to leave to avoid the Friday evening M40 traffic, I hope it was ok, so for now, thank you for a lovely visit and, ‘au revoir et bonne chance à vous deux’.

The soon to be French speaking couple.

Today I had to move off the 48 hour moorings and it was quite bright so looked like a pleasant cruise ahead, I had no real destination in mind just head south and stop when I saw somewhere nice. I started the engine at 9:30 and put a load of washing in the machine, then I moved across to the water point opposite for a top up, and bought some bread and milk in the store,  about 10am with the water finished I set off through bridge 190 and past all the long term moorings, some 15 to 20 minutes later I had just gone through bridge 192 when the main battery (the engine starter battery) warning light came on along with the shrill warning tone, ‘ that’s not good, better find a sensible place to stop and investigate’, two or three minutes later the engine overheat warning light came on, ‘this will do then, stop here’. I was about midway between bridge 192 and 193. So being an Englishman I keep calm and put the kettle on and switch off the washing machine. After tea, I lift the engine cover and find this.

A not very happy looking fanbelt

That’s a relief, I have a spare, ‘now how do these go back on’ a simple enough job, down the very hot engine hole with my head wedged in the smallest gap I begin, 2^nd nut won’t budge, heave grunt, curse, put the kettle on. Tea finished, more heave, more grunt, more curse, ‘B***er this, I have paid to have River Canal Rescue cover, they can sort it. 

So at 11:45 the call is made and I await the engineer, it’s not as bad as breaking down on the M1, it’s very pleasant and I have a lot of nothing to do, so I read on my Kindle, a bacon sandwich at lunchtime, a tiny bit of painting, a bit more reading and at 3:45 a call from the engineer to say he is just walking along the towpath to find me. About 30 minutes later all done, no hassle. It’s too late to bother moving isn’t it, so I restart then engine and switch on the inverter and the washing machine goes back on.

And then I have this moment ‘it’s sunnier just 50 yards ahead, I’ll move up’, No Alan, Alan no, NO ALAN, ALAN  NO!!!,  go with your first instinct, it’s too late to bother moving;

So in short, I move forward, I run aground (first time for a while), I struggle to get off the bottom, I twist my knee, a passing cyclist comes to my aid, between us we eventually, with a heck of a lot of effort, get the boat off the bottom and I move on until I find a nice clear open area.

Now every cloud has a silver lining;

Here’s where I was broken down.

There's the sunny spot, just ahead

Here’s where I am now.

My washing, having been soaking most of the day, is cleaner than the cleanest thing in the clean part of clean town.

Because I was 'cheesed off' and could not be bothered I just cooked an emergency packet mix curry and threw in some prawns.

I also opened an emergency bottle of red wine.

The sun is on the solar panel, my knee is getting more numb and pain free as I drink the wine.

I have a nice new fanbelt, professionally fitted.

And I have tomorrow to try moving again.

So it finished ok after all.

Todays totals : not worth mentioning, twas a little move.

Good days

I moved yesterday from one side of Banbury to the other, nearer Morrisons so I could get some provisions, the canal through Banbury Town centre was very busy, boats moored either side on 2 day moorings and then at the end of the moorings a lift bridge then a lock, lift bridges are difficult for the single hander, the controls are on the wrong side of the canal but I was lucky and as I approached another boater lifted it for me

Looking back at Banbury lift bridge from the lock landing 

I had to wait for the lock as two plastic cruisers were coming up, they both fitted in

Looking forward at the lock

Once in I was able to stay on the boat as the crew from another boat locked me through, an easy 45 minute journey, it wasn’t a nice spot but it would do for one night, then shopping done, I did a bit more work on my little project.

This morning was cold, I got my sweater back on along with a fleece, and set off at 8:30, there are a lot of lift bridges on the Oxford but fortunately most of them are nearly permanently open.

Pretty Bridge 172

Through the first three

 and under the M40 again.

At Grants Lock (30) another boat was just moving in so I helped him through, two more lift bridges both open, then a view of Kings Sutton Church spire.

I arrived at Kings Sutton lock (31) to find a boat taking a while, I walked up to see if I could help and it was a family on their first lock, between me, them and the crew of a boat coming up it all got sorted but boats began to appear from behind me in quick succession and by the time it was my turn there were 7 of us queuing to go down the lock, school holidays I guess.

