Diesel

After emptying an elsan cassette the main task today was to make the short trip to the fuel dock in the marina. We were quite low and wanted to be sure that there was plenty in the tank by the time we go back home on Friday. The morning was much windier than the forecast suggested but the general picture was for it to get stronger from lunchtime and for the next couple of days. Hence we needed to do it this morning. We prepared to leave our pontoon with a bit of apprehension but with a detailed plan in our minds of bow to cope with the wind in it present direction. 

The marina comprises three separate areas, the original, quite wide section (where the fuel dock is located), a central basin and then the newest part I(Swan Basin) where we are moored. Going to the fuel dock means going into the middle section via a short cut which has a foot swing bridge that has to be opened, and from there out onto the Oxford Canal. The entrance to the main section is about a 100m down the canal and the dock is straight ahead on the far side.

As we have to moor bow first in this marina, we first had to reverse out with the wind side on. Then we needed to turn to be at right angle to direction of the pontoon in order to go through the short cut. We were fortunate that another boater offered to Christine to swing the bridge open and back again for us. An immediate left turn, side on to the wind took us to the exit onto the canal, followed by a right turn into the south entrance!

The fuel dock was straight ahead but we needed to allow for the cross wind which can quickly take the boat sideways, especially at low speed. We lined up just up-wind of the mooring and allowed for the wind to move us sideways onto the wharf as we went into strong reverse to stop before we hit the bank!

All of this is much easier to follow if you look at Google Maps Aerial View. Blue is the route out and red the extra bit on the way back. (Hope Google allow us to include this image!)

Staff filled our tank and Christine went to the office to pay. At that point, with the wind ever strengthening, we had no option but to make our way back to our pontoon.

We are located almost immediately after the final cut and swing bridge (again someone kindly opened up for us) and we discovered when we arrived here that there is not enough room to turn immediately left. Instead it is better to continue down into the centre of the basin and turn, coming back head into the wind. This basin is a lot narrower but we made the turn - just - without being blown either into the far end or colliding with the boats moored either side.

The final turn onto the pontoon - at this time of year almost all berths are occupied so there was just a single boat space to head into. The manoeuvre entails going a bit up wind of the space at a narrow angle to the pontoon and waiting until the wind lines the boat up - then it is full steam to get the bow of the boat 'trapped' in the gap. At least our pontoon is down wind which means that the pontoon keeps us in place whilst we tied up. Phew!

After lunch we went to visit Cropredy Church - Mike to look at surveying the gravestones and Christine to look around inside. It was soon time, with light fading fast, to return to the boat and a piece of fruit cake.

Chores and Shopping and Charging

This morning Mike set about a number of routine chores some of which take a little longer when in the marina than out cruising. Most of the facilities are a bit of a walk from the boat (but not as far as for some of the mooring pontoons). 

On Saturday morning before we left for the station, the current gas bottle gave out. In the short term that is not an issue as we have two bottles and, as long as an empty one is replaced as soon as possible, all that has to be done is turn off one and turn on the other. We only get through between two and three bottles a year (just as well as they are now over £50 a go) so there is plenty of time to find a refill. However, if not done straightaway it is easy to forget until it is too late! So that was one of today's tasks - as they are too heavy for us to carry far the first ting is to collect a trolley from behind the office.

We were also very low on water but at least there is a tap beside every pontoon. Rubbish disposal was needed but that could be loaded onto the trolley along with the empty gas bottle. The gas bottle store is beyond the bin store and next to the fuel dock.

We do also need to fill up the diesel tank but we opted tp leave that to another day (this might turn out to be a bad decision as we now see that the wind is likely to increase for the next few days until we return home)

Rubbish disposed and a full bottle on the trolley it was back to the boat and the task of lifting the bottle into the gas locker. Mike managed without too much huffing and puffing - but for how much longer before we will need help to do this? Logs we brought from home were properly stowed (althiugh the number left is declining fast in this cold snap)

It was just on 11 by the time everything was stowed back away - a cup of coffee was needed!

The morning started very cold but sunny, gradually the edge off the cold air meant that outdoors was at least tolerable if not yet quite 'pleasant'. Still, there was time for Mike to take a short trip to the nearby parish council cemetery. Mike occasionally spends time transcribing and photographing gravestones and then uploading to an international website Find A Grave. During the time at home he had discovered that this one had not yet been listed - most at least have a placeholder. Mike had made a start on Friday but it was then too cold to do much of it - today much better on the hands and so he was able to finish taking the photos in just over an hour. (The grass was quite long and very wet so he ended up with wet feet and soggy trouser leg bottoms!)

