Priors Hardwick

A packed lock pound at Napton

It was busy on the Napton flight.

We got up fairly early, for us, and left our Flecknoe mooring around 8:30. We weren’t the first to depart because around 7.00 whilst we were dozing we heard a boat go past heading towards Braunston and at least two more passed us before 8:00.

We had decided to get an early start because it was clear that this post-lockdown weekend was busy and the Napton flight, which can get busy at the best of times, had the potential to be very busy. After following a couple of boats heading west (one who turned north towards Warwick and one stopped at Napton Narrowboats) and got to the bottom lock at Napton around 9:30 and found it quiet. A solitary hire boat was on the water point below the Folly Inn. A couple of CRT volunteers were operating the locks and this looked like the start of a smooth journal up the nine locks to Marston Doles. How wrong I was. The CRT volunteers were quickly moving boats up the flight to the first pound where there was serious congestion. Three boats were “permanently” moored up there and they had been joined by five boats waiting to enter the second lock. The first pound was in fact full of boats and the extra assistance from the volunteers had simply served to make things worse.

WWII Pill box on the Napton flight

Looking towards Napton Hill

Eventually the message got through and the volunteers began to hold boats back. To put it simply, there was no point in going up through the lock unless another boat came down. The result of all this congestion was the first lock of the flight took us over an hour to negotiate. Boats came down in a steady stream but those going up did not. Still, the weather was glorious, and a deer was spotted alongside the third lock. The water buffalo were in their usual field about halfway up the flight but not near enough to the locks to make a good photo.

Marston Doles top lock

Eventually the message got through and the volunteers began to hold boats back. To put it simply, there was no point in going up through the lock unless another boat came down. The result of all this congestion was the first lock of the flight took us over an hour to negotiate. Boats came down in a steady stream but those going up did not. Still, the weather was glorious, and a deer was spotted alongside the third lock. The water buffalo were in their usual field about halfway up the flight but not near enough to the locks to make a good photo.

Boat in a field (no water) on the Oxford Summit

We didn’t travel much further and stopped at one of our favourite mooring spots on the Oxford Canal summit near Priors Hardwick. It’s marked by a WWII concrete pill box on the off-side. 

Mooring at Priors Hardwick

As I write this, sheep on the former ridge and furrow cultivation opposite Albert are furiously grazing as the sun goes down. A typical rural English scene.

Braunston and Flecknoe

The weather was good and it was Saturday. With the lifting of the Covid restrictions we had thought that the canals around Braunston would be busy. As the phase goes, the world and his wife decided (like us) to remove the cobwebs and give the boat an airing. The first lock at Long Buckby was relatively quiet and when Ragweed and Albert left the lock there was no sign of any other boats moving. However, just as we left to pick up water the first of six boats arrived. Braunston tunnel was busy and slow but most boats were going the towards Buckby. We dropped down the flight with Ragweed passing an assortment of boats going the other direction. Frustratingly, there were a number of single boats from the same hire company who could have paired up and didn’t appear to have been instructed well. One crew appeared somewhat frustrated about their inability to understand what was required to operate a lock. With lock-down being raised, and overseas quarantines remaining, boating appears to be an attractive a British-based holiday. The section between Braunston and Wigrams Turn is usually quite popular for mooring and today was no exception. All the usual attractive moorings were busy and once moored up by bridge 102 a steady stream of boats passed all afternoon. The village of Flecknoe that looks down on this pretty stretch of canal and countryside looked an attractive proposition for a walk. We climbed the hill via the road, explored the village and then returned to the canal via a bridleway that cuts across the fields. The views from Bush Hill were stunning with beautiful fluffy clouds and blue sky. The fields were full cereals but not the usual wheat but barley and more interestingly oats. There were also some interesting patches of sunflowers mixed with barley and wild flowers.

Albert hiding from view

Wide vistas of South Warwickshire

Oats

Wonderful old sign on Bridge 103 Oxford Canal

Cropredy Circular Walk

Yesterday our walking group took a circular walk around Cropredy. It was version of the Village Circular route but I added in a diversion up to Wardington which gave us the opportunity to have a welcome coffee stop at the Hare and Hounds.

Cropredy Church

The weather was very kind to us and we had glorious sun although the wind was a bit fresh.

Group Photo at Cropredy Lock

Our route passed Cropredy Marina which being winter appeared full of boats. Hard to believe that just over six years ago we passed here and excavation was just starting.

