Cruising to Abingdon in glorious weather

 Now that we better understand the Thames, its locks, and moorings we were able to enjoy the cruising rather than getting stressed. We left our moorings near Iffley Lock early at 8:55 with the aim of reaching Abingdon before the moorings were all taken.

Reaching our first lock of the day at the  2 foot 9 inch drop Iffley lock we were pleased to fnd a lock-keeper on duty.  This allowed us to stay on the boat whilst he did all the work. 

Between Iffley Lock and  Sandford Lock

Leaving Sandford Lock

The second lock at Sandford was very different.  It is about twice the length and 3 times the width of the canal locks we have met so far on the this trip. At  8 foot 10 inches it has the deepest drop of any lock on the Thames.  It also did not have a lock-keeper so we had to work it ourselves. Following the instructions given to us yesterday by the Osney lock-keeper I was able to fill the lock and open the gates electrically. A fairly large fibreglass cruiser joined us in the lock. One of their crew operated the controls to empty the lock and open the gates as both of us were needed to hold onto Densie's ropes to stop her banging into the cruiser in the swirling waters.  

In Abingdon Lock awiting for the gates to open

Moored in Abingdon

We then had a four mile lock-free run through attractive wooded countryside to the manned Abingdon Lock. A quarter of a mile further on we were able to moor in one of the last remaining spaces in the park opposite the town, only 5-10 minutes walk away.

Tonuight we have booked into a tapas restaurant for our first meal off the boat this holiday.

Daily travel details

Distance: 6.94 miles
Locks: 3
Duration: 3 hours

Onto the Thames, another very long day

 

Denise opening Drinkwater's Lift Lridge

Dukes Cut Lock

Heron in Dukes Cut

After yesterday's arduous cruise, today was planned to be relatively easy. We left our mooring near Kidlington at 9:10.  We quickly descended 2 locks went through a lift bridge and filled up with water.  The next stop was at Duke Cuts Junction where Dukes Cut leaves the Oxford Canal to join up with the Thames above Oxford.  Here there are 2 further locks, one on the Oxford and a then a small rise up onto the Thames level.

We turned left onto the Thames soon after midday and started looking for somewhere to moor.  We had been travelling for about 3 hours.  But all moorings on our map were filled with other boats.

We had no choice but to carry on through 2  large locks that once would have had full time lock keepers but they have been replaced by rudimentary instructions for boaters to operate the electrically powered locks themselves. We failed to understand these which frced us to use very heavy manual handles.

But still no free moorings, so we carried on through Oxford city.  We did find some barely adequate moorings  but having just moored up a local came out to tell us that mooring was not permitted so we pulled out our mooring spikes and carried on.

We then arrived at the large Osney Lock in the city centre which still has a permanent lock keeper.  She could not provide any moorings but did explain how to take advantage of the electric locks and also charged us £170 for a 2 week Thames license.

Moored near New Hinksey

Following the look-keepers advice we carried on intending to reach the next lock at Iffley where we were told moorings would 'be available.  But on the way we saw a very attractive mooring spot where we finally stopped at 16:10, some 4 hours later than planned. 

Daily travel details

Distance: 9.04 miles
Locks:7
Movable bridges: 1
Duration: 7 hours

Bicester and a long day's cruising

 We got up early and left the boat at 8:30 to walk the 3/4 mile to the Lower Heyford bus stop where we caight a bus into Bicester, a journey of about 30 minutes.  There we shopped at the large Sainsburys for food for the next few days.

As the buses only operated hourly we had chance to look around the shoppng area and have  cup of coffee. I think it is fair to say that Bicester is useful but unlikely to become a tourist hot spot. After catching the bus back and returning to the boat we set off at 12:35 expecting to cruise for about 2.5 hours.

Entering Dashwood Lock

The  Oxford Canal (on the right) meets the Cherwell

On therCherwell

In Shipton Lock after leaving the Cherwell

However things turned out differently.  We arrived a bit early at our intended destination and the moorings looked uninviting so e decided to carry on another 3 milex and 2 locks which would takes us through a mile long section where the canal joins the River Cherwell.

Moored at Kidlington, at last

Having left the Cherwell we started looking for somewhere to moor.  But there was nowhere, all possible mooring places being occupied by other boats, mainly on private morings.   After an hour's further cruising we finally found somewhere where we could stop at 17:45 in Kidlington over 2 hours later than originally planned.

Daily travel details

Distance: 8.86 miles
Locks: 5
Moveable bridges: 2
Duration 5 hours 10 minutes.

