This Blog will be the travel log of Narrowboat Harnser as we cruise the system. We are not continuous cruisers but just spend as much time as we can on the boat.
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First thing this morning CRT turned up to work a Calcutt hire boat and a boat offering training down the locked Calcutt flight. I guess the hire company has an arrangement to keep operating. Daisy’s Bakin Butty was doing quite a trade by the top lock.
We set off at 10-30am in weak sunshine and slight mist. Down to Wigrams Turn and sharp left towards Braunston. Quite a few boats around at first but then tapered off, although the sun was out it was not as warm as yesterday. This large house at Wolfhamcote was shining in the sunlight.
Another left turn at Braunston Junction saw us on the North Oxford canal. A brief stop at the serviced to deposit recycling, its not waste any more and check the pound water level, its come up slightly in two days.
We carried on passed our home mooring to bridge 75 where there is a short length of piling, just room for two boats, but thankfully no one there today. This was our mooring for the night.
Well today did not go to plan. Last night was a lovely moonlight night with the Tawny Owls out calling to each other. The sun was out this morning and we set off at 1030 all the other boats were long gone
The towpath along the Grand Union canal is quite bad in places where is fallen right into the canal.
Unlike a little further on where its all concrete pilled, its just a pity they don’t stick to the dredging measurements.
Water levels on the Braunston pound are only down by about 30-40mm. so the doing was easy, this is the weir at Lower Shuckburgh. We met several boats as we continued on to Napton on the South oxford. They have done a lot of piling prior to the winding hole giving much more room to moor. You can’t come along here without taking a photo of the windmill.
We hadn’t filled with water since last time out so we stopped at the waterpoint by the Folly Pub. Its so slow we were able to have dinner while it filled up. That done we set off to the locks and that folks, is where it went wrong. Napton flight is still closed due to lack of water until Monday. How I missed it checking the stoppages I don’t know. Nothing for it but to reverse back to the winding hole and do something else. Something else was to retrace our steps, back passed Napton Narrowboats with most of their fleet in to Wigrams Turn. Here we turned left and head to Calcutt Locks, not with a plan to go down them, but wind above them and moor for the night. The flight is still closed and the back pumping going full bore, however the flow of water over the bottom lock bywash is quite substantial, I am not sure where its coming from. We walked around the reservoir, its not as low now as when we visited last September see this photo
I have never seen one of these before beside the water, stops the vandals throwing them in or walking off with them.
After returning to Harnser we were treated to a splendid sunset over the reservoir before closing up for the night.
No a bad drive to the boat, a bit of mist early on but that soon cleared, We did have a couple of holdups, a accident on the A146 had closed the road, but the old road, now only a lane runs parallel to it, if you know its there. The next stumbling block was at the far end with the lane to the maria out of Barby village closed. It said open to businesses so off we went until we hit the second road block, right across the road. As we arrived so did a digger coming the other way. No chance in getting through, so turn round and follow the diversions to Hillmorton and come in from the other end. Same thing, road closed, access to businesses so we carried on, and hit a full , manned roadblock just over the canal bridge. A chat with the man and he let us through to get up beside the works and into the marina. We unloaded onto the boat and started making ready to leave, firing up both the engine and the stove. By 1-30 we were on our way. I don’t think I have ever left the mooring with no wind. A gentle cruise round the marina and south on the Oxford Canal. By Dunchurch Pools some of the sheep have bright blue bums, but I couldn’t spot the Tupp anywhere.
At Braunston Junction we turned right on the S Oxford/GU canal chugging on passed the moored boats to tie up just after bridge 100.
Today’s Journey 6¼ miles in 2¼ hours with no locks
We were travelling as passengers on the Wherry Maud from Sutton Staithe back to her base at the Forsythe Wherry Yard at Ludham. The wherry was due to leave Sutton at 1030, but first we had to drive to Womack Staithe to pick up another passenger, Simon and take him to Sutton. At Sutton we met up with John who had come down to see us off, John and I worked offshore together for many years but its been several years since we met up in the flesh. While we were standing around chatting the crew were hard at work putting 3 reefs in Maud’s sail due to the very gusty winds
Life jackets on and the safety briefing done, eventually we were all aboard and off being pushed by the tender past all the moored boat to the end of the dyke where the crew hoisted the sail.
We were now sailing down the River Ant heading for Barton Broad, on the way we were overtaken by the museums steam launch
On Barton Broad we met the Broad's Authority launch towing yet another hulk away.Last time we were on Maud we saw them doing the same. Abandoned boats on the broads are becoming quite a problem
We did a circuit of the Broad dodging, or should I say they were dodging us, the yacht racing on a Sunday morning. as well as the yachts there was a family dog out for a Sunday morning cruise
Then the sail was lowered and we left the broad at the opposite end to where we joined it still on the river Ant. The reason for lowering the sail was the river is narrow and tree lined as well as the wind being gusty and against us.