Views across the Cherwell Valley 

We had a good lunch at the Brasenose Arms. I had and an excellent fish & chips and Maggie enjoyed her baguette. Our friend Neil posted on Facebook a picture of his pint - I also had a pint of Hooky.

Always welcome after Seven Miles

Journey Home from the Oxford Canal

Having been away in Cornwall for the last week, I feel obligated to round-off my belated posts of our late July cruise to and from the Upper Thames. After a night at Wormleighton, on July 23rd we worked our way north along the Oxford canal, descended Napton flight and mooring up in Braunston for the night. It was relatively quite in Braunston, probably because the fine weather had brought out the boats. The lovely moorings near Flecknoe were busy. We had a visit to Midland Chandlers and than eat at The Boathouse with our daughter, son-in-law and their two children. A pleasant night. 

Rowing Skiff passing through Braunston

(with appropriate dress)

As we walked around Braunston we noted that the Sea Otter which had caught fire, and was reported by Halfie, had sunk. As reported on Halfie's site aluminium does burn. The boat looked a macabre site. 

A sad site

Sunken Sea Otter at Braunston

By the next day the weather had turned and we had a damp journey up Braunston flight and through the tunnel. Met a boat coming the other way with two bright LED work lights that lit up far into the distance but made navigating past difficult. I still can't understand the need to long range illumination as I noted some years ago.

We went down Long Buckby flight as the weather cleared. It was good progress until the last two locks where a boat waited for another to join it in the lock only to split up a pair and cause another boat to operate as a single. Sometimes this sort of "politeness" actually causes more difficulties.  A late lunch was called for and we went into the Lockgate Cafe at Whilton Marina for an all-day breakfast.

Adding the ketchup

That night we moored at Flore opposite the small caravan site. Around five caravans were parked up and enjoying the view. In the morning, we visited Colin Dundas at High House to discuss a possible repaint of Albert. It looks like we shall "bite the bullet" and have a refurb next year.

The journey home via Blisworth tunnel and Stoke Bruerne was largely uneventful. It was good weather although the heavens opened for a short time as we arrived at Stoke for lunch. The morning trip was largely uneventful but I did witness ridiculous boating near Heyford. As we left Furnace Wharf, and turned the corner onto the long straight towards Bugbrooke, I saw a boat approaching with a wave behind it that looked just like the Severn Bore - a swan family behind the boat were struggling to cope! The boat was obviously going at some considerable speed, maybe flat out. I have never seen a canal boat cause such a large wake. The steerer quickly slowed down as we approached and I proffered my usual sarcastic comment "lost your water skier?". I then realised that my humour was not going to work and I am sorry to say I resorted to some plain speaking. Judging by the reaction of the other crew they thought I was being unreasonable mentioning their speed and bank erosion. 

After lunch we went down the Stoke flight on our own because, being quiet, I was able to set locks ahead. We arrived home at Yardley Gobion in the late afternoon to begin the process of unpacking.

Braunston sun set

   

Wormleighton Owl

On our way back from the Upper Thames we moored overnight at one of our favourite mooring spots just after Bridge 130 on the Oxford Canal just overlooking the radio mast that resembles the Eiffel Tower.

South Warwickshire at its best

It was warm and sunny and we got out the folding chairs and admired the view using our binoculars. It wasn't long before another boat arrived and moored up close to us. They also got out the folding chairs, cracked open a bottle of wine and started looking through binoculars. They didn't look across the valley towards Napton as I expected, where there is the best view), they looked at the wheat field. It soon became obvious that they were looking at birds flitting across the top of the crop. Quite soon they and us spotted a buzzard perched on the top of a power-line post. This looked interesting but not that easy to photograph. It was then they let slip that mooring at Napton they had heard stories of barn owls in this spot.

Barn owl arrives & hovers

Within minutes, and unannounced because they are silent on the wing, a barn owl arrived. I got out the SLR and then started snapping. The owl put on a good show swooping low across the field. It look glorious in the late evening sunlight. It then disappeared for a few moments only to reappear, swop down into the crop, and then fly off with its kill - a small rodent held in one claw. Presumably going back to its nest and hungry young.

Patrolling the hedge

Barn owl and prey 

Just one claw required!

Glorious sunset at Wormleighton

A great sight and a great mooring!

