Flecknoe and Shuckburgh

Shuchburgh Estate

After a short trip we moored up at Flecknoe at exactly the same spot as summer last year. After lunch we went for a walk around the Shuckburgh Estate.

The walk involved a climb up Beacon Hill where there were spectacular views especially towards the west. The dark clouds provided some heavy showers but we appeared to miss the worst and saw some wonderful rainbows. We managed to take some great photos looking towards Lower Shuckburgh. Certainly we were in the right place at the right time.



Rainbow over Lower Shuckburgh

Braunston trips

Braunston Tunnel

Today we met up with our friends Juliet and Mike Peet at Braunston.But before that we took on water at Norton Junction and met fellow bloggers No Problem who were travelling to the Fens with Moore2Life. Had a good chat over the water tap, obviously the modern equivalent of the village pump.

We had a good trip through Braunston Tunnel and met up with the Peets at the top lock. Got down the flight quickly with lots of boats coming up including two boats with twenty four small scouts, or at least they said they had when they started! Mike spent some time taking videos of the action; we look forward to posting some of the footage.

We moored up near the Millhouse and went for a late lunch. Steve then cooked up a plan to take a late afternoon trip and bring the Peets back to their car which was in the pub car park. We went up the North Oxford to the outskirts of Hillmorton and then turned round and came back. It was a pleasant trip made exciting by heavy showers.

We then had another meal at the Millhouse; they did well out of us.

Norton Junction

Daisy on board

Brockhole

A day of sunshine and very heavy showers. We got to Weedon and the heavens opened and we had lightning! Steve got wet. We had earlier stopped at Furnace Wharf for fuel, coal and a pump out. After the rain stopped we saw a kingfisher. After lunch at Brockhall, where the trees were just breaking bud, we had an enjoyable trip up Whilton locks with Morning Mist, although the gusty wind made waiting in the pounds difficult.

Went to the New Inn for a drink in the evening; we can't pass this way without calling in. Maggie had half of Old Rosie which turns out to be not only the most expensive half they serve, but at 7.5% it is also the strongest! Steve had his usual pint of Frog Island. So what of Daisy? She gets more familiar with the boat every day but still does not like the noise of the engine and hides under the sofa when it starts.

On the move again!

After what appears to have been ages we are on the move again. We are going north from Yardley Gobion, perhaps to Napton. The weather has been good although it has became cloudy later on. We are being brave, or perhaps foolish, by bringing along our young cat Daisy. This is my first on the move blog using my new Nokia N95. I will try and incorporate an image tomorrow.

The trip up the Stoke flight was good with help from some gongoozlers. Stoke was busy with several historic boats still moored up after the recent rally. Blisworth tunnel was very wet and for the first time we passed another boat at the point where there is a huge waterfall at an air vent. With no way of avoiding it the steerer got wet! We are now moored up at Gayton watching the lambs gambol on the hill and are listening to the Archers.

Disappearing bridge numbers - Oxford Canal

I sent the text below to Narrowboat World - it's published on their site under Emails. Thought "Albert's" readers might like to read it.

I read with interest David Hymers’ piece about Oxford Canal Bridge numbers going plastic. In the mid 1990s I noticed a small item in Waterways World about British Waterways having to renew the bridge numbers on the Oxford Canal using original iron castings, or something very similar.

Given that bridge numbers often disappear, British Waterways thought that since they had a habit of 'disappearing' there might be a ready market for genuine Oxford Canal Bridge numbers. In the item they were asking the public for expressions of interest. They would make them up especially for customers to any number and provide a certificate of authenticity. I decided that the entrance to our house would be much improved by a large Georgian style number plate and ordered one. It has adorned our house since.

Given that the number we purchased could be 'real' (the bridge still exists) shortly after buying it I checked out the relevant bridge which is just north of Braunston. I fully expected either the original to be still in place or at least to find a new replacement. I was to be disappointed (or more accurately concerned) because no number was fixed, and up until this year this has continued.

I do hope visitors to our village don’t think that I was responsible for the lack of a number on that bridge. I didn’t remove it—honestly! I suppose I will now have to check out the new plastic variety unless it’s gone already.

Steve Parkin