Back to Lower Heyford

Rampant vegetation frequently encroaches on the waterway

Bridge 212, Old Brighton Bridge, near Tackley

Northbrook Lock

An isolated mooring just beyond Lower Heyford

It was another cool, but bright and sunny morning when we set off at 9:40.  The canal is very quiet and so we have no need to start early to secure a mooring.  The journey took us along a fairly narrow tree lined canal through isolated and very rural countryside with little visibility of any habitation.  

During much of the cruise our speed was limited by the trees and shubbery partially blocking the waterway with no indiciation of being managed in any way.  However it all looks very attractive.

We ascended 3 locks before arriving at Lower Heyford where we filled up with water, our last chance for 2-3 days. We then stopped shortly afterwards for lunch.  However the mooring was unattractive and the canal narrow, with a greater drawback of a complete lack of any internet or phone connectivity.  So after eating we started up the engine again and carried on another half mile through a lift bridge where we found a perfect mooring on our own surrounded by countryside with a good mobile signal strength.

Daily travel details

Distance: 5.07 miles
Locks: 3
Moveable bridges: 1
Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes

Back up the Cherwell

 A quiet day's cruising in perfect weather...

Entering Shipton Weir Lock

In Shipton Weir Lock

On the Cherwell - 1

On the Cherwell - 2

Leaving the Cherwell before the bridge

Baker's Lock takes us back to the Oxford Canal

Moored in the shade near Kirtlington

We set off at 9:20 in cool summery weather and cruised slowly up the Oxford Canal.  Our journey took us through Thrupp where we failed to find a mooring on our marathon 5 hour cruise towards the Thames two weeks ago.  Now of course there were plenty of free moorings but this time we had no wish to stop.

We passed through Shipton Lock onto the River Cherwell, leaving it at Baker's lock about 3/4 mile later.  It was now time to start looking for a mooring but for the first 1.5 miles the canal side looked unsuitable with a crumbling edge and quite shallow.  But we then came to a section where the bank had been reinforced with steel piling where we could easily moor.   It's an idyllic spot a long way from habitation with insufficient room for any other boat to disturb us.

Daily travel details

Distance: 4.72 miles
Locks: 2
Moveable bridges: 2
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes

Out of Oxford and back to Kidlington

 Now that the weather has cooled a bit we can make longer journeys.Today we set off at 8:40 and travelled north up the Oxford Canal to Kidlington, close to where we moored 10 days ago.

Looking back down the Oxford canal in Oxford

 

St Edwards Bridge (left open)

Looking back from Dukes Lock at Duke's Cut Junction

Bullers Bridge in Kidlington

Travelling was slow because the canal  was narrow and there were many moored boats. But it was an enjoyable cruise as the canal is quite attractive.  We stopped for water and to dump the rubbish near St Edwards Bridge. The canal then took us past Dukes Cut Junction where we had turned off to go to the Thames on our outward journey.

Two locks further on we moored up for the night near Kidlington at 13:05.  Later in the afternon we walked 15 minutes into the town centre were we bought a few groceries.

Daily Journey Details

Distance: 5.21 miles3
Locks: 4
Moveable bridges: 
Duration: 4 hours 25 minutes.

Staying in Oxford

 As we are finding the hot weather difficult we are not moving until tomorrow when the temperature is forecast to fall below 30degC. 

In the morning we walked the 10 minutes to the local Sainsbury's mini-supermarket in Jericho  for a few provisions.  Apart from that we spent most of the day reading on the boat keeping doors and windows open to capture any light breeze that may have arisen. If conditions had been more comfortable we would have enjoyed a day exploring the city but that will have to wait until we cruise in the area again.

Daily travel details

Distance: 0
Locks: 0
Duration: 0

Back on the Oxford Canal

 

Waiting for the gates to be opened at Iffley Lock

Entering Iffley Lock

Folly Bridge in Oxford

Today we cruised up the Thames through Oxford and returned to the Oxford Canal.  Again an early morning setting off at 8am pasing through Iffley Lock, Folly Bridge  and Osney Locks before the Lock Keepers came on duty.  The pictures show the amazing differences in width of different sections of the Thames. 

Back on the canals - Isis Lock

Moored in the Jericho area of Oxford

After Osney Lock we turned right off the Thames through the Sheepwash Channel and Isis Lock onto the Canal. At 10:25 we found a mooring spot in the shade about a quarter of a mile further up the canal where we plan to spend 2 days until the temperature drops making cruising more comfortable.

Daily Travel Details

Distance: 4.05 miles
Locks: 3
Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes

Chores and a very hot cruise towards Oxford

 This morning we really needed to fill our water tank and empty the waste tank, both tasks becoming increasingly urgent and possibly problematical because of the limited facilities on the Thames.

Fortunately both matters coud be attended to at Abingdon Lock, about quarter of a mile upstream from our mooring.  The weather forecast showed further very hot weather so we set off early at 8:15.  As the lock keeper was not yet on duty we had to operate the lock ourselves.

Once we had left the lock we had to turn the boat around so the waste tank could easily be emptied from the facilities wharf and filled up with water.  The tap was slow and our tank nearly empty so this took about 1 hour to complete.  Pumping out the waste was achieved much more quickly and so after a total delay of about 1 hour 30 minutes we were able to turn the boat around again to face up the Thames and continue our journey.

In Sandford Lock

Moored near Kenington

After 3.5 miles (during which I saw my first kingfisher of the holiday) we reached Sandford Lock where I was surprised and pleased to find that we could fit in with a large cruiser and another narrowboat longer than Densie.   By this time we were wilting under the uncomfortably hot sun and moored up at 12:10 at the first opportunity near the village of Kennington just outside Oxford.

Three extra details:

Timothy Spall's Dutch barge was moored opposite us at Abingdon.
The fixes made by the RCR engineer yesterday appear to have worked well with the engine running smoothly all journey.
Temperature in boat now at 35, down from 38 earlier in the day.

Daily trip details

Distance: 5.89 miles
Locks: 2
Duration(including water and pumpout): 3 hours 55 minutes

Back to Abingdon

 Today we really did start early to avoid travelling in serious hot forecast weather.  At 8am we set sail, turned the boat around and set off back upstream to Abingdon.

typical view of Thames

Burcot House 

Clifton Hampden Bridge

Appleford Railway Bridge

I had expected travelling against the flow of the river would slow us down significantly but it made no dfference since there was barely any flow at all.  At the one weir we saw, the river water was just dribbling over the edge.  Both locks were ascended quickly as there were lock keepers on duty who had the gates open ready for us when we arrived.

We arrived back in Abingdon at 10:55  and moored on the town side of the river.  The journey had taken 2 hours 55 minutes, a slightly shorter duration  than our cruise downstream.

Whire fronted geese wait at the side hatch

The birds have been of particular interest.  During much of our stay at Dorchester I heard frequent cuckoo calls.  There have been good views of kites with their white and brown plumage showing clearly.  Also buzzards, and I think a pair of ravens. Outside the boat at the moment there is a family of what I think are white fronted geese, a change from the more common greylag.

On the down side we may be having problems with the boat.  Several times on this journey the engine has given nasty grinding noises when the gear lever was moved from neutral into forward.  So we called out RCR again in Abingdon as losing control of the boat on the river could be dangerous.  Unfortunately the problem could not be reproduced so it is something we need to watch.  On the plus side the engineer did diagnose a failing fanbelt and replaced it for us.

The temperature in the boat cabin at 18:45 is 36degC, down from a maximum of 38.

Daily Travel Data

Distance: 7.68 miles
Locks: 2

Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes