Banbury

 

Densie passing beneath Banbury lift bridge

Moored outside a restaurant complex

View down the Oxford canal in the middle of Banbury 

After leaving Cropredy at 9:35 we descended 3 locks spread over 2.5 miles of empty countryside and then passed under the M40.  This was quiickly followed by another lock. A further couple of miles cruising took us through an area of light industry into the centre of Banbury where the canal forms the centre-piece of a modern shopping area.

This section is terminated by a lift bridge and a lock where there are always plenty of spectators watching and occasionally helping the boats passing through.   We carried on to the outskirts of the town where there is a winding-hole which enabled us to turn Densie around and return to the town centre, again passing through the lock and lift bridge.

We moored up for the day at 13:15 and after lunch on board walked around the town. On the plus side central Banbury is attractive with some old buildings and a very wide range of small shops.  Sadly half the shops are empty and there did not seem to be many customers around, perhaps Monday is a quiet day.

3 hours 40 mins cruising, 6 locks, 6.44 miles, 2 lift bridges (the same one twice).