Wednesday 25 Aug 2010 Fazeley Junction

Last night we ate in The Anchor and I would be quite happy to recommend for both eating and drinking. We both had meals from the special board, I had Faggots and mash while Diana had Trawlerman's Pie which was quite large and fresh vegetables. They also had 4 Everard's bitters and a guest bitter on, ranging in price from £2.60 to £3.20 a pint.
Again it was a very fine night with a good moon, but thankfully a bit warmer than the night before.

This morning we again woke to sunshine but at about 8 am. work started at the quarry/yard opposite. We were on the move by 9 am. and met about 5 boats before the BW yard at Hartshill. I guess they must have decided to set off at 9 am. as well. We arrived at the top of the Atherstone Flight at 10 am. to find we were third in the queue. It looks as if there may now be a new lock keeper on the flight, or maybe not one at all. All the notices giving days to Christmas, weather forecast etc have gone as have the legs sticking out of the fake well. The locks all seemed in good order with everything well oiled/greased. We had quite a slow run down meeting several boats coming up and it took us 3 hours to complete the flight.
We pulled over to the off side to fill with water at the bottom of the flight, this also allowed the boat we were following to pull away.

There were a nice row of working boats moored outside the  Samuel Barlow pub at Alvecote and lots of room now that Canaltime have departed for pastures new.

 

The good weather stayed with us until about 2 pm. when the rain started and continued for the rest of the day sometimes quite light but others quite heavy. We stopped at Tamworth to visit the Tesco Convenience store to buy some bottled beer, never again, we had to use the DIY checkout even though there was some one behind the other tills, the adjoining DIY till continuously called for an assistant and when we had completed out purchase we still had to wait for an assistant to come over and accept out purchase as we had bought restricted items. I will never use one of these machines again. No assistant operated till, no sale. We caught up with a boat at Glascote top lock so had to turn it but by the time they left the bottom lock there was a boat coming up so we were able to leave the gate open when we left the first lock and wait some time for the approaching boat to negotiate the bottom lock. We carried on to Fazeley Junction where we turned left onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and moored at 5 pm.about 200 yards from the junction.

Tuesday 24 Aug 2010

Last night the sky was very clear with a full moon and abundance of stars, it was also very chilly dropping down to 6.5 deg, autumn is certainly on its way.

This morning it was wall to wall sun shine and we were on the move a few minutes past nine. Just a short way from where we were moored BW are repiling the bank and were there in force with a dredger piling machine, flat full of piling, flat with a cement mixer and a collection of tugs. In Rugby Tesco had there magnet switch on again which dragged us to the side just passed the water point. There were only two boats moored by the green and none opposite on the towing path, there were only 3 on the visitor moorings where we stopped for shopping. We continued on through Newbold,again there were visitor moorings free. Once through the tunnel we passed Steam Boat Laplander with Sean working on the burner it get it firing properly. Moored directly behind it was what looks like another steamer called Trevor.
At Hawkesbury Junction again a lot of the visitor moorings were vacant, why does this never happen when we want to stop.
Hard right onto the Coventry Canal, here there were a lot more boats moored, one of them being Dragon Lady where we exchanged words with Terry and Sal. Not long after this it started to rain on and off, turning quite heavy as we passed through Atherstone following a very slow boat. Once through the the town the boat ahead pulled over and waved us passed which was very good of him. The weather improved as we approached Springwood Haven and stayed fine until we moored up for the night outside the Anchor pub.

Monday 23 Aug 2010 Hillmorton

Last nigh we still had boats passing in the dark, as the last one went by, a Wilderness towing what looked like a sailing yacht it started spitting with rain,so I closed the engine room doors before going to bed. Good move as over night we had torrential rain hammering to the boat roof.

This morning it had all gone and the day looked very hopefully, we set off down the flight a few minutes before 10 am and with a steady flow of boats coming up had a fair run to the bottom where we stopped for water. While the tank was filling I returned a JJ Memorial banner that I had removed from the lock to Graham as well as giving him a CD of all the photos that I took over the weekend. It was then that I learnt the sad news that the Folly was now closed as the Landlady had given up the tenancy on closing Sunday night.

Once full of water we headed off in the sunshine towards Braunston and that is how long it lasted, Just on the puddle banks the heavens opened and poured its contents on to us, we continued as far as Willoughby before pulling over and heading inside into the dry, it was not long before the sun was out and we were off again, we had taken the opportunity to eat lunch.
The Barby marina is coming on well with a few holes in the ground and lots of mud about, they will still be pushed to open in the autumn.  
We carried on north and as I approached Moors Bridge No. 73 a large Willow Wren boat come through, these boats are renowned for having parties of youngsters onboard so I always treat them with caution. This one came through the bridge and pulled well over towards the towing path, he then shot straight across towards the offside right into my path, I gave it full astern but he still hit me a glancing blow on the front cant and with his bow being far higher than mine removed some gloss paint. I am glad I stopped and not tried to steer round him or he would probably made a right mess of the cabin side. 
A short run from here and down through Hillmorton locks which were not without interest, the middle lock has been repaired and when I arrived the crew of a boat coming up had drained it and had the bottom gates open, the boat ahead of us had just entered the towing path lock and was going down. The boat below the lock decided that it wouldn't use the lock its crew had just prepared but would rather wait for the other boat to come down and use that one. So we had to turn the right hand lock and drop down in that, we were still away before the boat coming up had entered the left hand chamber.

At the bottom pair a boat was about to come out of the right hand lock, so I left that for the other boat coming down who had stopped under the bridge and Diana opened the left one for me, she found it a bit difficult as water was flowing over both the top and bottom gate, so she was happy to accept some help from the crew of the other boat going down.

