A good dog day and a water buffalo suprise.

11.5 miles and 9 locks.

A gentle meander took us to the two locks at Marston Doles. Scooby was in good form today after recent traumas and had his head over the side sniffing as we went. We met other boats but weren't held up for long. We approached the Napton flight, seeing the hill and Napton village in the distance. We had some gongoozlers standing about and asking questions while we worked the first couple of locks.

Napton Hill 

 Lock number nine has a field of water buffalo next to it which we always admire. Jo was filling the lock when she noticed one animal acting oddly and realised she was giving birth. The calf in its sack tumbled out and while we watched she licked and licked it. The head appeared and it moved and eventually got to wobbly legs and began to feed. The time it takes to fill and empty locks is always a chance to have a good look around and take in the surroundings, but this was an unexpectedly special thing to be able to watch!

She licked and licked till the head appeared

The calf manages to stand and start to suckle

We carried on down the flight, waiting here and there for other boats and chatting as we went.

At the bottom of the hill we stopped for services and water. Jo went into the village to buy milk (and biscuits). There was a music festival on at the Folly pub which was loud but clearly popular as all the moorings were taken for half a mile along the canal. The rain held off and the captain carried on. He had a mooring spot in mind - one with a nice view where we have been before.

The view from our mooring tonight. 

Scooby had his walk and the rain started just as he got back inside. A good dog day.