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

Breakdown on the Napton flight

We set off at 9:25 in overcast and breezy weather intending to ascend the 7 Napton Locks and the two at Marston Doles. Unfortuately events decreed otherwise.

After the 2nd lock the engine got stuck in reverse and the boat travelled backwards only stoppng when it hit against the entrance to the lock. Putting the gear lever into neutral or forward had no effect but I managed to turn it off. To make matters more difficult the locks were leaky and the water level very low so there was a danger of the boat grounding.

The only option was to pull the boat backwards into the lock and return to the previous pound where the water level was stable. We then called out River Canal Rescue (the AA of the waterways).  Their engineer turned up about 90 minutes later and diagnosed that the cable from the gear lever to the gear box was broken. Once it was fixed we set off again at 13:30 up the Napton flight.

After 3 locks it seemed to me that the boat was not responding properly to the gear lever.  So we called the engineer  out again to adjust the setting. So by 5pm the boat was ready but it was too late to make any further progress so we have moored for the night with another 5 locks to do.  This delay is likely to make our planned trip as far as Windsor difficult but we will see how much progress we make over the next few days.

Moored above lock 11 on the Napton flight

Todays travel statistics

Distance 2.63 miles
Locks: 4
Duration: 3 hours 10 minutes (moving)

Towards the Thames

 We started a new voyage today.  The plan is to travel down the South Oxford Canal to the Thames at Oxford and from there to Windsor.  We will then retrace our steps to get back home in July.

At 10:15 we left the marina and turned south towards Braunston.  The weather was wet and cold with a breezy wind so we needed full waterproofs.  After conditions improved later in the journey we enjoyed a quick lunch on the move and reached the South Oxford Canal, mooring up near Napton Locks at 13:30.  The early stop was due to Denise's presence rquired at a Zoom meeting in the afternoon.

While Denise was zooming I walked the mile or so into the appropriately named Napton-on-the-Hill, the nearest village to the canal ,and bought a few items at the very useful village shop.  

Daily cruise details:

Distance: 8.94 miles
Locks:0
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Home again

 We set off from Anstey at 9:10 in cold blustery weather made less comfortable by light rain blown in the wind.  By 12:30 we had reached Rugby where we stopped for a rest and some lunch on board.

Approaching the swing bridge at Sutton Stop

Passing by the swing bridge

Canal scenery soon after Sutton Stop

We set off again at 13:15 and when we reached Hilmorton Locks we were pleased to be assisted by volunteer lock keepers on 2 of them.   The gusty wind continued throughout the journey and could have made manoeuvring in the marina very difficult.  Fortunately the wind direction pushed the boat directly towards our moorings.  We finally tied up at 16:05.

Daily Statistics

Distance - 16.17 miles
Locks 3
Swing bridges 1
Duration 6 hours 15 minutes

Total Journey Statistics

Distance 50.41 miles
Locks 8
Swing bridges 2
Duration 20.83 miles
Average speed 2.91 miles/hour
Average cruising time 2.98 hours/day