When we set off at 7:45 (GMT) this morning the weather was sunny and a bit breezy - nothing worse. I was able to steer Densie into our mooring with just a minor bump. By 11:30 everything had been packed and loaded into the car and gas electricity and water all turned off so we headed home.
0.5 miles 30 minutes cruising/mooring
Total For Trip
90.84 miles, 8 locks, 2 movable bridges. 40.25 hours cruising in 10 days.
When we got up this morning there was no sign of strong winds or heavy rain so it seemed a good idea to get closer to our marina whilst we could. Dressed in our wet weather gear we set off at 9:45. Some light rain and a breeze but nothing to cause any discomfort. 2.5 hours later we had ascended the 3 Hilmorton Locks helped by volunteer lock keepers and moored up about a mile from the marina.
Our hope was to go into our marina in the late afternoon as the weather forecast indicated the weather would be calmer then. After lunch at the mooring we moved closer to the marina. However the weather quickly deteriorated with very strong winds driving the rain towards us, rocking the boat.
So the plan now is to keep to BST and move into the marina at around 8:30 our time or 7:30 everybody else's when we are hoping conditions will be better.
6.28 miles, 3 locks, 2 hours 55 mins
Another 5 hour/12 mile journey today to get to Rugby where we plan to stay until Sunday when we hope the weather conditions at our marina will be less windy.
After starting at 9am this morning the journey was pleasant with a few very light rain showers. The only stop was at the Rose hireboat centre at Sutton Stop where there is a small swing footbridge, otherwise we were continually moving until our arrival at Rugby soon after lunch. The most convenient moorings were all full but we found plenty of space further down the canal.
The mooring was still within easy walking distance of Tesco where we shopped in the afternoon for provisions to last us until we get home.
12.4 miles 1 bridge 5 hours 15 mins travelling
Our plans were to get back to our marina on Saturday, spend the night there and drive home on Sunday. However Saturday's weather forecast is showing 25mph winds gusting to 40 mph. In those conditions there is no way we can get Densie into her mooring without banging into the adjacent boat. Strong winds can easily push a narrowboat sideways across a canal or in this case across a marina as the side acts as a large sail. So we need to get as far as we can before Saturday, probably moor up for most of the day and go into the marina on Sunday morning.
We set out at 9:00 in pleasant sunny but cold weather. and, after a stop at Ashby Boat Company to empty our waste tank, carried on down the Ashby Canal. At Marston Junction where the Ashby meets the Coventry Canal we turned east back to Hawkesbury Junction and iand then through the stop lock onto the Oxford Canal where we have moored for the night.
12.18 miles, 1 lock, 6 hours including our stop at Ashby Boat Company
The weather forecast for today was terible - heavy rain all day. However we need to get back home on Sunday so had to make progress today to avoid very long days for the remainder of our journey.
We set off in the rain at 9:15. There are waterproof jackets, trousers, wellies and a large umbrella on board so we were able to keep dry each taking it in turns to drive whilst the other one held the umbrella. As the Ashby has no locks there was no need to get off the boat and we made fast progress as the water level was even higher thanon our journey out.
By lunchtime we were getting somewhat fed up with the weather so we moored for the day at 1pm near the village of Dadlington.
Sorry no photos!
8.78 miles, 0 locks, 3 hours 40 mins cruising.
We started early at 8:45 to reach Snarestone in time to meet friends for lunch.
Which is how it all worked out. 3 miles after leaving we passed through Shackerstone along perhaps the most delightful section of the Ashby Canal onto Snarestone. Here the canal goes under the village through the Snarestone Tunnel. Despite being very short at 250 yard it manages to include a pronounced S-bend.
Half a mile further on there is a winding hole suitable for turning the largest canal boats and a sanitary station where we filled up with water. We could have continued for a few hundred yards more to the end of navigation where work is in progress to re-open the canal for a further 5 miles but there is nowhere for a boat of Densie's length to turn around.
We returned through the tunnel to Snarestone and enjoyed a very good lunch at the Globe with our friends. There was then time in the afternoon to cruise back to Shackerstone to moor for the night. Tomorrows weather forecast is showing a lot of rain so we may have to stay here all day.
9.96 miles 0 locks 4.5 hrs travelling.
As we are due to meet friends in Snarestone at the end of the Ashby tomorrow lunchtime we needed get some miles covered. We had come concern that we would not be able to maintain the sort of speeds we managed on the Oxford. The Ashby is well known for being shallow and slow-going.
We left our mooring at 9am heading towards the industrial town of Hinckley. During much of the journey beyond Hinckley the canal is lined with trees which are begining to lose their leaves. The autumn colours add to the attractive scenary of woods, farmland and gentle hills. After continuously travelling for 14.5 lock-free miles we stopped at 3pm near Market Bosworth.