Lower Heyford and good news

 The good unepected news first - CRT have annouunced that the Thrupp lift bridge is now working and the waterway is open. So our trip down the Thames is now back on.

Allen's Lock

Mill Lift Bridge

We set off on a bright and sunny morning at 9:55 and travelled through beautiful countryside.  After passing through Heyford Common Lock, Allen's lock, and an electrically operated lift bridge we moored up in the very small village of Lower Heyford at 11:15.

We stopped early because we are likely to run out of food in the next few days. There are very few opportunities to shop for some time so I consulted Google's AI, Gemini, which informed me there was an hourly bus from Lower Heyford to Bicester where there is a large Sainsburys in the town centre. It will also give us chance to explore the town as neither of us have been there before.

Daily travel details

Distance: 3.4 miles
Locks: 2
Movable bridges: 1
Duration: 2 Hours 

Somerton Deep and Ayno Locks

Firstly the bad news.  We heard late yeterday afternoon that the Oxford Canal was blocked about 6 miles from Oxford.  An "incident" with a vehicle damaged the electrically operated road bridge over the canal at Thrupp.  The notification stated that the bridge would be out of action "for the unforeseeable" so it sems likely that we will not be able to reach the Thames this holdiday.  However we will continue onwards for the time being until there is more information.

In the morning the weather was cold and wet.  However the weather forecast showed it clearing during the monring.  So we set off at 9:45 wearing our waterproof jackets over over our fleeces.  Soon afterwards a heavy shower passed through but did not last long.

Approaching the Cherwell crossing with Ayno Lock beyond

In Ayno Lock

Shortly after we left our mooring the canal drops down Nell Bridge Lock to a short section where the Cherwell flows into and out of the waterway. This section is terminated by Ayno Weir Lock which is important for flood protection and flow regulation rather than the very small drop (6 inches) in level.   Ayno Weir Lock is unusual in that it is hexagonal in shape, the extra width being used to pass more water down into the lower part of the Oxford Canal than would be achieved by a normal lock.

Chisnell Lift Bridge

Passing through the lift bridge

A mile further on we passed through Chisnell Lift Bridge, our second operational lift bridge which had to be raised and lowered using a lock windlass.

Another half mile  took us to Ayno Wharf where we emptied our waste tank for the first time this trip.

About to leave Somerton Deep Lock

The final point of interest was Somerton Deep Lock, at 12 foot one of the deepest locks on the system. A mile later we moored for the night out in open countryside at 13:00.

Moored beyond Somerton

Daily Travel Details

Distance: 4.5 miles
Locks: 3
Bridges: 1
Duration: 3 hours 15 mins

Leaving Banbury

Under the M40

Grants Lock

 Starting at 9:30 we cruised the half mile into the centre of Banbury's canal area, raised the pedestrian lift bridge and descended Banbury Lock and left the town passing undr the M40 again.  Next stop was the previously mentioned Grant's lock which we descended without too much difficulty though one of the bottom gate paddles was out of action,to which had caused the temporary stoppage.

Good view of a deer in an adjacent field

King's Sutton Lock

Carrying on through the countryside of the Cherwell valley, we had good views of the spectacular steeple of King's Sutton Church. Sadly there is no easy access from the canal to the village bcause of he intervening River Cherwell.   The canal then descended the the deep (10 ft 8 inches) King's Sutton Lock.

A mile further on we passed beneath the M40 for the last time and stopped half a mile later in a wooded area at 13:00.

Daily Travel details

Distance: 5.7 miles
Locks: 3
Lift Bridges: 1
Duration: 3 1/2 hours

Banbury and some good news

Bridge 159 near the M40

The M40 crosses the Oxford Canal

Moored in Banbury

We left Cropredy  at 9:00 in cool, breezy weather with some sun and light cloud.  After descending a couple of locks, passing below the M40, down a third lock and into Banbury where we moored in a wooded area not far from the town centre. This time 2 of the 3 locks were empty and needed to be filled before we could enter.

First job was to walk to Waitrose where we stocked up on food for the next 5 days, there being very few opportunities to shop until we reach Oxford, and even there, mooring near a supermarket may be difficult.

After lunch on board we walked into the town centre and were very impressed by what we saw. On previous visits we had found Banbury rather depressing with a large but empty shopping mall. Today the canal area and town centre were full of people and the shopping mall busy wtth far more shops than we remembered.

Now for the good news mentioned in the title.  Grant's Lock iha now been repared and so we are back on our original plan to join the Thames at Oxford in perhaps 4-5 days time. 

Daily travel data

Distance: 3.99 mile
Locks: 3
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes