Saturday 19 September 2009

From Kings Sutton to Fenny Compton, Oxford Canal

Well we have now passed through Banbury and that boat we saw being craned out must have been the submerged wreck we saw a couple of weeks ago. Banbury was very busy with boaters as we moored by the Castle Quay centre and lots of folk enjoying the autumn sun. Lunch with Mrs T and then off to find a quiet mooring out of the town.

Great excitement as we spotted a floating black lap top case! On retrieval we didn't find a lap top, but an absolutely sodden A4 notebook crammed with info and numbers plus some case notes, all barely readable by now of course, but obviously important to the author. We handed it over to the Police Station in Cropredy (ie the Village Stores) who will ensure it gets passed on.

Above the locks at Cropredy, there is an American landowner chap who has boat moorings, sells hens eggs and who had all these pumpkins stacking up, presumably for Thanksgiving.

Now we are back at Fenny Compton and would you believe it - as we were tying up, we struck up a conversation with a couple on the towpath who were admiring the boat and it transpired that they had hired from Cambrian Cruisers a couple of years ago. I don't think any of the 4 of us could recall one another!

Thursday 17 September 2009

Upper Heyford to Kings Sutton, Oxford Canal

An early start today to ensure we were ahead of the rest! We were still afloat, but the level was not quite what it should have been. It was at least mid morning before we saw a moving boat and it was rather pleasant to have the water and locks to ourselves for a time, even though it was a grey, still, bland sky all day.

After a brief stop at Aynho Wharf for lunch in The Great Western, (new owners since our canal pubs guide was published), we pushed on to Kings Sutton to moor up, making sure there was a goodly distance from the nearby railway.

En route this afternoon, we found Tuckeys (presumably working for British Waterways), craning out a cruiser that must have sunk - it had a valid licence and may well have been the navigational hazard we had to steer round, when we came through Banbury last week. We shall see tomorrow.

Wednesday 16 September 2009

From Kidlington Green to Upper Heyford, Oxford Canal

A normal start to the day proceeding northwards along the canal, until we got to Thrupp, where the canal was temporarily blocked by 'Dusty', the cheerful coal and diesel carrying chap who was off loading early winter supplies to boats.

We threaded our way through the maze of boats, and moved on through pretty Shipton on Cherwell, and onto Lower Heyford where a short queue of boats built up. As often happens in these situations, the lady crews quickly sort it all out and do the hard work, and the men just stand and wiggle the tillers!

This evening, after a short walk uphill, to the only pub in Upper Heyford, we carried out some quality control of Fullers ales, and returned to the boat, and as the water level was low, we have left the ropes a little slack. (Our last lock had a faulty top paddle, and so the pound is now down on where it should be.) As often happens overnight, water levels sort themselves out, and we will not have any problem tomorrow, certainly not if we get away early, after the bacon sandwiches!

Tuesday 15 September 2009

From Bablock Hythe, River Thames, to Kidlington, Oxford Canal

Some old territory and some new today - we retraced our passage down the Pinkerton and Eynsham locks, and then branched right, and on down to the King's Lock where the lady lock keeper had this helpful facility for cyclists - see picture.

Our route then took us on downstream to Godstow, and through our first electrically controlled lock (just like enFrancais), and out onto a very wide, fast flowing and extremely windy stretch of the Thames, we were fighting with the elements all the way until the shelter of Fiddlers Island, and then to the refuge of the Sheepwash Channel linking us via Isis Lock (picture) to Oxford and the canal again. Wending our way out of the urban area northwards, not an attractive aspect of the city, and we quickly realised we were back under the auspices of British Waterways, overhanging trees, and long stretches of linear moorings.

Thankfully we have found a mooring spot just outside Kidlington - autumn is most definitely here - a cool, windy, overcast day, and the barometer is falling!

Monday 14 September 2009

From Radcot to Bablock Hythe, River Thames

Where have all the boaters gone - back to work we think! Just a handful of boats moving and alas we get to our first lock today and it says "Self Service" so we had to set to and think about which sluice had to be opened and closed, and when.

At the next lock, Rushey Lock, the lock keeper and Bob had a fascinating half hour conversation about the merits of paddles and rymers! These are historic hand operated weirs still in use at many of the locks on the Thames, that are under threat of being replaced because of our old friend 'elfundsafety' .

Eventually we moved off , and this evenings mooring is beside the Ferryman Inn at Bablock Hythe, where there was an ancient foot ferry across the Thames, unfortunately, no longer operating.

Spotted this record of the Thames flood level of 2007 - a good treasure hunt clue!

Sunday 13 September 2009

Lechlade to Radcot, River Thames (or Isis)

A much cooler, overcast day - 2 out of 10 compared to yesterday.

Our day started when we heard the strange sound of some young heifers licking the side of the boat, to get the dewy moisture! One really took a liking to Bob, look at those eyes! (Bob's were a bit dewy!)

Sunday papers purchased, and so we made our way to the limit of navigation, just beyond Lechlade, and turned by a pretty house, as you can see. This is where the Cotswold Canal trust are trying to restore the Thames and Severn Canal to Saul Junction on the Glos and Sharpness Canal.

Then back down 3 locks with a new set of cheery lock keepers, to moor at Radcot, where there is just a pub and a post box AND we think at last, we have seen some bank voles! they were messing about in a quiet corner of a camping field, under some moored boats.

Apparently the boat Elizabeth dates from about 1870 and is probably one of the earliest narrowboats still in use. Shame about the motorbike thrown on it.

Saturday 12 September 2009

From Kelmscott to Lechlade, River Thames

A fantastic day, bright blue sky, sunshine from the start. Happy fishermen as we leave our mooring - apparently fish like to hang about around where boats are!

Just 2 locks today, Buscot Lock and then St John's Lock where a large stone statue lies alongside the lock, of Father Thames.

Lechlade church spire can be seen in the distance for quite some time as the river twists and turns, and the steerer needs to keep alert as some of these plastic cruisers certainly move at speed.

Lechlade itself is a very attractive riverside town, with pub gardens to the waters edge. Lots of people enjoying the day, watching the boats moving about, trip boats, canoes, rowing boats, cruisers, narrow boats, boats towing boats and .......... even a lady swimming!

There are antique shops crammed with so much stuff, it would take a week to see it all. Lots of nicely dressed people going to a wedding at the Church - is it Lord Frederick Windsor? Doubt it.

Yes, we like Lechlade - somehow it was all very English - just a shame about the cars and noisy bikes passing through.

We are staying here tonight as it is a pleasant mooring , edging a grassy field - we await the farmer visiting for his mooring fee - it does happen.

Friday 11 September 2009

From below Dashwood Lock Oxford canal to Kelmscott, River Thames

Yes, we are back on a river, having continued down the Oxford Canal, passing through Thrupp, where we enjoyed a happy evening with the crew from Worthy Fox, and then on down almost into Oxford. We then turned right and moved through Duke's Cut and on to the River Thames (or River Isis). So big locks again, and very sociable lock keepers cheerfully working alongside very attractive lock houses beside the Thames. One lockkeeper specialised in topiary as pic shows!

There are very few bridges across the Thames, and those that there are, are very low and narrow, as you can see!

We saw a Vulcan bomber take to the skies again!

We aimed for Kelmscott as this where William Morris lived in the Tudor Manor House until he died in 1896. Unfortunately, the Manor opens only on Wednesdays and alternate Saturdays. So, instead we visited The Plough in the village, and reminisced about a meal we had there 20+ years ago that we had to share with the landlord's Great Dane!

The weather is currently just perfect and the barometer is rising!, but it is chilly at night, but we are resisting putting the heating on. Red sky bodes well for tomorrow, as we reach the end of the navigable Thames just beyond Lechlade.

Tuesday 8 September 2009

From Grant's Lock to below Dashwood Lock, Oxford Canal

Well today was full of surprises! First boat went past at 7am, so our day started early too.

We set off down the Oxford Canal narrow locks and found ourselves approaching a lock where a hotel motor boat was just coming through. It became quickly evident that the butty boat of the hotel pair was also coming up, so out with our camera. Low and behold, I said to a lady standing beside me watching the activity that we used to do this, pulling boats through locks, she asked where and I said Wales and it turned out that she and her friend with her, were some of our own hotelboat guests, from way back, and to top it all one of these two ladies today was wearing a Mon and Brec kingfisher sweatshirt!

So our other shot shows the happy exchange at the lock side.

Onward for a little way and then we joined a queue of 9 boats to use the deep lock at Somerton. It took ages as the lower lock gate was leaking torrents, and whilstnthere were lots of boats, there was little coordinated teamwork unfortunately. The day just got hotter and hotter, and sapped our strength.

Looking forward to an easier day tomorrow.

8 locks; 12 miles

Monday 7 September 2009

From Cropredy to above Grant's Lock south of Banbury, Oxford Canal

We are off again, having delayed our start this morning to allow the congestion of boats and people and dogs to thin out. We are in no hurry!

We threaded our way through Banbury encountering many long term moorings and through narrow stretches. We steered around this sunken boat on the outskirts of Banbury, with a valid licence still visible!

A few moments wait to use the lock in the middle of Banbury, but no chance of Woolworths opening of course!

A little way out of Banbury we realised we were number 6 in the line for Grant's Lock and as queueing is not our favourite pasttime we moored up for the evening and enjoyed a glass of Bin 53!

5 locks; 6 miles

Saturday 5 September 2009

Fenny Compton Wharf to below Claydon Flight of locks, Oxford Canal

A perfect morning, blue sky and bright warm sun as we wait for Trinders Taxis to take us to Tesco Banbury for a big shop.

Shopping done, lunch over, we proceeded down the canal and down the locks at Claydon to moor ready to tackle the Cropredy flight tomorrow in good time for a Sunday lunch at one of the pubs there, when the Trinder branch of the family may be able to join us.

The bridge picture shows the Stockton Road bridge, the first canal bridge Vagabond travelled over! after being born in 2007, and leaving the steelfabricators.

Our photo today was of this unidentified breed of duck - any ideas?