It was clear fom the start that we would not be slowed down very much as the canal was unusually deep, within an inch or two of the top of weirs that control the level. Over the whole journey we averaged 2.6mph, rather better than on the Oxford Canal where we were delayed at the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction.
14.5 miles, 0 locks, 4 hours 55mins travelling.
With some wetter weather forecast for later in the week it seemed a good time for a fairly long journey. After leaving our Brinklow mooring at 9am we cruised further up the North Oxford Canal until its end at the 1foot stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction where it joins the Coventry Canal.
The purpose of the lock was to stop water being "stolen" from the older Coventry Canal by the Oxford Canal - 200 years ago each canal was owned by a different company. Despite its small size the lock is a bit of a bottleneck. We were 3rd in a queue waiting to go down. After passing through the lock there is a hairpin turn through a bridge to get onto the Coventry Canal. With a number of onlookers watching I was pleased to be able to negotiate the turn smoothly without stopping the boat or hitting the bank.
We only stayed on the Coventry Canal for about 3 miles to Marston Junction where we turned northwards on to the Ashby Canal, the main objective of our trip. The canal is 22 miles long currently ending just beyond the vilage of Snarestone. The final section to the coalfields for which it was built was closed because of mining subsidence. So it's a simple journey there and back, but we are hoping to see some of the canal's wildlife, in particular water voles.
We have moored about a mile beyond the start of the Ashby near the edge of Nuneaton
11.9 miles,
1 lock, i swing bridge,5 hours 10 mins cruising
We woke to a cold boat as the stove had gone out overnight. However the central heating soon warmed the saloon to a comfortable temperature. We set off at 9:40 in rather better conditions than yesterday with some sunshine and less wind.
First bit of excitement was the three Hilmorton locks each of which are paired. These are the only "real" locks on our trip, the only other being the 1 foot deep stop lock at Hawkesbury which we hope to do tomorrow. The descent of Hilmorton locks was quick and easy as there was a volunteer lock keeper at each of the bottom 2 locks. We cruised on to Rugby where we stopped just before lunchtime to visit the nearby Tesco.
After lunch at the mooring we set off again passing through the short Newbold tunnel and some lovely tree lined cuttings. We finally moored up for the neght at All Oak Wood near Brinklow at 15:45.
8.83 miles, 3 locks 4 hours 10 minutes.
At the start of this week on Monday we took Densie the 2.5 miles from our marina to the boatyard at Braunston Marina for some work. The metal pipes taking diesel from the fuel tank to the engine were starting to corrode and I had been warned at the last BSS (boat MOT) that it would fail next time. We took the opportunity to ask the boatyard to also change our 4 domestic batteries since we are less able now to manhandle them, each weighing about 26kg, into their very confined positions in the engine bay.
First thing this morning we loaded the car with basic provisions, clothes, laptops, e-readers and Ipads and drove to Braunston. The boat was ready for us so I checked the work which was excellent, paid the bill and then we loaded up the boat and filled the water tank. I drove Densie back up the North Oxford Canal towards our marina whilst Denise drove her car there and then walked back towards Braunston on the tow path where we met.
Then onwards in a generally northerly direction. The weather was cold though the cruising was pleasant as the countryside is quite attractive and the recent rains have filled the canal enabling us to travel without any strain on the engine at over 3mph. Just after 15:30 we moored up soon after passing below the M45 in very quiet countryside a few miles outside Rugby.
Once moored up we lit the stove and expect the boat will be snug in an hour or two. Hopefully we will be able to keep the fire alight til the morning.
5.5 miles, 0 locks, 2 hours 10 minutes travelling.
The final day of our journey was bright and sunny. We left Napton at 9:50 after listening to The Life Scientific on Radio 4 and arrived back at our marina at 13:45, filled up with diesel (170 litres!), and returned to our berth. The final step was achieved with some difficulty thanks to the cross wind in the marina which pushed the boat sideways as I tried to slot the 7 foot wide,15 tons vessel itro a gap of about 9 feet.
After mooring we washed the roof and one side of the boat and retired below as black clouds arrived.
9.81 miles 0 locks 4.5 hours cruising
Total for trip:
131.99 miles, 87 locks,8 lift bridges, 81.25 hours cruising in 20 day on the move
When we awoke this morning it was cold and misty which always looks appropriate on the canals. We set off at 9:15 and travelled the 3-4 miles to Marston Doles at the start of the final set of locks for this trip. After an hour or so the mist cleared and the rest of the day was sunny. As at Wormleighton Hill yesterday, travelling in the opposite direction gives a very different impression of the area. Going down, from most of the canals you you can see the village of Napton across the hillside.
