Monday 4th March - Willoughby Wharf to Braunston
This photo was taken yesterday evening as we were waiting for Di and Mark to pick us up. We were really surprised at how delightful the North Oxford Canal is. Wide open skies, views across open countryside and a canal meandering its way gently along.
Love this field of sheep all facing the same way. What isn’t in the photo is the farmer arriving on a 4by4 with two sheepdogs across the bridge we had just come under. There was a real stampede of sheep following the farmer!
The cloud formations were amazing this morning, it was fascinating watching the sky go from pure blue to these clouds gathering on the horizon.
Approaching Braunston, you can see the church and just to the left the windmill with no sails. It is a tower mill built in c1800 for cereal milling (grinding). It stopped working in c1895 and was converted to a house in c1920. This is when the top floor was demolished.
A sad end to the life of a boat. I wonder why it hasn’t been recovered as it is taking up room on a designated mooring?
After a visit to Midlands Chandlery to replace a dud smoke alarm we moored up on the opposite side of the canal and went for a walk into the village.
Here at Braunston Junction the North Oxford canal meets the Grand Union Canal and heads off towards Napton Junction. There the South Oxford canal continues on its way south towards Oxford.
We have decided to replace our centre line ropes and visited the Tradline Rope and Fender shop, I love this shop and the lady on the desk is really pleasant and helpful.
This is a closer photo of the Tower Mill next door to the church in Braunston. Over 6 floors, this holiday home offers 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms but isn’t dog friendly!
1.75 miles, 1hr 12mins, 0 locks.
Tuesday 5th March - Braunston to New Bridge 103
Today we are moving on from Braunston along the stretch of canal which is the Grand Union and links the north and south Oxford canals. Dave went to the butcher in the village and when he got back we pushed the boat across the canal to the services, disposed of rubbish and filled up with water.
There are some delightful in-line moorings along here with large plots of land some of which are beautifully cared for. I don’t think these moorings come vacant very often!
This is the site of Nethercote Railway Bridge. The London & North Western Railway opened their line between Weedon and Leamington in 1895, crossing the canal here. It was a single track railway with crossing places. It was an early victim of railway rationalization, closing to passenger traffic in 1958, and to freight in 1963.
We then started to look for suitable places to moor. This was definitely not possible as it was one long stretch of muddy puddle. We found a lovely mooring just before New Bridge 103 with open views and a fairly dry towpath.
We found a lovely mooring overlooking fields and a fairly dry footpath and moored for the day. I continued washing this side of the boat roof and changed the centre line rope for a new one we bought yesterday. A glorious sunny afternoon.
A lovely sunset taken from beside Ella.
3 miles, 1hr 24mins, 0 locks
Wednesday 6th March - New Bridge 103 to above Napton Bottom Lock
We woke to a foggy morning and delayed our start until visibility had improved. A very gentle cruise along this short section of the Grand Union Canal.
The willow trees are beginning to show their green leaves, such a lovely bright green coat developing.
Shuckborough Church is built in what can best be described as a Moorish gothic style.
It dates from 1864, when it was completely rebuilt as a result of a disastrous fire.
This is the end of the Grand Union for us as it turns right here at Napton Junction and heads north. Napton Junction, the junction of the Oxford canal and the Grand Union north, has always been known as "Wigrams Turn". Calcutt locks nearby, are referred to as "Wigrams Three". The name seems certain to have derived from the name of the first toll keeper at Napton Junction in 1800 John Wiggerham. The tollhouse has stood on the junction, much unaltered for 200 years.
Just a little further along is Napton Marina where friends of ours moor their boat nbDulwich 3, it is the light blue boat in the centre of the photo.
Close to the canal was Napton Brickworks which began operation in 1878 and finally closed in the 1970’s. This was once a busy canal wharf distributing Warwickshire made bricks far and wide.
On the hillside is Napton Windmill. Now developed as a residential building it was originally a miller’s windmill.
Dave working the only lock on our journey today, the first since breaking his leg and he was very happy with the way it all went, hooray!
5 miles, 1hr 54mins, 1 lock
Thursday 7th March - Above Napton Bottom Lock
Today we decided to stay on our mooring, have a quiet morning and go for a walk in the afternoon. The wind is particularly cold and blowing from the east so very little incentive to actually cruise.
Our walk was up the locks to Marston Doles and down the country lanes back into Napton. At one of the locks the sheep had escaped from the neighbouring field and were pretending to be lockies! Not so good if one of them fell into the lock though.
The towpath in several places was incredibly muddy, meaning that we had to pick our way through finding the least wet places to stand.
This is the engine arm, a tributary off the canal. It is the site of a disused canal feeder arm and pump engine which were used to control the water level of the Oxford Canal, dating from the 1800s. They were located 600m southeast of Napton Halt. It was navigable until 1948 but is now used as linear moorings.
The site of the old wharf, just above Marston Doles lock, with the old lock keeper's cottage and the stable block for the boatmen's horses. These buildings were extensively renovated in 1989 and used as the local British Waterways offices for 4 years after which they have been occupied by private business. It now houses a collection of old classic cars, vans and buses.
We walked along the country lanes back into Napton and found some horses and a lovely little pony in one of the fields.
We called into The Folly beside the bottom lock for a drink after our walk. It is full of copper, brasses and canal ware. A fascinating place just to sit and look.
Friday 8th March - Above Napton bottom Lock
We have not moved today as I was very sick during the night and spent most of the day sleeping. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!
Saturday 9th March - Above Napton Lock to Marston Doles
I woke this morning feeling a whole lot better than yesterday and we decided to move on from Napton. It was quite windy and took a lot to get the boat off the mooring but once we were clear it was really a very pleasant cruise.
This is the engine arm we walked past on Thursday, the wind was coming from the east and blowing strongly down this stretch of canal.
The last lock of the day at Marston Doles. A successful trip up the locks all of which Dave worked. Once out of the lock we stopped for water, washed down the side of the roof and the solar panels then moved a tiny bit more and stopped on the visitor moorings. A decent little cruise and not another boat in sight.
2 miles, 1hr 53mins, 8 locks
Sunday 10th March - Marston Doles Visitor Moorings
Happy Mother’s Day 🌟 you are all stars! It is raining today so we have decided to stay put and stay dry. Dave has also been feeling poorly so he is having a rest day. Hopefully back on the move tomorrow.
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