continued....
Part 2 of the Oxford Canal 16th August 2013
Banbury to Napton
Onwards towards Banbury and we pull up near a road
bridge, our way to Morrisons. We moored the boat up and off we tramped to do
our shopping, filling up with goodies for when grandsons Callum and Jay come to
stay.
A couple of hours later we were on our way again but
now the sun was shining. Beautiful, such a lovely place to be especially when
the sun shines.
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| Yuck, the sun don't shine here ... bit of a smelly job emptying the contents of ones toilet! |
We stopped at the Sanitary Station and filled up with water, dumped rubbish and emptied the content of the toilet (you probably didn't want to know that!)
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| Filling up with water in Banbury town centre, toilet all empty now! |
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| The lock in the centre of Banbury |
Soon done we were straight into the lock in
Banbury town centre, its busy here. Lots of people watching as we came up the lock
and out the top.
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| Boats moored up everywhere along this busy narrow stretch of the canal in the town centre |
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| A bouncy castle amuses the kids as mums shop in the huge Castle Quay shopping centre |
There's a large shopping centre that backs right on to the canal, the town is next to the canal, people bouncing on a huge bouncy castle!
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| ... and the busyness goes on and on.... |
We go through the lift bridge in town dodging all the boats moored up. It's
pleasant here, grassy towpath, lots of people about. Its a popular place to
stop, there's not really anywhere else to get supplies on the whole this canal
so most people are looking for a mooring spot. lots will be unlucky!
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| It's a good job we didn't want to stop in Banbury, we'd have been disappointed! (See the ice cream boat to the left....) |
We carry on, happy we don't need to stop! Out of
Banbury there's a Tescos next to the canal and we carry on past and under the
noisy M40. A couple of locks and a couple of miles on we've left the noise and
hussle of Banbury and are back out in the sticks, just how we like it!
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| Back out into the countryside, just how we like it! |
We come to Caves bridge and just after we pulled up on
a lovely stretch of towpath, grassy, quiet and no one around.
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| Just as we like it, no hustle and bustle.... |
It was already 4pm and a few boats moored up near us.
We were only a mile and a lock from the small village of Cropredy where we had
arranged to meet Donna, Calvin and the boys the next day.
We were near Slat Mill Lock and Bridge, a dead body
had been found in the canal only 5 days earlier but you'de never know!
We went out with Jack over lovely fields and meadows.
It's a lovely evening now, sun's lovely.
On Saturday we move the tiny distance to Cropredy.
Lovely little cruise, too short for such a lovely day! Through the lock and
bridge and the 14 day moorings are full up, except for a space just big enough
for us to get in. It's really busy here, boats moving all day, people looking
to stop but can't find a place, lots of people walking about, loads of boaties.
We go for a lovely walk around meadows we walked over
two years ago when we came for the festival. We've sussed out a place for Donna
to park tomorrow and wander around the village.
In the evening it's rainy and windy. We don't have
Internet or telly so we have a quiet night in.
Sunday 18th August and Donna and family are arriving
early today. 10 am to be exact! So we walk Jack and by the time were back, they
arrive.
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| Jay is so chuffed he caught this fish! |
We have a lovely day, chatting, boys fishing and
walking the dogs. Donna and Calvin left by 4pm, Paul went too as they were
taking him to pick up the car from Milton Keynes.
Back at the boat the boys are tired and exited. We
chill out for the evening after going out to play football and badminton,
getting back before the sky turned dark and the heavens opened.
On Monday we all went for a walk around the cow
fields.
Back at the boat, boys kitted out with life jackets and safety rules
drummed into their heads, we set off through a very busy packed out Cropredy.
At the refuse point we dumped rubbish and joined the
queue of three boats at the first lock.
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| Callum chilling out while Jay and Paul get the lock ready |
Jay, Paul and Jack headed off while
Callum and I moved the boat.
At the next lock it was a swap around and Jay stayed
with me and the boat.
We moored up in a spot just the right size for us to
squeeze in, perfect. This is the spot 2 years ago Paul caught his monster carp,
he really wants to have another go!