One of the sights of this area are the black long horned cows in the canalside fields. But they aren't cows. When we were here several years ago we spoke to the farmer who explained they were water buffalo. He said they were ideal animals, good for eating, lived on poor quality grass, and mainly looked after themselves being happy outdoors over the winter.
The 9 locks were easy to operate and as there were several boats travelling in the opposite direction so we had a lot of help working the paddles and the gates .After completing the flight we moored early at 13:15 a short distance further on.
6.6 miles 9 locks 4 hours c ruising
The stay at Cropredy Marina worked out well and the batteries seem to have enjoyed their 19 hours of steady charging. I will be checking the voltage carefully.
Our journey restarted at 10am with the weather cloudy but this was replaced by blue skies and warm sunshine by mid morning.. Today's trip can be split into two sections. Much of the morning was spent ascending the 3 locks above Cropredy followed by the 5 locks of the Claydon flight which take the canal to the summit level at 120 metres=390 feet above sea level. Although we needed to empty some of the locks before entering at others the work was done by boats coming down. We arrived at the top about lunch time which was convenient as one of us could prepare the meal whilst the other drove the boat.
The trip along the summit pound was very enjoyable, more so than I remember when we were going the other way two weeks ago. After passing through the Fenny Compton "Tunnel" the canal goes around Wormleighton Hill turning through 180 degrees taking 2 miles to travel about 1/3 mile as the crow flies. Cruising north ensured that the fields and woods of the hillside dominated our view for much of the journey far more obviously than when we were facing the other way.
We arrived at attractive moorings out in the countryside soon after 15:00 where we were pleased to find that the internet connectivity was very good.
8.31 miles 8 locks 5 hours 20 minutes.
Our travelling today was limited by our concerns about the voltage of domestic batteries. We have arranged to spend the night in Cropredy Marina to get access to an electicity supply to charge the batteries for as long as possible.
The weather was sunny with a cold wind as we set off at 9:35. After ascending 4 locks, all of which we had to empty first as there was a boat ahead of us, we reached Cropredy village. There we stopped for lunch, the first time on this journey when we haven't eaten on the move. In the early afternoon we turned into Cropredy Marina, paid for the mooring and moved in.
4.58 miles 4 locks, 4hours 5 minutes
We started early just before 9:00 today as we had some jobs to do in Banbury. The weather is still sunny but colder and more windy. We ascended through the octagonal Ayno Weir lock, crossed the River Cherwell, and continued upwards through 3 more locks arriving at Banbury soon after lunch.
First stop was the services block where we filled up with water and dumped rubbish and glass recycle. Then up Banbury Lock, beneath Banbury Lift Bridge, and into the wooded area beyond the town centre where we have moored for the night.
Earlier in the trip a boater told us that there was an easy walk to Waitrose from here so we were able to stock up with all the provisions we need for the rest of our journey. Fortunately there was also a B&Q in the area where we were able to buy some bits and pieces for the boat.
8.41 miles 5 locks 1 lift bridge 5 hours 15 minutes cruising time
Another day of blue skies and sun with a cool wind somewhat stronger than yesterday. And another day of the very attractive Oxford Canal with the view ahead enhanced by being in full sunlight as we travel north.
We left our moorings just below Northbrook Lack at 9:10 and were delighted to see that a boat waiting to come down (A) had opened the gate ready for us t enter. As I drove Densie into the lock Denise looked down the canal and saw that a boat (B) moored further back had come adrift at one end and was blocking the waterway. So she rushed back to rescue it whilst the people from boat A worked the lock for us. After some effort Denise was able to get boat B back against the canalside and reattach it. After that excitement we were able to get on our way.
Waiting to pass through a narrow bridge
Yet another lovely days boating. Under our shorter days strategy we set off at about 10 am in warm sunshine with a slight cooling breeze.
We travelled through Thrupp where a boat was coming beneath the lift bridge as we arrived and the crew member operating the bridge kindly let us go through as well. Then on to the octagonal Shipton Weir Lock at the junction with the River Cherwell. There were 2 boats in front of us waiting to ascend and a boat comng down so there was some delay until we had our turn. The same thing happened when we left the Cherwell at Bakers Lock and only one boat ahead of us at the final lock of the day, Pigeon Lock. So we did not make as much progress as we had hoped.
6.58 miles 3 locks 1 lift bridge 4 hours 40 minutes
Another warm and sunny day. We left our moorings at Osney just after 10am, starting late as wew ant to reduce our daily travelling time. Stopping earlier in the afternoon results in colder water the following morning.
