Back in our marina

Turning left at Braunston Junction

We discussed whether to travel the short distance to Braunston and then moor up for the day so we could have an evening meal out there.  However events made the decision for us when the toilet seat hinge broke.  So we returned to the marina to arrange a repair arriving there late in the morning.We then drove to Fenny Compton, where the toilet manufacturer is based, to pick up a new seat.  Only 25 minutes by car compared with  the 2 days it would have taken us by boat.

There followed a half hour drive to Whilton Marina on the Grand Union (another 2-3 days for us by canal). to buy some bits for the boat.Then back to our marina stopping at Waitrose in Daventry to buy an evening meal for tonight.

Daily Travel Details
Distance - 5.12 miles
Locks etc 0
Duration - 5.12 miles

Trip Totals
Distance: 16.45 miles
Duration: 3 6.75 hours

Overall: 3 days, 2.44 mph, 2.25 hours travelling/day

To Napton Junction and back again

 After setting off at 10am we continued along the Grand Union to Napton Junction and turn the boat around.  We were hoping to stop at Flecknoe for a meal this evening but unfortunately all the moorings were occupied so we had to continue cruising on for another half mile and eat our dinner on the boat instead.

Turning Densie at Napton Junction

Typical canal scenery near Flecknoe

Good sighting of buzzard

Moored near Flecknoe

Daily Travel Details
Distance 7.1 miles
Locks etc 0
Duration: 2 hours 55 mins

A short September Cruise

We are out on the canals for a few days to check the recent replacement of Densie's gearbox and leaking water pump and also to attend the marina End of Season Barbeque on Saturday.  

After travelling to the boat yesterday (Tuesday) we unpacked ready to start this morning.  The cruise is leisurely following our usual route down the South Oxford Canal to Braunston and from there some way along the Grand Union Canal until we decide to turn around.

Nothing new to report about the journey today as we have covered it many times.  However it was a pleasure to see a Hobby chasing some of the few swallows still around.  We stopped for the day at lunch time a mile from the village of Flecknoe after only 1 hour 50 mins cruising. The boat has been running smoothly and there is no sign of any water leak. 

Moored at Bridge 99 near Flecknoe

Daily statistics
Distance 4.23 miles
Locks etc 0
Duration 1 hour 50 minutes

Back home

 

On the Grand Union Canal (1)

Grand Union Canal (2)

Meeting an oncoming boat on the North Oxford

North Oxford Canal (1)

North Oxford (2)

We set off before the sun had become really hot at 8:45.There followed an unremarkable but speedy cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Braunston Junction where we turned left up the North Oxford Canal, a journey we have made many times.

Back at our home mooring

We arrived at our marina at 11:10  and moored up at our berth.  First job was to check the car was OK since it had been standing out in the extreme heat plugged into a solar battery charger for the past 5 weeks.  Fortunately no damage.

Daily Travel Details

Distance: 6.19 miles
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes

Total Journey Statistics
Distance: 154.05 miles
Locks: 91

Moveable Bridges: 15
Total Duration: 32 days
Total time cruising: 92.33 hours

Average times: 2.89 hours/day

Average Locks+miles:  2.82/hour

Down the Napton flight and onto the Grand Union Canal

 We set off in warm sunny weather at 8:40, starting early as we wanted to get within easy reach of our marina for the journey home tomorrow.

About to leave Lock 10

Looking back at Lock 10 from Lock 9

Looking back at Lock 9 from Lock 8 (bottom Lock)

About a mile after leaving our mooring we reached the top lock (lock 14) of the 7-lock Napton flight the bottom one being lock 8. Although the locks were easy to operate our descent was slow as we were travelling close behind another boat and each time they went down a lock we had to refill it so we could also descend.  Sadly there were no boats coming up who could do the extra work for us until the bottom of the flight.

Moored between Flecknoe and Lower Shuckburgh

At the bottom lock we dumped our rubbish at the adjacent waste facilities and continued the 2 mile journey to Napton Junction where the Oxford Canal joins the Grand Union.  The weather was becoming increasingly hot so we stopped for the day at 12:35 on an isolated mooring only a few feet longer than the boat, so no danger of noisy neighbours, unfortunately there is no shade.

PS the temperature in the boat is now 37C!

Daily travel details

Distance: 5.85 miles
Locks: 7
Duration: 3 hours 55 minutes

HS2 and Marston Doles

 Bright sunny weather again this morning as we set off at 9:00.  The impressive part of the journey was to see the progress which has been made on HS2 since we were last in the area in April 2025.

Railway viaduct crossing the canal

A detailed view of the structure

One can now see a large railway viaductcrossing the canal and a very high embankment dominating the attractive,  gently hilly and very quiet countryside. The next couple of photos shows what has been done in the past year:

A photo from April 2025 - what on earth is this?

Now we know- an underpass through the embankment!

Back to our journey....

The first Marston Doles Lock

Moored below Marston Doles Locks

After leaving the HS2 construction site a further 4.5 miles took us to Marston Doles where 2 locks lower the canal off the summit level.

Daily travel details

Distance: 6.76 miles
Locks: 2
Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes

Through Fenny Compton, no locks today

 

Site of Fenny Compton Tunnel

Taking on water at Fenny Compton Wharf

We set off at 8:45 in bright sunny weather along the top level pound. The tree lined canal took us to the Fenny Compton "tunnel" which had been converted to a cutting in the 1860s to the water point next to the Wharf Inn not far from the village of Fenny Compton where we stopped for 20 minutes to fill up with water.

Bridge 134 near Wormleighton

The canal continued past the site of the medieval village of Wormleighton about a quarter of a mile from the current one.  It then followed  an extravagantly meandering path travelling west for a mile, and then passing through a hair-pin bend to continue eastwards. There is a bridge on the corner preventing any visibility of boats travelling in the opposite direction.  Needless to say we did meet another boat there but managed to avoid a collision

Moored  near Bridge 130

We moored about half a mile later in quiet empty countryside shortly before lunchtime. 

Daily travel details

Distance: 5.97 miles
Locks:0
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes