Easter Cruise Spring 2024 - Week 5

 Monday 25th March - Marston Doles to above Napton Bottom Lock

Woke to a drizzly start this morning, so we waited until it had almost dried up before setting  off for Napton.  I ordered some sealant for the windows which will be delivered to the PO in Napton Village Stores.

Coming under this bridge we noticed how badly cracked it was on both sides, I wonder how long it will be safe for?

This is an example of how muddy the towpaths get around here, I would say this was almost impassable without getting very muddy indeed!

The wind was very gusty in the open stretches and also very cold, so I took the opportunity to shelter under a bridge whilst Dave got the lock ready.

Once we arrived and managed to get the last space as it was being vacated, we moored up and had some lunch.  We walked into the village to the stores and on the way we passed this delightful little pony, so pretty.  I think this is a Shetland pony - a small, hardy and strong pony originating from the Shetland Isles and is suitable as a riding pony for children and a driving pony for adults.

4.5 miles, 1hr 35mins, 8 locks

Tuesday 26th March - Napton on the Hill

We decided to stay here another day as my parcel wasn’t delivered to the PO until after it was shut.  A lovely sunny start to the day so a walk into the village stopping to chat to the Volunteer Lock Keeper on the way.  This is Hugh who has a narrowboat moored at Ventnor Marina, used to live in Twickenham and is a Harlequins Rugby supporter.  Small world!

We collected the parcel from the Village Stores and I spent the afternoon cleaning the other side of the boat, so it all matches now!

Wednesday 27th March - Napton to Ventnor Marina

Today we decided to move the boat down to Ventnor Waterside Marina, however it turned out to be far windier than we expected.  We got down the lock and stopped for water before mooring up again as soon as we could.  

Whilst we were sitting in the boat, our friend Jenny passed us on Dulwich No.3, so we walked back to the lock and helped them through the lock.  Eventually they were also defeated by the cold, wind and rain and pulled over once they were through the first five locks.  We sat out the wind and rain until the sun came out at 12.30 and then made a move to Ventnor Marina.

This is Wigrams Turn where we leave the Oxford Canal and turn onto the Grand Union Canal.  

We are then in to the Calcutt Locks, 3 wide locks very close together and we had them to ourselves.  There was a boat ahead of us and we could have shared the locks if they had been prepared to wait, but it wasn’t to be.

We then cruised down towards Ventnor Marina and turned right into the second entrance.  Our temporary mooring was straight ahead of us which was very handy and we moored up for the day.  We are staying for a couple of nights to see how we like it as we are thinking of moving our home mooring away from Barby Moorings and possibly to here.

3.5miles, 2hrs 0mins, 4 locks

Thursday 28th March - Ventnor Marina

After a pleasant night on the boat, we had a chat with Georgina and Steve in Reception and decided to put down a deposit for a 60ft mooring to start from the beginning of September.  We had a wander around the marina, this is daffodil turn which is between the two basins.  Our new mooring will be in the other basin, where there is more room between the boats.  

The weather deteriorated throughout the afternoon, this is the view from the boat of the wind and rain lashing down against the cratch cover.  A very wild and nasty afternoon!

Friday 29th March - Ventnor Marina

We are staying another day as the weather is still very unsettled and we have decided to take a mooring here beginning 1st September.  

During a dry sunny spell, we went for a walk around the Marina to find the space we have been allocated.  It is in Sunrise Basin, a larger basin but with more space between the boats.  This house belongs to the man who originally owned the Marina.  When he sold it he stipulated that there were not to be any liveaboards in the Marina and that is the case to this day.

This is the mooring which has been allocated to us, a view to the front of open water…

…and to the back open countryside with a clear view of the vast skies.  

There is a pair of swans which appear to be nesting, we gave them a wide berth as Toby really doesn’t like swans.

These Pussy willow catkins provide an important source of food for some solitary bee species, particularly mining bees, and queen bumblebees. Having just emerged from hibernation, queen bumblebees are hungry, and pussy willow catkins provide nectar and pollen at a time when there is little other food available.

Saturday 30th March - Ventnor Marina to Flecknoe

We woke to very light winds and brilliant sunshine and after a trip to the supermarket for Dave we left our mooring and headed out onto the canal and back the way we came.  This is the entrance to Sunrise Basin and is the one we shall use in September.