Thrupp, Somerton and a Cow in the Canal

On July 21st we said goodbye to our friends Anne & Edward who took a short taxi ride to Oxford Station to catch a train back to Sheffield. It was another warm and sunny day.

Back on the boat we passed through Eynsham Lock and headed for Duke's Cut and the Oxford Canal - retracing our steps home. That night we eat at The Boat in Thrupp in the Morse Room. As usual we had good food, ale and cider and there were some literary references on the wall.

The Boat Inn

Almost the correct date for our visit

The next day we moved on to Somerton.

Leaving Thrupp

Enslow satellite dishes

It started out bright and sunny and we managed to moor up alongside the quarries at Kirtlington which is a nature reserve.

Kirtlington quarries mooring

Inside the quarry

Arriving at Somerton in heavy rain

It started raining heavily as we arrived an I felt a bit like a drowned rat. We moored up on sheet piling, closed up the boat, settled in, an waited for the rain to pass. After some time we felt the boat move but couldn't see a boat passing. Then it happened again! At this point a couple from a neighbouring boat knocked on the cabin side and announced there was a cow under our bows. As we looked down all we could see was an eye. The poor beast was caught under the boat. By prodding with a boat pole we managed to get the cow, which turned out to be a bullock, to paddle off in the other direction - only to get caught under the next boat. He couldn't get out where he obviously fell in because of the sheet piling. He then turned, came back and got caught under Albert again. We all started to get worried at this point because the poor beast was tiring itself out. However, just when we started thinking of emergency services he got diverted across the canal and climbed out on the soft-sided bank. We then had a little while contemplating what to do next because the beast was on the wrong side and away from the herd. It turned out that the herd roamed all the fields around the mooring and knew how to cross the canal using Somerton Bridge.

Our mooring at Somerton Meadows

Bullock and boat 

(back in the correct field)

The Somerton Meadows Herd

It was a night's mooring we are unlikely to forget in a hurry.

Swinford Meadows

On our way towards Oxford

On Tuesday 18th July we moved south towards Oxford. With us were Anne & Edward and the weather was warm and very sunny. We took on water mid morning at the turn in Thrupp. 

Taking on water at Thrupp

We needed provisions so stopped near Kiddlington and walked into the town to a supermarket, crossing the railway line by a pedestrian crossing on the way. Good facilities in Kiddlington and worth the fifteen minute walk. 

Two boats sharing an Oxford Canal Lock at Kidlington

(both operated single-handed by "mature" ladies)

By mid afternoon we had made it to Duke's Cut and took the short link to the Upper Thames. Startled a roe deer as we joined the main channel. It shot off across the field before I had chance to get the camera. 

Last lock before Duke's Cut

Duke's Cut Lock

Turning upstream we went through the first Environment Agency lock at Eynsham and got our visitor licence. The very helpful lock keeper helped us choose the most cost effective licence and then pointed out some useful moorings above Swinford Bridge. We moored up there on the meadows and, because it was relatively early, we managed to go for a stroll. 

Eynsham Lock
(with engine off - no oil pressure)

Flood markers, Eynsham Lock

Moored up at Swinford Meadows

Sunset at Swinford

Pigeons Lock, Tackley

Monday 17th July was a memorable day. Rising early we moved Albert forward two boat lengths and promptly got good mobile internet. This enabled us to coordinate the travel plans of our visitors via Whats App. The weather was fine and sunny. The plan was to welcome Edward and Anne Winter for their cruise up the Upper Thames and Maddison Parkin and her boyfriend Jason for a day's visit. To cap it all our daughter Emily was also free to come over by car from Northamptonshire with our 4 month old granddaughter Matilda - a family and friends gathering!  In the end Maddison and Jason arrived on a northbound train from Oxford and Edward and Anne arrived on the same train on its return from Banbury. Nice when a complicated plan actually comes together.

Heyford Wharf

We met up and had an al fresco lunch at Kizzies the excellent cafe at Heyford Wharf. Just the spot for a gathering.

Heyford's Black Swan

After a great lunch Emily & Matilda left for Northants and we left Heyford to give our Canadian visitors their first experience of canal boating. This just had to include locking. We went down three locks to Pigeons and then stopped for the night.

Maddison Locking

Parkins on board

Maddison, Maggie, Jason & Steve

We had an evening meal and Maddison & Jason left to walk to Tackley station to catch the train back to where they were staying.  The rest of us wandered around the mill pond and enjoyed the warm evening sun. What a great day!