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| Reaching high for the best blackberries |
We all went for a walk exploring the fields and
meadows, now blackberries beginning to ripen in the hedgerows, unripe sloe
berries cover the prickley branches of the blackthorn.
Back at the boat Paul heads off on his bike to move
the car nearer to where we are moored now.
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| We've seen this boat before, and manage to get ice creams all round, even Jack got a free one! |
We manage to run to meet an ice cream boat selling
Cornish ice cream, lovely! They even gave Jack a very mini ice cream for free!
The boys fished with Paul, he never caught his monster
carp but he had two bites that were too strong for his line and snapped off the
end. The boys caught a couple and they were very pleased.
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| Jay and Jack chill out together on the towpath |
They slept well, all the fresh air I think! The next
couple of days we cruised an hour or so each day, we stopped at the bottom of
Claydon Locks on Tuesday and on Wednesday the boys were excited because we had
5 locks to do to get to the top, they helped all the way, loved it! And were
brilliantly behaved too!
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| Something's amusing Callum I think, while Jay just looks too cool! |
We went to Banbury open air swimming pool on Wednesday
afternoon, and afterwards to MacDonalds.
On Thursday Paul took the car and did a few errands
that needed doing while me and the boys chilled out on the boat.
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| This long, straight cutting of the Oxford canal was once going to be a tunnel |
Friday 23rd August and we were off again, on our way
to Fenny Compton. We've got a lovely cruise today, about an hour, 3 miles,
sun's shining and it's all beautiful. The boys had a picnic on the roof while
we cruised and Paul and I took in the lovely rural countryside.
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| The Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton |
We arrived at Fenny Compton Wharf, our first stop to
fill up with water. The pub here, the Wharf Inn, has a camping field and the
boys went off and kicked a football about, Jack hot on their heels, while we
sorted out the water.
Just around the corner on the 14 day moorings was
where we stopped, the pub car park was very convenient to park our car so
close.
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| Paul enjoys an afternoon beer while the boys drink lemonade |
After a lovely but very hot walk we went to the pub
for drinks in the garden and to suss out the laundry facilities there. Jack had
a lot of fun squashing the plastic balls from the sand pit while we fought off
wasps trying to get a free drink!
Its very busy here, boats continually moving all day,
a real hub for people to stop. Theres lots going on, campers at the pub, people
all having fun.
Saturday I was up early packing, Paul took Jack out so
I could get busy. We left laiden with so much stuff the boys could have stayed
for a year and they'd have enough stuff! Several trips back and forwards to the
car and we were ready to leave.
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| My little sis and nephew Jack, showing me the big..... combine I think!? |
I had a lovely few days away, spending time with both
brothers and their wives, my sister and hubby and of course Deane and Donnas.
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| Deane and my new little grandson, Leo. We all went to the pub and had a lovely meal. |
My little grandson Leo is changing so quickly, he's adorable.
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| I think Lexi enjoyed herself when I took her to the park! |
I managed to have
some time with Lexi too, taking her visiting and to the park, she's so sweet!
On my way back I called in at Lyndsey's and had lunch
with her at Woodford marina, saw all our old mates on the island and I went and
saw Pete and June at the house.
By 4pm I was back at the Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton
and Paul and Jack were there to meet me and help lug all the stuff back to the
boat. We went out for a meal in the pub, tasty and filling, nice food.
Wednesday 28th August we did our shopping chores. We
drove into Banbury and got stocked up on painting stuff, dog food and filled
our fridge with goodies once again. We were back at the boat and sorted out by
2pm so we decided to move the boat a little way, just somewhere new as Paul has
been in the same place for 5 days now.
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| We set off for the countryside, looking for a remote and isolated spot to chill out in the peace and quiet |
So we set off towards Napton, sun shining, canal was
calm as a lake, not a ripple. It follows the contours of the hills, twisting
and turning as we get away from civilisation, out into rural countryside once
again.
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| Lovely tight cornered bridges.... |
A few boats around, we met a couple under bridges on tight bends, one
hire boater shouting "Sorry I was in my own world, not concentrating, it
was such a boring bit I nearly dropped off," as he came round a tight bend
very fast on the wrong side of the canal.