We moored for the night on the Hillmorton visitor moorings which are almost empty about quarter to six. As I look out of the back doors there is a full moon sitting right in the middle of the radio masts

Sunday 22 Aug 2010

What a different day,we woke to warm sun and after listening to the Archers and running the engine for a couple of hours we made our way down to the Folly arranging to meet Guy who was coming over by car for an hour. We partook of a couple of Buffalo burgers while we waited for him and then joined him in having a very good vegetarian meal and fresh coffee. We only saw one act on the stage before Guy had to leave us. Once on our own we bought a couple of pints of beer and because the next stage act wasn't to our taste went to sit by the lock to drink it.
There we found a chap assisting boats through the lock collecting for the JJ memorial fund, so I started to lend a hand, shutting gates and rattling the collection tin. It soon became obvious that I also needed a windlass, so Diana walked back to the boat and picked mine up for me. We then spent the rest of the afternoon working boats through, Diana shaking the tin. We carried on like this for 4 hours and in all that time there was a boat waiting at one end of the lock or the other. Most of them were going up with only a few coming down.When the last one had gone through at about 6 pm Diana walked back to the boat to feed the dog while I went and collected all the "No Waiting" cones that we had put down Folly Lane into stacks ready to be collected.
We spent the evening onboard as I was some what tied and couldn't be bothered to walk back down the flight.

Although the weather was fine all day with Sunshine the barometer was falling back fast and no way could I get an internet signal, which is why this is being sent a day later.

Saturday 21 Aug 2010

Last night the wind dropped and the sky cleared to give a clear starlit  night.

This morning we woke to thick drizzle that lasted all morning but cleared just before lunch when we walked down to The Folly to enjoy the afternoons entertainment. We had a couple of light showers but nothing to much and some very good acts including a skiffle group, but the highlight was a dance group  of youngsters that just flew through the air, they were a mixture of sizes from about 4' maybe a little less to 5 ' 6".

 

Then at 5 pm the sky just opened  and the rain hammered down, the band continued to play and most people headed for the beer tent. When the rain stopped we headed up the flight back to the boat to find quite a bottle neck. The Coventry Canal Society boat had got stuck in the second lock as the pound was so low, first he was wedged then on the cill, once clear he was stuck in the bridge hole and Nick Wolf was there letting down water and we ended up assisting.
Around 6-30 we headed back to the Folly to enjoy the evening entertainment, luckily the weather was much kinder to us all and we heard some good music.

Friday 20 Aug 2010

It was a good job I moved the car down to near the boat yesterday afternoon as the rain just got heavier. We drove down to The Bridge Inn where we met Chard and Caroline for an enjoyable meal, two of us having buffalo burger, one vegetarian and one Sea Bass. followed by apple crumble,bread and butter pudding and cheese cake. This with two and a half pint of bitter, two pints of Guinness and two soft drinks came out at £72.
After the meal we retired to nb. Bruizer for coffee before returning to Harnser, again parking by the bridge.
Before turning in for the night I had to slacken our ropes and push us away from the side so we were afloat again.

This morning we woke to sunshine but unfortunately it soon changed to cloud but not rain. We took the car down to Napton Post Office and then the Folly where we were asked if we would set out all the "No Parking" cones down Folly Lane, about 40 of them. We then took the car back to the moorings and walked back to the boat for an early lunch.

We wandered back down to the Folly in the afternoon to see if we could assist with anything but Graham had it all well under control so apart from carrying a few odds and ends there was nothing for us to due.

The event opened shortly after 5 with a bugler followed by a few words from JJ's mum and an opening speech by the local MP to is very favourable to the inland waterways and BW moving forward or sideways.

The entertainment was in 50 minute slots and this format will continue through the weekend with onsite catering which included a veggie stand,Napton Buffalo burgers and Buffalo ice cream, Hog roast and Chilli bar.We had one shower of rain just prior to the opening but the rest of the evening stayed fine.

Thursday 19 Aug 2010

We didn't arrive at the boat until about 4 pm this afternoon as we had to make a couple of diversions. First a call from my mum before we left home saying her TV had packed up last night and could we drop our portable in on the way. We actually took her the one out of our lounge, well we are not there to watch it. Then as we approached Napton we called friends who we new were in the area and it turned out that they were moored outside The Bridge, Napton, so we called in there for a cup of tea and a chat. Whilst there we arranged to meet this evening and go to The Bridge for a meal.

We moved the boat to the towing path side and loaded up from the car, Magic doesn't do lock gates any more, just as well we are not going to the IWA National, he would never cross 4 other boats now to get ashore, he found it hard work last year.
Once loaded we moved down the canal 3 locks and moored up for the weekend, from hear we can easily walk down to the Folly for the Folk and Beer weekend. While Diana packed everything away I walked back to the moorings in the now steady rain that was falling and moved the car down to bridge 115 ready to drive to The Bridge Inn later this evening.
I was surprised to be able to get a mooring here as it is a popular spot for the continuous cruisers as it convenient to park on the side of the road by the bridge.

Not my normal blog

The Folly Charity Folk n Boat n Beer Weekend takes place over the 20th, 21st and 22nd August 2010 in aid of JJ's Memorial Fund, a locally based charity dedicated to raising money to help injured paratroopers and support the families of those lost in combat.

The Event is taking place at The Folly, Folly Lane, Napton, CV47 8NZ

It is essentially a FREE event but aims to raise as much money as possible for the charity so please dig deep into your pockets for this worthy cause.

The Program: (subject to change)

FRIDAY 20th August, Evening:

The event, commencing at 5pm on Friday 20th August, presents a varied and professional line-up of musical artists mainly from the world of folk.

5.00 -   5.30 Show opens
5.30  -  6.00 African Drumming 
6.00  -  6-50 Red Shoes
7.00  -  7.50 Maggie Coleman & Three Men In A Boat
8.00  -  8-50 Neil & Julie Smith
9.00  -  9.50 Linda Watkins/Mike Moyse
10.00 - 11.00 The Woodshed Band

SATURDAY 21st August:

We commence the Saturday morning with breakfast served at The Folly between 8.30 and 10.30 am for boaters and campers, and anybody else who feels the need, to start the day with a fabulous range of locally sourced food supplied by Skylark Fields Farm Shop, Staverton.

A varied selection of Stallholders will open from 10.00 including homemade crafts and fare.

The afternoon will be crammed packed full of music along with the stallholders. The Pig Roast, Buffalo Burgers, Hot Dogs will be sizzling throughout - with Vegetarian options from "Birds Nest".

Saturday Evening sees another highly respected group of musicians, most of whom are giving their time and talents for free to enable us to raise as much money as possible for JJ's memorial Fund. Please give generously.

                  Tim Howes and Helen
1.00  -  2.00 Tom The Tale Teller - Traditional Tales From Around The Land
2.00  -  2.50 Washboard Bill's Jug Stompers
3.00  -  3.50 Lucifer & Gabriel
4.00  -  4.50 One Night Stand
5.00  -  5.50 Bill Bates (compare)
6.00  -  6-50 Tinkers Cuss
7.00  -  7.50 Life and Times
8.00  -  8-50 Martin Ledner
9.00  -  9.50 Scarecrow
10.00 - 10.50 The Red Hills
11.00 - 12.00+ The Fins

SUNDAY 22nd August:

To aid recovery from the excesses of the previous evening, breakfast will once again be served at The Folly from 8.30 until 10.30. An opportunity then exists to revisit the stalls or take a look around the local area.

11am sees the start of the Sing-around session. Everybody is invited to join in with instruments and vocals

The stage will then come alive again in the afternoon with more performances  from

1.00  -  2.00 Badger 
2.00  -  2.50 Ella Kenrick
3.00  -  3.50 Two Giraffes

4.00 Raffle draw and Auction

And to end the event performers and audience are invited to re-convene in the Folly to continue the Folk sing around session.

Saturday 7 Aug 2010

Last night we were treated to a wonderful  sunset with clouds red in every direction, not just in the western sky. I took a few few photos but they don't really give it full Justice.
The strange thing is there are no navigation lights on the mast at all.
About 10 pm we took Magic out for his last walk, by now it was pitch dark, but in the distance I could hear the thump of an engine and a bright light could be seen across the fields in the Braunston direction, eventually an old working boat came under the ladder bridge, it was Mike on Victoria. As he passed the row of moored boats the engine beat dropped back to a gentle tick over, but once passed the beat picked up again to a strong throb heading off into the night.

This morning there were boats everywhere, I don't know where they came from as we saw very few yesterday, we set off about 10 AM and after negotiating the big bend by the farm we came across a sheep who had just swam across the canal and climbed out on the towing path, given a quick shake and commenced feeding on the hedgerow. As we approached the end of the field she had just left I spotted a tractor working in the field behind them, as luck would have it the bank was piled so I pulled over and walked across the sheep field to the tractor to inform him about his escapee. Its been a sheep week, the day before Diana spotted a ewe on her back with her legs in the air, his is normally only a problem when they have a big wet fleece but this one had been shaun, but she was laying in a hollow and looked as if she may have been in lamb, again I was able to get off onto the field and go and roll her back on her feet.

We arrived at Marston Doles Top Lock to find a queue of 5 boats, luckily two of them were able to share a lock, I bet BW weren't expecting that when they stuck there silly notices on the beams telling you to share locks to save water. We arrived back at our moorings at about 12 30 to unload and lock up before heading home

Friday 6 August 2010

Last night there were a lot more trains and the noise from them more intrusive than I remember from when we have moored there in the past.

This morning we set off at about 9 30 AM arriving at Claydon bottom lock just after a boat had exited and there was another in the pound above waiting to come down, this luck continued all the way up the flight and we didn't turn a single lock, I don't think we even closed one on leaving.
We met very few boats as we headed north and at the moorings opposite the feeder and bridge 142 some one has mown an interesting pattern in the grass.
We had a clear run through Fenny tunnel but met a boat right on the bend by Fenny Marina services which were in use which made life interesting.
The visitor moorings at Fenny had a couple of vacancies but there would have been a lot more if the rest of the moored boats had been moored closer to each other instead of leaven large spaces between them. 
We stopped at Fenny to fill the water tank, while we were there both the vacancy were filled. We moved on to moor for the night by the Decca Radio beacon mast at 1-30 in the afternoon.

Once moored I set to cleaning the boat roof, not so I had a pristine clean roof but so that I could see where the next batch of rust patches were breaking out, its a lot easier to spot the small spots when the roof is clean. They wont get tackled this trip because the weather is very unsettled with rain threatening, we have only had light drizzle but that could soon change. While I was doing this Diana was painting the remainder of the woodwork in the lounge area.

Thursday 5 August 2010

Last night we wandered into town to eat and ended up in an Italian restaurant that we have used before near the top of the town called San Carlo, its quite a large establishment so its usually possible to get a table without booking during the week.

We returned to the boat and wondered about moving because of  the noise from the factory opposite, but as it was 10 pm and getting  dark we decided to stay put. Once we were in bed the noise wasn't to bad and we heard little noise from the lorries until early morning. In addition to this Magic was back to his old self and didn't cause any problem.

Sovereign had a delivery of diesel this morning at 9 30 so we reversed across the cut and filled up at 70 p/lt and even got 4 bantam eggs thrown in on the deal.  It was probably 10-30 AM but the time we left and when we arrived at Hardwick Lock we were forth in the queue. Bourton was a bit better with only one boat ahead of us, we had been going at slightly over tickover.  
Things were about to take a dive and the queue at Slat Mill Lock was a bit more impressive. The wait was an hour and a half. The reason for this was that BW had been working at the lock to fit a new Babbie. Not only did we have to wait but as I moved the boat along using the centre rope I didn't notice a wasp sitting on the rope and drew it into my hand resulting in a sting to the base of my left thumb.

