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!