Queue building

Finally in.

Amazing the boats you see.

Under the M40 again with a view of lift bridge 183 beyond.

Past Pig Place.

A small holding with pigs, poultry and sheep and selling various produce including their own reared. It makes for another very busy little canal section, moored boats and tight bends and a former bridge narrowing, a boat coming towards me took over-enthusiastic evasive action, to avoid colliding with me, moving into a gap between moored boats and belted the piling with some force, he blamed a moored boat, but he was going a ‘little’ too fast on a sharp bend (with moored boats), I was going slowly and never deviated my path or flinched J

Aynho Wier lock (33) is diamond shaped, interesting.

My first one of these, at only 8.5 inches deep the shape is to enable more water to be passed through, as the next lock is Somerton Deep lock and is 12 feet deep, it would drain the pound between locks without something to prevent that, hence the extra capacity of the diamond shaped lock.

The moorings at Aynho Wharf looked busy but luck was again with me as a boat left its mooring just as I arrived, so I am right opposite the Wharf shop and close to the pub, I have visitors tomorrow so it’s perfect.

A lovely cruise, despite the chill, full of differing sights, sounds, locks and people, what a lovely way to spend a Thursday.

Tonight’s mooring.

Totals today and yesterday:  9.5 miles : 5 Locks : 11 Lift bridges

Is it summer ??

I left Cropedy at 9am, the weather was cold, a body warmer and fleece, and quite windy especially as I passed the quite open area formed by Cropedy Marina.

It’s quite narrow through Cropedy and lots of moored boats both before and after Cropedy lock (25), as I approached there was a boat ahead just going through in the same direction as me so a little wait before I could prepare the lock and move through.

The service point is just after bridge 153 and I wasn’t in desperate need but thought it might be an idea to empty the rubbish and cassette, it’s a funny layout here, the elsan point is at the back of the winding hole and a very short section to moor on for it or the water point, probably about 40ft long, I wasn’t going to bother but as I passed a boat came into view ahead so I thought I’d stop and get out of his way, I reversed back and tied up, as I was doing so he moored opposite as he wanted the water point, I was sticking about 15ft across the winding hole because of the short space when another shorter boat appeared and moved into the winding point and moored in there, it was a bit chaotic but I was soon done and moved away quickly.

Slow progress until I cleared all the moored boats both visitors and permanent, I had two canoists following me and they were hesitant to pass but did so on a wide bend, I was glad to get them past because the wind was making things a little more difficult than normal, then the canal widened a bit and progress was good.

Reaching Slat Mill Lock (26) I could see a boat tied up but he was quite a bit short of the lock and there were volunteers milling around painting the lock furniture, I had just made the decision that he must be moored and started to head for the lock when he moved away, nearly a little faux pas on my part, anyway they got through the lock with a bit of help and then I had help from the volunteers and the crew of a boat behind me, time to take a picture.

I love a bit of help.

Even time to take one of the top gate behind me.

Traffic was thundering past on the M40 oblivious to my 3mph progress through beautiful countryside.

It didn’t take long to get through the last two locks and I was soon pulling into a mooring in Banbury just after bridge 163, who should be in front of me just about to move off but Sue (N.b. Kes) again, she stopped what she was doing and walked back and chatted while I was tying up and just as I was finishing Dusty the fuel boat came into view, perfect, I was going to ring him to see where he was now I didn’t need to, Sue said goodbye and moved off and shortly after 96 litres were making their way into my tank, what a result and 79p a litre compared to £1.05 at a boatyard I passed further back.

No mooring pictures, I forgot.

Totals today: 5 miles : 4 Locks

A chat before moving on.

I had a nice chat with some holiday makers last night, they were on a borrowed boat moored in front of me and knew very little about the ‘workings’, the lady told me they could only use the loo in emergencies because they didn’t want to have to use a pumpout facility (emptying the tank) and they had no electricity because they didn’t know how to get it working, I offered to assist but they declined, she said they were coping with candles, oh dear, never mind they were in good spirits.

Before I left Fenny Compton today I had a chat with Sue (N.b. Kes) who was moored behind me, a nice lady who was about to set off for Cropedy or Banbury she was just going with the flow, so to speak, I set off about 9:30 and first stopped at the water point to top up, the weather was decidedly uncertain, it was long sleeved shirt, then fleece on, then waterproofs on, then waterproofs off, then fleece off, then fleece on, and so on.

