Beyond Banbury

7.5 miles and 5 locks

We went the short distance to Banbury town centre and stopped for Jo to nip into the shopping centre to buy new headphones. There is a lock by the shopping centre and after this we stopped again to empty the loo. Then we were off properly. The remaining locks were spread out and we met a few boats coming and going, but much less busy than the weekend. The river Cherwell crosses the canal at Aynho weir and the floodlock there is a very odd shape.

  
The skies were a variation on grey and white all day. But this caught Harold's reflection very nicely.

Scooby got very excited as we went past grass fields swarming with rabbits all running around and nibbling the grass. We had to put the canvas up as far as it will go in fear that he would hurl himself after them!

We moored just after lift bridge number 189, opposite a field which initially was empty until these newly shorn sheep arrived back in it.

Robin tried some fishing but there were too many boats going past (or so he said).
We continue to wind our way south towards tomorrow, towards Oxford and the Thames.

Rain in Banbury

4 miles and 4 locks

We had a very nice evening with boat friends Roger and Sandra from the lovely nb Iris. In the morning Roger dropped of their copy of this year's guide to the Crick Boat Show which features our Harold on the cover! Such excitement on board - we are clearly in the presence of greatness and didn't even know it!

We set off about 50 yards up the canal to join a queue of boats waiting to go down Cropredy lock. After the lock we were going to stop to empty the elsan but what with a canoe club, moored boats and boats coming the other way it was carnage and we decided to keep going. We cruised under cloudy skies, meeting one or two other boats at each lock and chatting with their crews as we went. The captain decided that the dusty condition of Harold was less than fitting for a superstar and got his chamois out while waiting!

As we approached Banbury we went under the M40 which seemed hugely loud after the quiet of the last few days.

Further on we saw this rather extreme example of self-publicity - clearly a facebook page is not enough for this couple!

We found a mooring before Banbury town centre, where there is a footbridge and a Tesco Extra a short walk away. Fresh vegetables were procured and as the rain just continued to get heavier as the day went on, we decided to stay put.

Damsel flies, housemartins and heat.

8.5 miles and 8 locks.

We got up early to make sure we could get to Cropredy for our date tonight (meeting the crew of narrowboat Iris for dinner at the Brasenose Arms). It was cloudy and undecided about what sort of a day to be. Scooby was recovered from his evening adventure of yesterday - he fell head first into the canal while having a drink. This morning his fur was soft and shining as if he had been to the groomer, but smelling strongly of canal!

We ate toast for breakfast on the move but when Jo came to wash up, she found we had run out of water. Fortunately there is a waterpoint at Fenny Compton so we stopped there for a top-up. While there we were treated to wonderful flying displays buy a large group of housemartins nesting in the eaves of a nearby house. They also came down to the puddle by the tap to collect mud to further reinforce their nests.

We saw our first lift bridge for a long while. There will be many more before this trip is over.

When we arrived at the top lock in the Claydon flight, there were three boats waiting in front of us. We made reasonable progress but it still took around three hours to get down all the locks. The sun came out and the heat built so the locker wilted a bit (she also sunburned her shoulders 😢). However on the upside, there were brilliant blue damsel flies everywhere and assorted butterflies too.

We arrived in Cropredy and, taking the advice of locals we met on the flight, we nabbed the last available 24 hour space before the lock in plenty of time to chill out and shower before going out for dinner. 

Leaving Napton with queues and a stiff breeze

7 miles and 9 locks.

We set off fairly early for us. It was cloudy but we believed the forecast and wore shorts...
We were immediately into the Napton locks, which are narrow and busy. At lock three the boat in front of us came to a halt as the upper pound was short of water. While we waited for boats to go up the lock in front and empty into (and therefore top-up) the low pound, a long queue backed up behind us. It was all quite sociable, although the skies were threatening.

Queuing!

 The fields adjacent to the middle locks have these wonderful water buffalo, so huge but so peaceful.

It took over three hours to get up the seven Napton locks and another 40 minutes and more to  go through the two at Marston Doles but at last we were free. Jo (the locker) had a cup of tea and a sit down and then used the opportunity of a cooler day to hoover and have a clean up. Robin cruised the boat through the winding loops so typical of the Oxford. The lambs in the fields are getting big now; although they still go to their mothers for a drink with their tails wagging wildly!

The wild Iris are lovely just now too.

We know this bit of canal well, having spent a winter around here before. We sneaked in at the end of a row of already moored boats in a favourite spot where you can look across the wide valley and see Napton on the Hill where we have just come from.

The highest bump is Napton with its windmill on the top.