After Osney the Thames markedly changes character. Narrower, shallower and more meandering with some very sharp hairpin bends. The locks are smaller and simpler, the second one we passed through, King's Lock, was manually operated without any power assist. After King's Lock our route took us off the Thames onto the very narrow and winding Duke's Cut. At the end of Duke's Cut there is a 7 foot wide canal lock which is followed by the junction with the Oxford Canal. As we were entering the lock another boat arrived from off the Thames that was clearly at least 8 foot wide! Fortunately it was just able to turn around to head back onto more suitable waters.
On the first Oxford Canal lock, Dukes Lock, we were held up for a while as the bottom gate would not open far enough for the boat inside to leave. One of the boaters waiting to descend used the boat pole to investigate the obstruction and was able to clear away gravel and assorted debris permitting the gate to be fully opened.
That problem resolved we were able to continue up the canal ascending two further locks until 2pm when we found a suitable mooring near to Kidlington. I am leaving the engine running for a while as our domestic batteries are showing too low a voltage and so are probably beginning to fail. A long period of charging may help matters.
6.62 miles, 6 locks, 4 hours travelling
9 miles, 4 locks, 5 hours 15 mins cruising.
We have plenty of time to get back home, the weather looked wonderful, and there were a large number of boats moving on the river in the hot sun, so we decided to stay here another day. It shoud be much easier to find a new mooring tomorrow.
We took the opportunityto polish half the boat this morning and this afternoon Denise polished and lacquered the brass roof "mushrooms" so they are gleaming now.
We are staying in Abingdon today. Visited Waitrose this morning for food for the next 5 days until we get back to Banbury. This afternoon we washed half the boat and Denise refreshed some varnish
Firstly a picture from late yesterday afternoon. Denise had looked out of the widow whilst doing the washing-up and called me to have a look at what she had seen:
A fairly short journey today down the Thames in sunny but cold weather.
We set off earlier than usual this morning as we wanted to maximise the chances of finding mooring space at our intended destination of Abingdon where we needed to be in easy walking distance of the town centre for shopping.
First point of interest was Iffley lock where we were able to operate the controls without any problems. The lock keeper, who also oversees the next lock at Sandford, turned up and gave helpful advice on the operation of the locks.
Two points were very relevent to us. Unlike the canals the standard practice is to leave the sluices (equivalent to paddles on the canals) open when leaving. The reason is that with the automated boater operation system opening the sluices starts a 5-10 minute wait for the lock to fill or empty, but the lock would already be at the required level.
Secondly, it is now the law that boats in the Thames locks must be roped up to the lock side under the control of the crew both at the bow and the stern. Which implies you need one person at the bow, a second at the stern and a third to operate the lock. What happens if you only have 2 crew, or even just one? Apparently it is acceptable to have a very long rope at the bow going up to the bollards on the lock side and then down to a crew member at the stern. For Densie this would require a rope perhaps 90 foot long. Our ropes are each 30 foot long so we would need to tie three of the together! So far we have only been descending when there is very little turbulence and have managed with a single centre rope (illegally). Ascending the large Thames locks is very dfferent. We will see....
Fortunately by the time we reached Sanford Lock the guy we had met at Iffley had arrived and he operated the lock for us. At the final lock just above Abingdon there was also a lock keper in attendance.
Between the locks the journey was certainly very pleasant and we were often traveling at 3.5-4 mph compared with the 2.5 mph we normally cruised at on the canals. The scenary was attractive but beyond that there was little of interest, though we did see our first kingfisher of the journey.
We arrived at Abingdon at lunchtime and were delighted to fnd an empty mooring exactly where we wanted. By early afternoon all the space we could see had been taken.
6.68 miles 3locks 2 hours 50 minutes cruising.
This is a 3 day blog since we have yet again been suffering from internet problems. "No Service" on Tuesday and repeated dropouts on Wednesday. We have been using our current configuration of a wifi router with a roof aerial for some years and never had these difficulties before.
Tuesday 8th September
9.25 miles 5 locks 4 hours 45 minutes travelling.
Wednesday 9th September - Thrupp
Again a similar day to the 8th. We popped into a boatyard to empty our waste tank and then carried on down the canal. After descending the hills for 2-3days with locks every mile or so we finally reached the Cherwell Valley where the canal is lined by tall trees which block out much of the daylight and the locks are more widely spaced and not so deep. At times the waterway is very narrow because of reeds on both sides and also because of the large numbers of moored boats. Finally the canal actually joined the river for a mile. After separating the canal again descends another octagonal lock before entering the canalside village of Thrupp were we moored for the night.
9.76 iles 7 locks 2 liftbridges 6 hours 20 minutes travelling
