Locks & Short Trip

We tackled the 8 locks down to Cropredy today.  Not a boat in sight for the first few then we started meeting boats as they left Cropredy.  The weather was iffy, showers and drizzle, but after we had moored up the sun came out and it has been a lovely afternoon.  We had a walk down the canal and around the village.  Its a lovely village with lots of old properties many of which are thatched.  Sorry no photos as we forgot to take any!

8 locks 2.5 miles

Playing Catch Up

On Friday we returned to Hillmorton Locks so we could easily get into Rugby on Saturday.   John went and did his course and I caught the train to Birmingham and had a lovely day shopping with Jane my sister, as John's course overran we even managed to share a taxi back.  The weather forecast was awful for Sunday but we decided to move anyway, we pulled pins in spitting rain, we had to go down two locks to turn around to return to Braunston, by the second lock it had stopped, we had a couple of real downpours during the morning but it wasn't too bad.  We stopped for water at Braunston and then turned towards Napton.  We came across an obstruction about 2 miles south, BW are working on the bank and had two work boats tied along with a crane and all had come adrift, the boat in front of us got stuck trying to get around another coming in the opposite direction tried to push them back, and I tried to haul them into the bank with a bit of rope, I managed to pull them in enough for John to get through but by now there was a queue, I could have been there all day so I pulled them in as much as I could and jumped back on board.  I tried to phone BW but couldn't get through!  We continued down to Napton, mooring by the Bridge Inn, where we had dinner last night.  It was a lovely meal.  Today we hit the locks, there was lots of boats going our way but nothing coming the other, until about half way where we met the occasional boat,  again the weather wasn't looking great, but it has turned out much better than we thought, with just a few showers. We planned to moor in Fenny Compton tonight, but the moorings were all taken, so we have continued and are moored just above Clayton locks.

Leaving Braunston

Sunken Boat

Napton Windmill (which can be seen for miles along the Oxford Canal)

First lock

Fabulous countryside, 

but if it goes ahead the new rail link will rip straight through it

Yesterday 12.5 miles 4 locks
Today 12 miles 9 locks  

Trip to Braunston

Although we didn't plan to move today the weather was so nice this morning it was a shame not to make the most of it, so we have made a trip to Braunston, and will return tomorrow back to Hillmorton.  It was really hot, once at Braunston we had a wander around the Chandlers and bought a few bits, we also went to Tradline Ropes and Fenders and got the center lines shortened which we bought a couple of weeks ago, as they were a bit too long.  A wander around the village, followed by a late lunch in the pub and a few drinks as we were quiet thirsty by then!

Barby Marina development

Dredging the entrance

the sign saying opening July 2011 seems to have disappeared!

 Our view from the side hatch this evening

and later the moon rising

7.5 miles 3 locks today