The sun did come out but it was blowing a gale so we retreated inside. Robin watched the FA cup final (bad luck Joe) and Jo put her latest project together with sewing machine and new travel iron. All worked perfectly 😊. More locks tomorrow and a stop at Cropredy to buy oil. After that its Banbury with its supermarket, which is just as well because we've nearly finished all our fruit and veg. We don't want scurvy at this early stage!

Napton on the Hill

4.5 miles of lovely canal.

Another gorgeous day, very hot but with a strong warm breeze. We cruised the pretty and windy way to Napton. The countryside all very green except for the swards of buttercups.

We were lucky to find a spot at the popular mooring below the first lock and decided to stop for the day. In the afternoon Robin did some boaty stuff and Jo went to find the nice tea shop in the village. The canal and towpath were busy and social; lots of chat with passers by and the purchase of a hand-crafted wine holder thingy from the blacksmith boat. All in all, a lovely day ☺

Continuing the theme of baby birds, we saw these geese robustly fending off the rest of the gaggle to protect their goslings.

Cygnets and Blue Tits

6.5 miles, 6 locks and 2042 yards of tunnel

Another glorious day and we chugged along to the Braunston tunnel.

In we go!

In the middle - meeting another boat coming the other way.

And out the other side.

Next were the Braunston locks. We went down on our own this time, although with many boats coming the other way there was plenty of help.

The captain and his boat waiting at a lock.

At one of the locks I saw a blue tit visit this lifebelt and then saw that she had nestlings tucked inside the tiniest hole in the plastic.

The noisiest one was just visible but I didn't like to disturb them by getting too close. 

We had an ice cream from the shop at the last lock and then stopped at the chandlery for a new chimney.

The captain enjoying his ice cream!

Worried about the new whine in the engine, we pulled into the marina and spoke to the engineer who said it was 'prop-sing' or the propeller making the noise, probably as a result of being straightened over the winter. In the marina we saw this swan and her cygnets and fed her illicit bread from the side hatch.

With nothing major to worry about noise-wise and much relieved we continued on and turned towards the south west under the iconic iron bridges.

After a short but lovely cruse we found a mooring for the night. Shame about the shabby view!

The Buckby locks in sunshine

4 miles and 7 locks

After a bit of a lie in and a proper breakfast we got to the bottom of the Buckby lock flight about twelve o clock. We had about an hour to wait (which we filled with tea and buying fancy  bright LED bulbs for the kitchen) before we could get in the first lock. We were last in the queue for the locks so were on our own in these large double locks.

Waiting to go into the first lock. Note the new herb garden and basket of tomato plants!

The first six locks were hard work, the sunshine was lovely but energy-sapping. The canal runs between the M1 and the West Coast railway line but actually it was the sound of the birds we heard the most. They are all busy in the hedgerows and catching the millions of hatching insects we can see on the water.

We stopped for an ice cream at the canal shop before the final lock in the flight and emerged at the top and Norton junction about 4pm. This little house is right on the junction and absolutely  gorgeous.

We turned towards Braunston and went along the mile or so which has really pretty views but, frustratingly, nowhere where the bank is deep enough to moor. Scooby, having been confined inside the boat while we were going through the locks, resumed his position sniffing over the side.

We moored at the beginning of the approach to Braunston tunnel. We will stop in the village tomorrow for the chandlery but also at the boatyard. The engine is making a nasty whining noise that Robin suspects may be the gearbox. It's got an expensive timbre to it anyway.... !

2nd and 23rd May: Arriving and Leaving

We arrived with fully loaded car on Monday evening. As always it took a couple of hours to get unpacked and sorted. On Tuesday we paid our mooring, filled up with diesel and set off under disappointing grey skies. The Buckby locks are closed for inspection so we knew we couldn't get far but at least we could make a start.

This tight bend did have a high hedge and sheep field inside it but is now being dug up for, we think, a (much needed) bypass of the A45 round Weedon. It looks like there will be a bridge here, taking the road over the canal and the railway which practically touch on this bend.

After about three miles we stopped, a bit reluctant to go too far and find ourselves without a mooring space in the inevitable logjam below the closed lock flight. Robin changed oil and filters and the sun came out. This stretch of canal snakes along between trees and high hedges. Its not the prettiest and you can hear the M1 but in dappled sunlight it felt very lush and secret.

The towpath felt like walking inside cloisters; covered over and only open on the one side. It was as quiet as cloisters too today.

We may or may not get through the Buckby locks tomorrow. A passing boat said they won't be open till 2pm and there'll be a long queue. After that its to the chandlery in Braunston for a new chimney and other boaty essentials.