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.