The river Ant flows through the village of Irstead which has its own staithe as well as some very pretty riverside properties.
We were heading for our lunch time mooring at How Hill. The reason for the stop was not for lunch but to wait for the tide to pass under Ludham bridge. As we approached the moorings we found there was already another Wherry there, the Hathor.
We had hoped to drop in at her stern but when we arrived there were canoes moored both in front and behind her. Thankfully when the party of young people saw we wanted to come in they continued their journey and gave us space.
We had about an hour and a half at How Hill, it was a pity we didn’t have longer as it was one of the rare occasions that the house was open to visitors.
We wandered along and looked at the old wind drainage pump that is looking very sorry for its self.
It would cost a lot less to restore this back to working order than the large brick mill they are working on and its much more unique. We were away from the moorings at about half one, still being pushed by the tender with our sail lowered. Before we reached the bridge the mast had to come down. This is so well balanced that it has to actually be pulled the last foot or so required to clear the bridge.
As we neared the bridge we passed a rather nice traditional Broads Hire boat which no doubt is now in private ownership. The bridge is a very tight fit for the wherry, its so close that there is just room for a crew member to deploy a rope fender if necessary to stop her rubbing the side. Today it wasn’t required, as we didn’t touch a thing and the height, well there was just inches that way as well. A hire boat coming towards us had to hold back while we came through as there is no way we could stop and reverse.
Once clear of the bridge the mast went up again thanks to a block and tackle on the forestay.
Then the sail was hoisted using the two man winch mounted just in front of the mast . While this was going on a bit of quanting, a bit like punting was going on to keep the bows away from the moored boats and then we were sailing again. This photo was taken by Diana from the tender, now that it was no longer required to push us along.
You can see how low the gaff is and how small the sail with three reefs in. Look at the sky, you can see how its changed since we set off this morning in the blustery weather. It wasn’t too long before we were
passing St Bennetts Abbey, I didn’t know at the time but my friend, John and his family had driven there by car and then walked down to the river to photograph us going by, this is one of the photographs he took.
We had good sailing from here past Thurn Mill all the way to Womack. We also met and had a yacht pass us who was tacking up the river towards us before turning and heading back.
As we turned down towards Womack Staithe from the River Thurn the sail was again on its way downfollowed by the mast, this is so that Maud can slide into the shed beside Albion, another ex working Wherry, but first a little historic motorised dingy had to be moved out of the way.
Once we had all said our good bye’s and thanked all the crew for a very enjoyable day we walked up the lane to the staithe carpark where Simon had left his car this morning, for the 10 minute drive back to Sutton Staithe, where we left some 6½ hours earlier to pick up our car and drive home.
Where we went
If you would like to help preserve this lovely old Wherry and have a chance to sail on her you can join the Wherry Maud Trust at Membership – Wherry Maud Trust or just go there and read more about this fine vessel .
Last night we ate at the barley Mow, Pie and Mash with peas. The pies are home made and not a soggy bottom to be found.Real mash, not powder. This morning we were away a little earlier as I needed to call in to Toolstation so moored for 15 minutes opposite Clifton Cruisers. Needless to say just as I returned to the boat a hire boat came by, but we didn’t follow them far before they pulled over. A long stretch in Brownsover has been marked as “No Mooring” for several years but these boats were here on our outward journey and also our return. As I approached I could see a boat coming the other way, so I held back until they passed and then set off , however there was another boat some way behind and when he saw me coming pancaked, Turned right against the off side bank and then hard left and he hit me right on the nose even though I was hard astern. By this time our bow was level with the end of the far boat, if he had just slowed or gone straight there would have been no problem. We reached the bottom lock about 11 Am and had an hour and a half wait as there were 6 boats waiting ahead and by the time we locked up there was probably 8 waiting behind us. Once through the first lock we were in a queue again for the middle one, The abandoned boat is still in the mouth of lock 5.
There were three Volockies at the bottom lock but non at the others, I think all the other boats I saw going up were hire boats. At the moorings at the top of the locks this boat had anti rat plates on the mooring ropes but as they are against the bank there is nothing to stop undesirables just stepping aboard.
Passing Hillmorton Wharf it looks as if they have placed concrete blocks to prevent boats entering the basin where the floating lodges are all located. We carried on past our marina and down to Dunchurch Pools marina to fill with diesel, the price has gone up 10p/L since we last had some, kicking my self a bit as we didn’t fill to the brim last time in the hope that prices might fall. On our way back I saw this one legged goose.
On the way we passed under way I call”WRG Bridge” This was a bridge repaired by WRG for CRT trying out using volunteers' for maintenance, Over the
years it has cracked again, but the other side is a very sorry state and looks like its creeping over.
I am always amazed what I se on the towpath, here we have two pairs of boots, his and hers
It was then back into the marina and pack up ready to go home in the morning .