Cropredy has even more boats moored waiting for the festival, I don't know if BW have turned a blind eye but some of the boats on the 24 hr moorings were there when we went down. We made the very slow passage passed all the moored boats to Cropredy Lock where there was only one hire boat sitting waiting to go up, The only problem was they were just sitting, no one had gone up to the lock which was vacant but full,so Diana drew the paddles which got them into action. At Varney's Lock the traffic ahead vanished, we arrived just as the boat ahead was leaving which just left us to turn it and go in, the same happened at Elkington Lock and we moored for the night at 1630 just below Claydon Bottom Lock. There have been a few hire boats go by while we have been here, one of them a Rose boat that has to be back at  Stretton on Fosse first thing Saturday morning. Just after they had gone there was a bang and a boat that eventually moored ahead of us rattled down our site, I don't know why because the canal is wide,there was nothing coming the other way and the gap he was trying to get into was about 150 long.

Wednesday 4 August 2010

His lordship Magic played up again last night,he normally sleeps under the bed and apart from scratching, kicking and snoring we don't hear from him all night. However last night he got up and took himself off to the lounge to sleep,which was not a problem, but when he woke up he started barking so I went and had a firm word with him, some time later he started again so another firm word. over the course of the night he let out a few more barks but I ignored him until 7 am. when Diana went to see him, thought he must be hungry so gave him his breakfast. What did he do, took 1 sniff, came down the back cabin, under the bed and went to sleep, he still hadn't moved when we put the bed away.
As well as getting up to the dog I also had to get up and close the side doors because it started raining which carried on until lunch time.

The pond was up a bit this morning, only a couple of inches but every time a boat passed we went against the bank and the leaned over. We set off in the pouring rain and headed to Banbury, on the way we managed to pick up a sleeping bag, luckily it caught the rudder and not the prop so I was able to remove it with the shaft, if I had have engaged reverse it would just have dragged it round the prop as well as the rudder and cutting that off wouldn't have been fun. First we stopped at Morrison's mainly for dog food and then on to the water point below the lock to top the tank up and dump the rubbish, including the sleeping bag. by the time we had finished the was a queue of 4 waiting for the lock, I think it was because the rain had stopped and boats started moving again. Moorings in Banbury were at a premium and the small boat in front of us had to ask a hire boat to move back a bit so they could get in. We made our way to Sovereign Cruisers to top up with diesel, we arrived about 1 30 so he was closed for lunch, however when he returned at 2 PM. he gave us the good news that his tanks were empty and he was waiting for another delivery. We decided to stay in Banbury overnight and have moored opposite his yard, we may move a bit later as the mill is quite noisy. Since we have been here we have already had a Napton Narrowboat run down the full length of our off side at one of the widest points of the canal.

Tuesday 3 August 2010

Last night started well, we went for a meal at The Bell, Lower Heyford which was as usual good value and a high standard.We wandered back to the boat and as I had not slept well the night before we decided on an early night.
Just before 2 AM Magic woke and started barking so I put some cloths on and took him out. It was a glorious night, half a moon, dark sky and the stars so bright they looked like lights in the sky. We had only been out a few minuets when I heard the church clock strike two. I brought him in again but he would not settle so I sat in the lounge with him, still he settle, sitting right by me and only laying down while I was touching his head. After a bit he indicated he was hungry so I gave him his breakfast and went to bed to the sound of crunching. The barking started again, he wanted a drink so I went and showed him his water and back to bed, after a bit Diana got up to him and took out again. We were up and down until 6 AM when he finished his breakfast and went to sleep, we just went to sleep. The result of all this was we didn't set off until twenty to twelve this morning.

Just before we left a chap knocked on the side of the boat and asked if he could stand on our boat to fend off a boat being towed backwards to the boatyard for repairs, it was a boat we have seen many times called "Oodunit"  (whodunit). The method of tow could have been better, a long rope from one rear stud, round both rear studs on the towing boat and back to the second rear stud of Oodunit, which resulted in the rope sliding on the towing boat bollards and so towing Oodunit crab wise.

We were away shortly after this and were surprised to encounter queues coming towards us, three at Somerton Deep and another three boats above Nell's Bridge lock and a couple in the pound about to catch them up.

On the way down I spotted a strange machine parked behind one of the boats on the long term mooring at Aynho, so I made a point of taking a photo of it as we passed this time.
(you need to visit the Blog to see it  http://nbharnser.blogspot.com/ ) Also at Aynho I managed to photograph a train crossing the viaduct, something I had been after for some time, shame it wasn't a steam loco.

Water levels were pretty good until we came through Grants Lock where the top gate was leaking very badly and then they were down by a good 6" so we are sitting here moored above bridge 172 with our bum sticking out about 3' into the cut, we arrived here at about 5 30 pm and went right to the end of the piling which was lucky because as I walked back later I saw a wasps nest in the grass by the piling about half way to the bridge.

Just before we moored up we had a visit from this little iridescent green chap who I photographed sitting on our stern rope.

Monday 2 Aug 2010

We left the mooring about 11 am and made our way through the lift bridge to the water point and topped the tank up. Just as we started taking water a boat came down the cut heading south and when he got to the right angle bend just before the bridge crashed straight into the concrete bank, The steerer was heard to shout to his wife who was telling him to stop, that he couldn't see which way he was supposed to go.I would have thought it better to have stopped under the circumstances than just carry on straight into the bank.

While we were filling with water Maffi came onboard for a coffee and a look round, well the tap was a bit slow. Just as we were about to leave another boat came through the bridge and then dropped the bridge right in front of the boat that was following him causing him to do an emergency stop. Putting his boat hard into reverse sucked a car tyre off the bottom of the canal and wound it round his prop, so he was not best pleased, but he did appreciate it when we invited him to join us in Shipton weir lock even if it did mean he had a longer wait at Bakers lock.

When we came through Bakers Lock on Friday I noticed that the bottom paddle gear was faulty, as it was still the same this afternoon I rang BW to inform them of the problem.
Between Bakers and Pigeons Lock the pound was down by a good 6" which made life interesting when meeting a boat or getting slightly off the line.

As we approached Northbrook Lock a boat that had been moored just before the lock moorings for lunch  rapidly packed everything away and set off in front of us, this was with a boat just entering the lock to come down. When the left the lock they left the top gates open, like wise at Dashwood Lock. We passed them at the water point at Lower Heyford where they were filling up and we haven't seen them since.
At 4 PM. we moored for the night in Lower Heyford a short way before the aluminium lift bridge, opposite a boat that is fully covered over and has not moved for as long as I can remember, there is no sign of a name, number of license, but of course that doesn't mean there isn't one.

1 August 2010

Last nights moorings were very quiet, this morning we planned to move about 10 AM. but first we got talking to a fellow boater who told us how her dog fell over the stern of the boat, got hit by the prop and cost £1500 in vets bills. Following this a couple asked if I was the owner of Harnser and did I "Twitter". It turned out she was Jane Gordon-Cumming the author of "The Haunted Bridge" and other strange tales of the Oxford Canal. which I just happen to be reading at this very moment, I never thought to ask her to sign my copy for me, next time.

We finally pushed off at about 11 AM and soon had two canoes following us all the way to Isis Lock, I got chatting to them as we moved slowly passed the moored boats and it turned out that they live on a boat on the arm beyond the lock, as a parting comment they suggested I tried the arm, you have to reverse out as it only has a 30' winding hole but it has about 160' of 48 hr visitor moorings, so we gave it a go.
The Very end of the South Oxford Canal

There was one other boat moored up there right in the middle of the moorings but we were able to get in just ahead of him. From here you are right in the city, we spent almost a couple of hours wandering round the streets and alleyways before returning to the boat and  reversing back to Isis Lock.

There is a winding hole above the lock but its only 50' anything longer has to lock down and wind below the lock and then lock back up. By the end of the month British Waterways intend to install a landing stage below the lock as there isn't one there at present. I cant help but thing the shape of the walls below the lock are like that for a reason and wonder what impact a walkway will have on navigation.

Once back up through the lock and heading towards Thrupp again we passed the old Jericho boat yard where BW evicted all the boats a few years ago and sold the site to developers for housing.

  A high wooden fence was erected to stop the boats coming back and "No Mooring" buoys installed to keep the boaters away. 1 boat has returned mooring to the wall and one of the buoys, I wonder how long it will be before he is moved on. I wasn't long before we had a group of canoes catch us up and overtake,

I was passing moored boats! We followed them all the way to The Plough at Wolvercote, where they stopped off.

At Wolvercote lock there was a volunteer working boats through the lock, we never did find out why he was volunteering but thanked him for his help before continuing on our way.

We moored for the night a little after 5 pm on the 7 day moorings at Thrupp, there was just one space, but we could have got in right in front of the Jolly Boatman, but we find the road a bit noisy.

31 July 2010

Yesterday evening I walked back down the the Thrupp Cruising Club and saw Mike the mooring warden and OK our mooring for just one night,which was all we wanted. The club are very obliging in this respect if all visitor moorings are full and will accommodate you if they can.
After eating early onboard we walked down the towing path to Shipton Church which is adjacent to bridge 220 to watch Helen performing Kate's 1 hour monologue of "Now is the Winter" we then walked back to The Boat where we had a great evening with singing and music in the bar from Tim Howes and friends. Its a long time since I have been in a pub with atmosphere like this.

We woke early this morning with rain coming in the slide, it didn't last long but as we are moored under trees it continued dripping for some time.  Once up and about it was a short walk back to Annie's Tea rooms by the recently electrified lift bridge foe a very nice cup of coffee and to watch the fun at the bridge as boaters tried to work out what to do, both private and hire. Diana picked up a couple of books from the boat club second hand book sales and I spotted Maddie Forth with her boat delivering coal at the wharf.This is Maddie's last coal run before having "Newdigate" converted with a full length steel cabin.
We stayed at Thrupp until 3 pm. having lunch with my daughter and her husband in "The Jolly Boatman" as they came by car they had to pay £1 for car parking, but this is refunded against purchases in the pub, it also means there is room on the car park for customers cars.
It is some while since we visited "The Jolly Boatman" and were please to find that the food and beer were still of the same standard we enjoyed last time.

A few minutes after 3 and we were away heading for Oxford, just prior to Roundham Lock we were overtaken by a canoe from Thrupp, it was quite amusing watching them trying to balance the canoe on its wheeled trolley to portage it round the lock, By the time they had managed it we had arrived at the lock,turned it, got the boat in and were ready to draw the bottom paddles, but we had to wait or we may have washed them away. We next saw them at Drinkwaters Lift Bridge where they were taking a break before returning to Thrupp.

After this we met quite a few boats,most of the Oxford Narrowboats just setting out on their holidays. We passed Dukes Cut and headed on into Oxford looking for somewhere to moor for the night, the first place we could find where we could get anywhere near the edge was just through Aristotle Bridge 240 so we have moored there for the night behind a row of boats at 1830 hrs.

Friday 30 July 2010

When we woke this morning we had cows for neighbours, I don't know when they arrived.

We timed our departure well, about 15 minets after another boat left so that when we arrived at Heyford Common Lock the boat in front had just left and as we turned the lock two boats pulled in behind us. Stopping for water at Upper Heyford we saw Maffi had at work polishing the boats ready to go out.

Pigeons look is now very quiet with all the long term moorers having departed.

We had planned to moor just below Bakers Lock on the River Cherwell,a spot that I have always wanted to stop at, but I received a message from Bones saying that Kate saffin had a performance of "Now is the Winter" on this evening at Shipton Church se we decided to carry on to Shipton to moor, but no room, so we carried on to Thrupp, no room, on to the Jolly Sailor and still no room,so we backed up into a space where a long term moorer is out and pulled in there. When I have posted this I will walk back to the club and check its OK, if not,no Kate tonight.

29 July 2010

Last nights mooring was quite good considering how close we were moored to the railway, motorway and town.  Again several boats had passed before we were about.