Leaving Fenny Compton once you have passed the Marina you go through a section that used to be a tunnel (1000 yards) it is no longer covered but is narrow, I had to wait for an oncoming boat to pass through before I could go ahead.

Shears would come in handy, just room for one.

 A very rural run which seems to be typical of the Oxford, passing through liftbridge (141) which could be left open

Approaching

Leaving

and then down the Claydon Locks five in all (17-21) with no problems, I met a couple of boats coming the other way and had to turn a few locks (refill them to allow me to enter as I was going down on this occasion), a bit of a run to Elkington’s lock (22) with quite a few long term moorers around then down Varney’s Lock (23) where I waited for a boat coming up, I asked if Cropedy was busy and the answer was yes, his advice was to moor up after the next lock, Broadmoor Lock (24), so I was pleased to see a long space with pilings as I came out of the lock and I took the advice and moored up, it's just before the 'new' Cropedy Marina which opened in 2013.

I then took a quick walk down towards Cropedy (about half a mile) to get milk, he was correct it was busy but there were a couple of spaces I could have got in, as I walked back I again saw Sue (N.b. Kes) moored up and we had another quick chat, she was contemplating going further towards Banbury but just as I said cheerio it began to rain so she may have stayed put.

I will decide tomorrow whether to stay and look around or move on if the weather is ok.

Tonights mooring

Todays travel: 6 miles : 8 Locks : 1 Liftbridge

The continued cruise to Fenny Compton

Last night was very peaceful, it was also very dark with no other lighting of any sort around, with a huge choice of TV I scanned the guide and decided to read my kindle J, bed at 10:30 and slept through until 6:30 I think if I had blackout blinds in the bedroom it would have been later.

I wanted to moor at Fenny Compton today and looking at my Pearson’s companion guide book it looked as though there was a small amount of visitor moorings both before and after bridges 136a and 136, the distance from my current mooring being about 6 miles I estimated 2 to 3 hours depending on how many moored boats I found (which would mean going slower), my thinking was to arrive around 12ish in the hope the movers would have gone and the new settlers would not have yet arrived, so at 9:30 I cast off on the twisty lock free cruise across the summit, mostly farmland

Back in sheep territory

Along with Crops (Wheat I think but I'm no farmer)

But not always with clear open views

Narrow and tree lined in places

 A lovely cruise although chilly at times, the fleece jacket was on and off three or four times.

This bridge (un-numbered) is inscribed ‘The Wedding Bridge MMIX’, but I could not find out why, obviously the MMIX refers to 2009 in roman numerals, perhaps a rich husband/couple/father paid for it to commemorate a wedding.

It seems to be a rule of narrowboating that at least 30% of boats you meet will be at the worst possible place, bridge holes, blind bends, sections where the width is reduced by vegetation or moored boats and today again as I was passing moored boats another one came around a bend ahead, it was tight but there was just enough room for both of us, however, he decided to reverse back, no problem but that meant he was now blocking the canal until he got it under control (reversing these beasts is tricky as you cannot steer in reverse), I had virtually stopped but as the gap opened I started forward again, he then began waving frantically at me to pass him on his right, no way, I was too close to the moored boats to swing over to my left and why would I need to? he had reversed out of my way and I had plenty of room, but as I carried on slowly forward he moved forward again over to my right and shut the gap, so into reverse lots of revs and we kissed bow fenders very gently, both now reversing until the gap reopened and I went ahead through it, as I passed him he shouted “sorry about that, the wind caught me”, “all adds to the fun” I replied.

I reached Fenny Compton about 11:45 and it was busy, I was passing a gap dithering about whether I would fit or whether to look further ahead and then once I could see further ahead was full I decided to reverse back and parallel 'park' into the gap, good job it wasn’t windy and although it didn’t look elegant (I wasn’t reversing a Vauxhual Corsa! ) I got in quite nicely; walking further along later I found that it was the last designated space.

The weather forecast tomorrow is decidedly poor, I have a TV signal, Formula 1 is on, I am not moving until Monday at the earliest J ooooh and there is a pub 500 yards ahead.

Tonights mooring

Totals Today: about 6 miles