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

Down to Cropredy - no rain!

 It looks like the bad weather is finally over and we are now making good progress with no need for waterproofs.

Boundary Lift Bridge, now permanently open

Elkington Lock

After leaving Fenny Compton a 8:50 our route took us through the ex-tunnel and on to the 5 Cleydon Locks descending from the summit.  Then through 3 isolated locks to the small village of Copredy.  Fortunately we were lucky as all the locks were again full ready for us when we arrived. A further lock led to the services wharf where we refilled our tank with water and dumped our rubbish into the separate general, recyclable and kitchen waste bins.

We moored up for the day at 1pm  just outside Copredy.

Still no news from CRT about the stoppage at Grant's lock which we will need to pass through in a few day's time.   Despite the uncertainty, during the afternoon we planned meals for the next 5 days and prepared a grocery shopping list for when we get to Banbury tomorrow.

Our open side hatch attracts visitors

Daily Travel Details

Distance: 6.25 miles
Locks: 9
Duration: 4 hours 10 minutes

Stopped again - bad weather

 It rained heavily all morning with showers forecast for the afternon so we dcided to stay at Fenny Compton all day.  It was cold in the boat so lighting the stove seemed the best option.  After a few failures to take hold the smokeless fuel started burning and the temperature in the boat eventualy increased to the point where I had to open a window to get the conditions more comfortable.

The rain having stopped after lunch, we walked the mile or so into Fenny Compton to buy a few provisions at the  Coop.  I was half expecting and hopng to find an olde worlde village with thatched cottrages etc.  But sadly not, just fairly modern housing and light industry stretched along a minor road.

One cloud on our horizon is that Grant's lock between Banbury and Oxford has been closed because of damage to one of the gates.  As yet there is no information as to whether it will be  re-opened in time for us to reach the Thames.  But, in any case, we will get to Banbury in about 2 days and will therefore leave any decision as to our options until then.

Daily travel details

DIstance: 0
Locks: 0
Duration: 0

On the rmove again

 After yesterday's excitements we were happy to enjoy a good day's  cruising in mainly sunny weather.

We set off early at 8:35 and quickly ascended the remaining 3 Napton locks and the 2 Marston Doles locks which were all set in our favour.  There followed 9 miles of of occasionally shallow canal passing through pleasant empty farmland. 

The one blot on the landscape was the HS2 site which crosses the canal about half way through our journey.  I noted that our 2020 waterways guide mentions enabling works for HS2 in the area and can  confirm that the works are continuing with clearly much still to be done.

Bridge 133

Bridge 144

We finally moored up near Fenny Compton at 13:10.  During the sfternoon the rain that we largely avoided in the morning returned, so we were glad that we did not continue.  The forecast for tomorrow is looking terrible with heavy rain all day so we are unlikely to move again intil Friday.

Daily travel data

Distance9.2 miles
Locks: 5
Duration: 4 hours 35 minutes