          Last nights mooring

All week we have been playing leapfrog with a boat called Guelrose and this morning they passed just as we were getting ready to leave, so we waited a bit and then followed them at 9 45 am. Needless to say we caught them up at Grants lock even though I was travelling very slowly.  The next pound was quite long so again I tagged along at a slow pace, mistake, at the next lock there were two more boats ahead of us who had pulled out between us, Guelrose was long gone. We carried on with two boats ahead until we arrived at Nell Bridge where there were 4 and Guelrose was still waiting. It seams that a boat was unable to close the lock gate and had been poking around for an hour without success. When Guelrose arrived they cleared the debris and things started to move again.The boat ahead of us had to be back at Braunston on Sunday, so they winded and went back. By now we had got chatting to the boat behind who were heading to Bath.
As we approached Aynho Weir lock there was only one boat ahead and they had just entered the lock as we reached the lock landing, this is some way back from the lock because the river Cherwell crosses the canal just above the lock and flows over a weir in the towing path, this is crossed by a bridge. If there is any amount of flow on the river this can lead to a tricky cross current just as you go under an accommodation bridge at the head of the lock.
By the time we had turned the lock and entered the boat that was following us were almost here and as there were no boats waiting to come up we decided to wait for them in the lock as due to the shape of the lock it can accommodate two boats with ease so long as they are less than 60 foot.

The walls of the lift bridge as you approach Aynho have now been rebuilt so I expect a new deck will be fitted one day.
We continued through the double row of moored boats to Somerton Deep lock where again we caught up to the boat ahead. This is a Wyvern Shipping boat that is doing the Thames Ring, I think the crew are Dutch, but needless to say speak better English than what I do.

By now our overnight mooring was close, we planned to stop at Somerton Common and were pleased to see several vacant lengths of piling, we passed a boat moored in the middle of the first section and spotted a frame generator sitting on the back deck so we moored right at the end of this section of piling, since we have been here boats have moored between us so hopefully we will just have the noise of the trains tonight.

Wednesday 28 July

A very peaceful night last night with much better temperature and humidity range than of late, so we slept very well. Several boats had passed before we surfaced and all the boats around us had moved off.
We set off at 10 am behind a Challenger boat that had moored ahead of us earlier this morning. They had a notice in the window offering a twelfth share (4 weeks) for sale for £5000 but the maintenance charge was £1200 per share, £14,400 per year to maintain a boat?

We were in queues at every lock, with the one before Banbury being the slowest. We stopped at Sovereign Narrowboats to fill with diesel at 1-25 pm. but he was closed for lunch until 2 pm. so we had a sit down and a beer while we waited, at the moment he is charging 70 p lt. for his diesel which is the best price in the area, the only problem is catching him open, closes all day Friday Saturday and Sunday, also at 4 pm for the remaining days. Takes about an hour for dinner, he turned up at twenty past two today and doesn't open until 10 am in the morning.

Once topped up with diesel we moved on to the centre of Banbury to top up with water, again we had to wait while a hire boat filled up, I think there was nearly as much water leaking from the hose connector as passing through it in to his tank. Then it was on a bit further to help keep Morrison's solvent, mooring on the fairly new piling opposite the foundry. As my back is playing up a bit we had to make two visits to the shop, the second for milk and beer. It was almost 5 pm before we were away again so we moored for the night on a short length of piling between the two lift bridges.

See my Google map for our present location.

Tuesday 27 July

It started to rain before we were up this morning,so we didn't hurry ourselves, when it eased we visited the shop at The Wharf Inn to get a few odds and ends. There were quite a few boats on the move and about 1030 we set off, by now the rain had virtually stopped and I didn't need a coat all day.

I had to wait for three boat at Fenny Compton tunnel, one of them was a Canal Club and the steerer asked how I was and then pointed out I didn't recognise him, it was two fellow members of the IWA Ipswich branch. We arrived at the top of the Claydon flight at twenty past twelve and were third in the queue and two pulled in behind us, but we moved on surprisingly quickly. We met a few boats in the flight, but not at every lock.
Just above Cropredy lock we saw Narrowboat "Minervois" moored, we passed them yesterday when they thought they were in danger of sinking with water coming over the floor boards.
The plan was to moor before Cropredy, but once passed Clattercote Wharf we found than any decent mooring was already taken so it was on through Cropredy, the second part of the plan was to fill with water at Cropredy Wharf, but there was one boat on the wharf, the one we had been following down waiting to get onto the water point and one coming the other way waiting for the pair of them to get sorted before filling up, as we still had half a tank we carried on. All visitor moorings were taken in Cropredy and the first bit of decent bank with room for us just prior to Slat Mill Bridge 156 moored behind Narrowboat Ariel which has been moored here for years and looks quite deserted. We are within 2 feet of the bank and hard on the bottom, the level is fluctuating by about 6" as boats enter and leave the pound, so we go from even keel to a fair list to the right.
The canoe club is out in force tonight with a large group of them going by, but with us being on the mud we don't even feel them, canoes normally make the boat move quite a bit for some reason, being light and small you wouldn't expect that.

Friday 23 to Monday 26 July

We arrived at the boat on Friday afternoon and moved the boat at least a 100 yards to the other side of the cut where BW have installed some nice new piling, we even winded to face south ready for when we eventually set off. The reason for moving across the cut is that Magic can no longer cross the lock gate and I don't intend to carry him. You may think doing only 100 yards over  a full weekend is easy going, but the weekend was not spend lounging around.
One of the down sides of this nice new piling is that boats now moor opposite the "Engine Arm" which makes it very difficult for longer boats to wind, maybe BW will install some "No Mooring" signs one day

Saturday morning and we headed off in the car to Bourn End where Julian, the Commodore of the Cutweb Internet Boat Club was holding his annual BBQ. Caro did us very proud with sweets, cheese, etc and after the main BBQ Brenda cooked a large Paella on the old washing machine brazier,

After putting the world to rights over a few bottles of beer and some well cooked food we retired to the warmth of a nice wood fire that was still burning fiercely inside the drum of the old washing machine.
To save driving all the way back to Napton Diana and I spent the night at The Water Mill, Bourn End. I booked online and found several prices for the same room,  breakfast was not included and an English breakfast would set you back just over £10 and Continental £6. After the good BBQ from the night before I was quite happy with the Continental. One of the good points about the hotel is that it opens onto the towing path, so it was only a short walk to Julian's complete with dog.

