Sunday 5 August 2012 - Grant's Bridge, Oxford Canal

As I write this we are being battered by a heavy deluge of rain, having deferred moving off this morning because of the angry black clouds looming all around. We are on the Oxford canal, going south, having yesterday threaded our way carefully, and slowly through the many many moored boats already gathered for the annual Fairport Cropredy Convention festival next week. Having done that and not upset any moorers, we were then greeted by masses of canoeists spilling into the water by Cropredy shop. Many were prepared to risk life and limb and force their way between us and moored boats, to paddle away, really oblivious of the crushing capability of a steel boat - they should have a steer of a narrow boat and understand the 'no brakes' and little manoeuvrability aspect.

Lovely reeds alongside the Hardwick lock, just south of the M40.

Banbury was as usual, gongoozlers galore - felt like being in a fish bowl, moored there. We soon moved off after necessary food shopping!

Our picture shows our passage down the town lock as we left Quayside in Banbury - shame about the litter, when the town has so many litter bins and recycling facilities.