We got to the three Calcutt locks and joined a queue of boats heading the same way as us.  We were happy with this as it means two boats share a lock and it is more efficient as far as the water is concerned.

There were boats coming the other way as well so it made for some interesting manoeuvring!  

At the top lock we met Paul from nbOrient.  He runs Helmsman Courses and boat maintenance  workshops.  He also runs a website called ‘Living on a Narrowboat’  which often has some useful information and tips.

Heading down towards Wigrams Turn and the junction with the Oxford Canal.  Dave is standing at the front of the boat to signal the all clear when I turn the boat.  The photo shows the length of the boat and the two solar panels which neatly keeps our batteries topped up with all the sunshine.

We turn left at the junction and head towards Braunston, stopping at our favourite mooring near Flecknoe.  As it is the Easter weekend, there have been a lot of boats out and about, which is lovely to see.

4 miles, 3 locks, 2hrs 30mins

Sunday 31st March - Flecknoe to Braunston Junction

Grey skies today but dry, so we set off for Braunston where we shall moor for the night.  We passed a lot of boats coming away from the village so we were hopeful of getting a mooring.

We were very lucky to get a mooring almost immediately as you come round the junction turn.  This is Paul on nbOrient, he must be out on one of his experience or training days.

We walked up to nbGongoozler’s Rest Cafe and treated ourselves to cake as it is Easter!  Under the bridge ‘The Friends of Raymond’ had a stall to raise funds.  Raymond, the last wooden working narrow boat, was launched at Braunston on 11th June 1958 and, through the determination of the first Friends, she was rebuilt and returned to Braunston on 3rd July 2000.

This boat belongs to John who used to work at Ventnor Marina until yesterday.  He has given up his job and they are going cruising for at least 6 months, hoping to explore much of the waterways.

These canoeists were just getting ready to set off for a paddle.  We were intrigued by their wooden canoes, beautifully made and decorated.  They were made by the lady’s mother from a kit and she had finally decided to pass them on to her daughter at the age of 91 as she could no longer manage it!  Amazing!

I purchased this wooden planter from the Raymond stall and a decorated tin of playing cards.

3 miles, 1hr 12mins, 0 locks

Easter Cruise - Spring 2024 - Week 4

 Monday 18th March - Banbury

Today we made an early start, we needed to turn the boat round so the window that needs repairing is accessible from Tooley’s Boatyard.

We left our mooring, came through the lift bridge and the boat is waiting for the lock to be made ready.  We then went down the lock and out of Banbury to turn the boat round.

This is the smallest winding hole we’ve ever used, but we managed to bring the boat around and head off back towards Banbury.  We moored below the lock to check that there was space for our boat near to the Boatyard.  There was space, so we headed back up the lock.

This is the view from the lock looking towards the lift bridge and Tooley’s Boatyard behind it.  We moored up in our new mooring spot and spent a quiet day on the boat.  Tooley’s can’t look at the boat until tomorrow first thing.

1 mile, 2hrs 18mins, 2 locks

Tuesday 19th March - Banbury to Cropredy below bridge 53

This morning we had the first slot with Tooleys to look at our leaky window.  We reversed the boat down to the boatyard and moored up so that they could reach the window from the towpath and fix the nose button which has come adrift.

We left them to it and went for a stroll around Banbury.  Banbury is known as the ‘Sunshine Town’ and the sun symbol is featured on the town’s architecture and decor.  It also features on the coat of arms and has been associated with the town since the 1500’s.

This is the first piece of street art I’ve seen in Banbury, the ‘French Maid’ mural is based on a real Banksy painting in Chalk Farm, London.

The sun symbol and the lady on the horse in another part of the town.

This is Jez Steadman who fixed our window and nose button for us.  He is a canal artist and signwriter.  He is going to take Dave’s barrel and restore it for us, it is certainly looking a bit sorry for itself at the moment.

We bought this ‘wonky goblet’ from the museum at Tooleys.  It is painted by ‘Andre’ and each goblet is numbered, it makes a lovely candle holder!  Once the work on the boat was complete, we returned to our mooring, Dave did some shopping and we then set off our way back towards Cropredy.

We have abandoned plans to head further south as the water levels around Nell’s Bridge are very unpredictable at the  moment because of the River Cherwell.  We moored outside Cropredy on some visitor moorings just past the Old Mill.

4.5 miles, 2hrs 24mins, 3 locks.

Wednesday 20th March - Cropredy

Woke to a very wet morning, so decided to stay put today and go for a walk once the rain stops.

This is Lower Mill beside Mill Bridge.  In about 1892 Cropredy mill was reduced by fire and in 1905 was sold to the Oxford Canal Navigation Co., whose successors still owned the ruined mill in 1963. 

Looking across Mill Meadow at the canal and we had a good view of our boat.

We hoped to follow a footpath beside the railway line, but it was completely under water so we retraced our steps and continued walking through the village.

 

One of several large manor type houses in the village, a list price of £1,600,000, a Grade II listed stone building.

Many of the cottages are made from stone, this is a typical stone cottage with thatched roof.

This is the remains of a medieval cross on the verge of a modern housing estate road named Cup and Saucer.  It could be the base of an old village cross, but as to why it is not in the centre of the village is a mystery.

Thursday 21st March - Cropredy to Claydon Top Lock

A pleasant start to the morning and we decided to move on to Claydon.  We stopped at the services and filled up water bottles and disposed of rubbish.

This is Claydon Bottom Lock, and unusually these bottom gates are iron rather than wood.  I wonder if this improves the lifespan of the gates?  

Beautiful white blossom on the towpath and I think this is a Cherry plum tree.  We often collect plums during the autumn whilst working the locks. 

This is Neville, a CaRT volunteer, in their hovel at the middle lock.  He isn’t a lock keeper but maintains the locks in good condition.

At the top lock is the holiday house with this delightful tractor in the garden, lovely for the children to play on.

2.75 miles, 3hrs 6mins, 9 locks

Friday 22nd March - Claydon Top lock to Ladder Bridge No. 129

A lovely sunny start to the day so we set off for the summit of the Oxford Canal.

These are some permanent moorings with the shepherd huts on, but today we saw this ingenious use of an old horse box, a brilliant log store and extra storage or accommodation space.

Back through the Fenny tunnel with no top and this time we did meet a boat coming the other way.  We gave way where there was room to pass but we needed to be careful as it is easy to get stuck in the silt on either side of the canal.

This is a very attractive cast iron bridge which carries the towpath across the canal, a turnover bridge, but I don’t think I’ve seen one in cast iron before.  We then continued on to Fenny Marina where we sorted rubbish and filled up with diesel.

Just as we were coming into Fenny Wharf, we noticed these lovely little pigs rooting around in the grass and soil.  I think they are Gloucester Old Spot pigs and they were sharing the field with several sheep.

We moored on the summit and spent the rest of the day working on cleaning the other side of the roof.  We now have a roof that matches in colour!  This was taken at 6.45 yesterday evening and is the moon shining on the canal, although it isn’t full until 25th March it was bright enough to create a super picture.

25 minutes later Dave caught the sunset facing the other way up the canal.

6.5 miles, 3hrs 30mins, 0 locks

Saturday 23rd March - The Summit

A wet and windy day, so we decided to spend the day sorting through and tidying the boat inside.  Just as well really as we discovered another leak through a window, this time a large window in the lounge area.  We took the sofa apart and put it to dry out, located the area where the water is coming through, and put towels to catch any further leaks.  Fortunately the rain was concentrated on the other side of the boat so no more water through the window.

Toby and I went for a walk along the towpath and came across this rather splendid carving of a tree stump, possibly the green man - a symbol of death, rebirth and life.

Sunday 24th March - The Summit to Marston Doles Top Lock

An overcast morning, but the wind had dropped and after some discussion over our options regarding getting the leaking window fixed, we decided to continue on our way and find someone around the Braunston area who may be able to help us .

We set off and soon came through the mess that is HS2.  Very little seems to have changed since we came through two weeks ago, but as it is Sunday all the machinery were lined up silently waiting.

This has always intrigued us, a narrowboat moored in a field, completely landlocked, a rather strange sight to be honest.  There has been an addition, a building of what look like kennels…

…and yes, 4 rather aggressive dogs barking and chasing along side the boat.  Breeding dogs?  Sheep dogs?  Not sure, but an effective deterrent to anyone wanting to get near the field!

Coming into Marston Doles, a good shot of the helicopter parked alongside the farmhouse.  It took off later in the afternoon, I wonder what the story is behind this mode of transport?  We moored up for the day, the sun came out and we had a pleasant afternoon.  

4.5 miles, 1hr 36mins, 0 locks.