Sunday mooring after breakfast saw us on the road again, heading down to my son's clay shooting ground,The Cotswold Clay Club near Cirencester where we spent the remainder of the day. On our return to the boat we had gained a stowaway in the form of my eldest grandson who will be 5 years old next month and has been dying too spend the night on the boat.

 

Monday morning and the first task was a trip to Budgens to stock up with some food for the next few days, it was raining so we also had to buy No 1 Grandson a waterproof jacket. Back to the boat saying hello to all the animals at the farm on the way and we were ready for the off, him in his new jacket and brightly coloured lifejacket that I picked up at a boat jumble a few years back. We met boats at both the Marston Doles locks where No 1 assisted Diana with the locks. We needed water before we went any further so we stopped at the tap just above the locks, unfortunately a hire boat also had the same idea and was there just ahead of us, it must have been 45 minutes before his tank was full and we could make a start, once we had three quarters of a tank full we called it a day and moved on. After about an hour we met a boat who warned us that a boat was sinking just round the bend and the crew were attempting to pull it to the towing path before it went down, A short time later we came across the hire boat " Minervois" I called out to ask if the water was coming in the weed hatch to which the lady replied it was coming up through the floor. She said they had rung the owners and they said "Turn the water off, its a fault in the plumbing" but they had turned the water off and it was still coming up. The boat ahead of me pulled in to offer assistance and when we saw them later told me they had moved the bilge pump so it pumped it out.
We  continued onto Fenny Compton where we moored for the night a little after 4-30 pm. and just passed The Wharf. My daughter in law, Claire, arrived to pick up No 1 Grandson a little after 6 pm bringing No 2 with her, so we all had a meal in The Wharf Inn before she headed off home to Gloucestershire.

As luck would have it Mikron Theatre where performing in the Wharf garden so after seeing them safely on their way we spent the rest of the evening being entertained by them. Tomorrow night they are playing at The Boat, Stockton, followed by Hatton on Thursday night. We were treated to a rendition of Peddle Power.

Photos take on our last cruise

 

         

Tuesday 29 June, Braunston to our home mooring

Last night was again hot, so we went to bed with the slide open, but during the night it started to rain, heavily, so it was out of bed and shut things down. By morning it was again warm and dry.

Not far to go today so we didn't set off until 10-30 am. While Diana steered I patched up some more of the rust patches coming through on the roof. As we approached the Folly we discussed whether to stop for lunch. As we slid past the only mooring spot on the straight bank, Diana said she would make a sandwich at the top of the locks. We rounded the bend below the locks and there were some boats queue at the water point, I though. But no, they were waiting for the lock. We did the only sensible, moored up and went into the Folly for lunch.

The Folly had a new chief start last week so the menu was limited to the specials board. Diana and I both decided to try the Beef Suit Pudding and it was great, not in the slightest soggy, full of meat with tasty gravy, it came with a bit of salad and a pile of hand made chips, cooked how chips should be cooked. After that and a pint of Hook Norton we returned to do battle up the locks, but the queue had gone. Unfortunately it had not gone very far,only to the first pound and from here we queued all the way back to our moorings. 
Once at the top lock our problems were not over. Our mooring ropes are set up for us to moor facing down the flight, so we have to wind in the Engine Arm before tying up. BW are piling the bank opposite the arm and have left the piling machine moored with a flat beside it right opposite the arm. Faced with this I decided rightly or wrongly to reverse into the arm drawing the bows against the flat and then drive out downstream. I didn't realise just how silted up the arm was until the prop started to chew mud, but we made it and pulled surprisingly easily as the pound level was quite high.

Monday 28 June 2010

During the evening last night we has several boats that had been at Braunston come past us,we even had 3 at midnightish. I am surprised that we didn't get any later as it was a full moon and wonderful conditions for night boating.
After a trip down the weed hatch to extract a complete narrowboat window seal from round the prop we were off at quarter past nine. We met several more working boats in the course of the day including a pair working on a short line and also the steam boat Laplander. The resulting hoots,whistles and pips didn't do much to calm the dogs at Clifton Narrowboats. Talking of Clifton Narrowboats I see that some of their boats are now display a second licence saying "Authorised Hire Boat" I have not seen this before.

We stopped for diesel at Lime Farm Marina to top up with diesel at 74p/120p per litre, its the first time we have ever called in here and they seemed very friendly folk with a pair of large Rotweilers to alert them of visiting craft.

We had planned to moor at Braunston overnight with the view to doing a pump out etc in the morning,however when we arrived at Braunston we found it choker block, so we did the pump out this evening,we always carry a token to use in the Marina pump out machine so we can use it outside normal working hours, unfortunately we were unable to buy a new spare,so we must make sure we get one next time out.We then continued along the Puddle Banks towards Napton finally mooring for the night just beyond bridge 100

Sunday 27 June 2010 Sutton Stop

Last night the moon rose as a large bright orange ball on the horizon,it looked to be almost full. A couple of hours later and it was well into the sky and now its normal shining silver. Again the night was warm and we went to bed with the slides and side doors open. We could hear the music and singing drifting up from Braunston, it must have been loud in the village.

This morning we set off at 9 am. there had already been a couple of boats passed, one was going at a fair speed, he throttled back when he was almost half way passed us and opened up again as soon as he was by, I don't know why he bothered. We met him later as he went to Hillmorton to wind. The first boater we met warned us that there was a chap swimming in the canal, sure enough just through the bridge there was a chap swimming against the towing path.

As we approached Barby straight a boat was catching up fast, as he came under the motorway bridge he was creating a good wash so I pulled over to allow him to pass as I didn't want him on my stern passed all the long term moorings. By the time we reached the north end of the moorings he was out of sight, but not for long as we suddenly started to catch him up. He also winded at Hillmorton, but he reversed into the winding hole to turn and spent some time with his crew poling the bows round while we sat and waited.