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| A boat disappears around a tight corner |
He managed to put his passengers
sitting in the front into the brambley stinging nettley bank so there was
comotion all round!
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| Our little remote and isolated spot for the night. We need this after the business of the last week! |
After an hour we decided to stop in a very remote
isolated bit, between two bridges surrounded by fields and meadows. A few boats
came by us, but we were on our own on our little bit of the towpath we called
ours for the night. Peace and quiet after a hectic couple of weeks.
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| What a fantastic sunset as we look back down the canal |
On Thursday the sun shone again, a beautiful August
day. We walked Jack and about 9 am we set off on our way.
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| The sun shines on the sunshine! |
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| Beautiful rural countryside as the canal twists and turns |
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| .... around every corner there's a view |
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| .... each one different but just as magical |
The canal is still
twisty, narrow and shallow, and we cruise on till we get to Marston Doles
locks. Above the locks we fill up with water and with the help of a volunteer
lock keeper we were through in no time.
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| Marston Doles top lock, helped along by the volunteer lock keeper |
In the pound just below the second lock was where we
stopped, ready to wait for Hugh, Wendy and the girls to come and visit for the
day.
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| Our spot below the second Marston Doles lock, ready to meet Hugh and Wendy and the girls |
We had a lovely time, walking the meadows with Jack, cooking up a great BBQ and sitting around
the fire after sunset watching the bats swoop about over our heads. When it was
time for them to leave Hugh drove me to Fenny Compton to pick up the car and I
drove back to Marston Doles, back to the boat.
Friday 30th August we wake up to cloud and threatening
rain. The rain holds off but we decide to stop after only going through one
lock and half a mile, took about half an hour!
Holt farm moorings, down the Old Engine Arm was one
side of us and Holt Farm (Adkins) was the other side. It's a lovely spot here,
lovely towpath, fields of water buffalo graze on the off side of the canal and
sheep graze behind the hedge on the towpath side.
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| Sheep peer at us through gaps in the hedge.... |
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| ... and water buffalo graze silently in the meadows opposite |
After we'd sussed out what's around us Paul goes off
in search of the farmer, Neil Adkins, or his wife, Angie, to see if it was ok
to park the car on their land. While he was there he also asked if he could
fish in their carp lakes, and to see if I could walk Jack through the Engine
Arm Moorings to get access into the lovely meadows surrounding us (not the
water buffalo meadows though!) All agreed and after a £5 donation for charity
we were sorted. We had telly, internet, car, fishing and lots of lovely walks.
So we decided it was a great spot to do some painting
on the boat.
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| This is where we stopped for a week, getting the boat prepared and painted.... |
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| .... its getting there, just the yellow tramline to do now |
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| .... we're loving it! |
All week we sanded and filled and masked and painted until we had
completed one side of the boat, it looked brilliant!
We've had a visit from the AA as the car wouldn't
start on Sunday, a knock with a hammer confirmed it was the starter motor and
it would need replacing. So Paul booked it in at Napton garage and cycled up
and over Napton Hill after dropping it off, and over and up to the garage to
pick it up the same day.
The canal's busy all day here, boats cruising early
morning to late night, we chatted to so many people walking between locks, all
happy in the sunshine.
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| Such a beautiful sunrise.... one lonely water buffalo in the field |
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| Wow, waking up to this was amazing! |
Friday 6th September (Happy Birthday Matthew!) and
what a difference, it's rainy all day and it's 10 degrees C cooler than yesterday! We've
finished our painting and go food shopping, spend a fortune in the chandlers in
Braunston and to Homebase.
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| View of Napton on the Hill |
Saturday 7th September we set off from our lovely spot
above Napton locks, its a cloudy and grey day but lots of boats were about. We
get through the 6 Napton locks and at the bottom lock we dump our rubbish and
our toilet contents in the facilities provided!
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| Napton Bottom Lock, our last one on the Oxford Canal |
We made it round and we were back on the wide Grand
Union on our way towards Warwick, to the first flight of three wide locks at
Calcutt.
Last entered September 11th 2013
Coming next ..... The Grand Union Canal, Napton to The Stratford-on-Avon Canal
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