Marston Doles

We woke to lots of bird noise and a couple of boats had been by well before we were ready to set off, The Grand Union was quite busy but once we joined the South Oxford at Napton Junction things quietened down again. As we chugged along the S Oxford we decided we would stop for lunch before tackling the locks with a nice view of the mill.

It was gone three when we set off towards the bottom lock and by now you could actually rest your hand on the roof, There were some interesting cloud formations above.

At the bottom lock there were three Volockies to assist us on our way. I have no idea why they have them as there is another 6 locks in the flight that you have to do yourself, so I just don’t see their worth. We passed these on the way up the flight, we had a bit of one of them for tea tonight that Diana bought at the Napton Post office.

Last time we were this way CRT chaps were fitting new lock mooring posts, this is the end result and I can guarantee you wont pull them out.

By now we were directly behind the boat ahead of us at each lock but the weather was very pleasant. Napton top lock still has one top paddle out so we were waiting behind the boat ahead. a little further on an accommodation bridge is definitely in need of some TLC.

Up to Marston Doles and as usual the pound between the two locks was low, it made it very slow leaving the bottom lock. At the top one of the lockside houses has a very good growth over parts of the roof, this must be effecting the slates I would have thought.

Above the locks the moorings were packed and lots of boats moored along pins on the towpath so we carried on for about half a mile to the first stretch of pilling unfortunately on the outside of the bend which lead to a dirty look from a chap on an ex-working boat.

 

Today’s Journey

8½ miles with 9 locks in 4¾ hours