We had a good run to Brownsover where a boat pulled out right in front of me, but it didn't have much effect as we were now on the end of a convoy doing about two and a half miles an hour.The did this speed constantly so every time when I slowed for moored boats they drew away and I then had about three quarters of a mile of good cruising while I caught them up again. Slowly the boats pealed off mooring up for the afternoon leaving us with the leader and I am please to say he turned into Brinklow Marina.

Apart from meeting a couple of boats who thought it was fine to travel down the centre of the cut on the very wide parts with no thought that there may be very little water in the bit where they were and the offside bank so running us into the mud, we had an uneventful run to Sutton Stop. At the lock we locked down on to the Coventry Canal to wind. I had hoped to have photographed the three cill's on this lock, but someone has removed the two incorrect ones, just leaving the one below the top gate, there had also been one above and below the bottom gate. We returned through the lock onto the North Oxford Canal to start our journey homewards. We stopped to top up with water by the lock in which time a couple of boats came by,so there were no spaces left on the visitor moorings, so we moved on and moored for the night at 5 15 pm just round the corner from the end of the visitor mooring and it actually seams a quieter here with the hill shielding the noise from the motorway.

Fri/Sat 25-26 June 2010

Friday evening and we tried to go out to eat. The first place we stopped as the Boat House, I think that's the name, it use to be the Mill House. 40 minutes before they would accept any orders,good job it wasn't full, so we gave that a miss.  Next stop was the Old Plough, all the tables were reserved or in use so we went into the main bar which was almost empty, when we enquired about food it was 30 minutes before taking orders so we walked on to the Braunston Fryer for take away fish and chips, these we ate sitting under a large lime tree overlooking the Bottom Lock Marina and very good there were with light batter and good sized chips.

Following this it was a walk down the towing path stopping to chat ending up in the beer tent at the marina. They were already starting to run out of some of the beers and I took the last but one pint of Frog Island Best Bitter.

Back at the boat by 10 pm we went for a short cruise, 300 yards backwards to fill with water, once full we didn't return to our original mooring by the bridge but dropped into a vacant slot half way along. This turned out to be a slightly quieter mooring and out of the crumple zone of boats failing to negotiate the bridge.

Saturday was spent at the show where we met lots of old friends, by mid afternoon the beer stocks were even lower with promises of more deliveries. We did see one car turn round when they saw that car parking was £10 which seems a bit steep but it did include access to the site free of charge.

We understand that there were over 90 boats present in the end. I would have thought this must make it the largest gathering of historic working boats in the country.

We stayed until about 5 pm when we decided we would move on,we had been moored there for 2 nights which is a long time for us, so we have head north on the Oxford canal. I have never seen so many boats moored in the area,there was not a mooring spot until you reached bridge 88 and even after this there were loads on every length of piling.

We met 3 Willow Wren boats loaded with kids at bridge 87, it was now 5 30 pm and I asked them where they planned to moor incase they were heading to Braunston. In view of the time their reply surprised me, they planned to moor at Stockton overnight, I think it may be nearer morning before they arrive.

We moored for the night a little after 6 pm by the Young Offenders Centre between bridges 80 and 81. Much nicer than in Braunston.

Bridge Inn to Braunston 24 6 10

It was quite hot last night and we went to bed with the slides and side hatches open, the dawn was glorious, I can see why some people set off very early in the morning.

We were away at about 8 am with a light breeze and warm sun, we saw several boats on the move and as we passed the puddle bank we were in a convoy of 4. The old sunken working boat on the puddle banks has still not been totally lifted, the bows are above the water level and there are several pump on her none of which were running. This has been going on for an awfully long time now with a flat moored on the out side of her and a short tug inside.

At Braunston Turn we turned left along the North Oxford and stopped opposite Draco to take on water, while I was filling up Diana walked along to find the end of all the moored boats, as luck would have it a boat was about to leave just by the A 45 bridge so we made do with half a tank of water and filled the vacant spot. We are a little bit venerable to boats speeding through the bridge hole, but with all the boats moored the other side of the bridge hopefully they wont be travelling   to fast.

Once moored we walked back and had a chat with Mike and Krystyna before returning to Harnser for lunch.

Home moorings to The Bridge Inn, Napton 23 6 10

We arrived at the boat at 5 pm  to find the off side splattered with mud, BW are piling the towing path opposite and dredging back so it must have been the dredger bucket splashing things. The also have there work boats two abreast opposite us so that has probably resulted in some more of our black disappearing and also our mooring lines being on the point of giving up the ghost.

We moved down to the top lock to load the boat as it is easier than getting Magic across the lock gates and hovered above the lock while we loaded up. Mary from nb Goody Two Shoes walked down for a chat and brought her windlass with her to help us through the lock.

A hire boat moored in the next pound pulled out behind us and the girl walked ahead and assisted us with the next lock as well as one near the bottom. We met a couple of boats in the flight  but still all the locks were empty when we got to them.Its good to see that BW have repaired the bywash and the levels are now back down to normal. There was only one boat moored in the bottom pound but all the moorings by the Folly were occupied. Near the bottom of the flight we met a Kate boat, Harry and the hirer told Di she was not sure what she was doing in the locks,even though they had managed Calcutt they still left the paddles up when they left the lock. I would have expected their training to be second to none following last years accident in a lock.

We continued on past boats moored on bends and to soft towing path until we came to The Bridge Inn where to our surprise there was enough mooring for two boats. We moored at the beginning of the space just on 7 pm. and the hire boat that had followed us down the flight moored directly ahead of us a short time later. We wandered back to the pub at 8 pm to eat. Wednesday night is pie night but they only had one beef pie left which I claimed, they had also run out of fish pie, but were offering lasagna for the same price as a meat pie. A table behind us ordered soup and were a bit miffed it didn't come with a roll and butter. The pub is still run by the same family but I do wonder if they are losing bit of a grip on things, from the sweet board there was no ice cream.