After lunch we went into town to Morrisons - we needed a few food items but the main reason was to charge up the car which was, by now, down to 37%. At least this time both charge points were available. When we returned to the car after about half an hour, it was back to 85% - the estimate to 100% was another 25 minutes so we did not bother. (Actually many folk recommend not aiming for much more than 85%, especially on public chargers. OK on overnight at home)

Meanwhile, Christine took the opportunity to clean the boat floor. One of the current downsides with this marina (one shared with many others!) is that the entrance drive and the car parks are really in need of some tlc - the staff tried a minor repair to the worst potholes a couple of months back but failed to compact them properly so they are now even worse. But also, the surface is generally very muddy after the recent trains and it is impossible to avoid getting some on the boat and on our shoes.

Back to the boat and that was it for today - time for tea and a small piece of tasty fruit cake that we were given on Sunday morning.

A Relaxing Sunday

We went first to the 10 am service at Great Bourton church - it was a combined one for all of the churches  in the benefice. As so often is the case, most of the congregations from the others seemed to treat this as a 'week off' - or were all away visiting relatives! 

There were about 14, including ourselves, and we were made very welcome when we arrived. The service was conducted by Bishop Jonathan Meyrick, who is now retired and lives nearby. He gave an excellent sermon and the local organist also good. Coffee and cakes were on offer afterwards and we had a number of interesting conversations. Indeed, we could hardly get away - it was around noon when we were back on the boat.

The blog for the rest of the day will be quite short - dinner was a roast based on using some of the turkey and trimmings from Christmas Day!

War Horse

We had to make a good start today - away by half last nine as we were meeting up with the three grand daughters in Oxford to go to the matinee performance of War Horse - Andrew was also coming up from Devizes to join the party.

The two from Windsor were arriving at 10:43 on a train from Taplow, changing at Reading. The oldest, Ellie was already in Oxford as she arrived yesterday to stay for a few days with her Dad. Andrew was driving but coming into the city centre by Park and Ride bus.

We checked out the station in Banbury - specifically the parking. Mike has been through Banbury on a number of occasions as part of a car shuffle but we have not had to park here before. In any case, the older surface car parks at the main station entrance are no longer in use for general public but a large multi storey has been built on the opposite side. We planned to catch the 10:17 arriving at 10:10.

Until yesterday we had been expecting to have a meal with everyone after the performance but various logistical factors meant that the three girls had to leave after the finish of the play at 5 pm. A quick re-plan and Christine booked a table at what seemed an interesting small cafe/restaurant close to the station, with a Moroccan flavour.

All the journeys went to plan and we met without a hitch in the station concourse. We had a little time before the noon booking - Ellie suggested a quick trip to the Ashmolean, not far away. The girls visited the mummy gallery (!) whilst we to sit in the basement cafe - Andrew took a look around the main shopping streets.

We met up at the Olive Branch and were greeted by the owner who happily re-arranged the furniture to accommodate six. It is not a large place, originally part of what was once a Railway Hotel. Old photos of trains and stations featured in the decor along with some collages of tickets.

We managed to make our choices from the menu without a lot of difficulty - we went for the lamb tagine. Service was excellent as was the food and we were all well pleased.

By the time we had finished and paid up it was time to walk - slowly - to the New Theatre, only 8 minutes according to Google Maps but we sauntered a little slower. The theatre asks the audience to arrive by 2, for a 2:30 performance just as well most of us kept to the request as there were few empty seats - inevitably there were the stragglers that insisted in  making their way in with seconds to go, looking as if they had all the time in the world . . . 

The performance was from a new touring production by the National Theatre. The tour began in September and goes on until next ¬October, all over the country.

The production has, as might be expected from the NT, amazing production values with a cast of over 40, inclusion the incredible puppeteers who bring the horses to life in a really believable way. The back of the stage displayed what looked like a torn sheet of paper on which were projected images, back and white sketches and animations all of which were effective in helping to make the action seem real.

The stage version of Michael Morpurgo's novel is more condensed than we recall of the film but this allows it to use all the arts of the stage to be amazingly immersive. Most especially, the latter part set in the disastrous Somme battlefield permeates the whole body for those watching. In particular, the scene where Joey, the horse around which the story is woven, is caught in barbed wire defences in No Man's Land and then freed by men from both sides, could not be told more effectively.

We had to go our separate ways at the end, doing so inside the theatre rather than risk the melee outside in the street. We walked back to the station where we had about half an hour to wait for the next train to Banbury - we managed to get seats but the carriages were almost full.

Back at Banbury we retrieved our car and drove the short distance to the marina after a quite successful outing.

Late Start and Shopping in Banbury

 Neither of us was in anything other than slow gear this morning and it was not before 122:30 before we were ready to discover the outdoor conditions. If anything, it was slightly denser fog than yesterday and with the extra dampness came a chillier feel. The weather forecasters had told us that it was be a lot warmer - not sure what chillier would have felt like!

We checked out the way to the main station car park in preparation for tomorrow morning. The centre of Banbury is quite convoluted for driving, no doubt quite easy once you know where everything is.

We did most of our shopping at Morrisons. An intended top up of the car battery was thwarted by both stations being occupied and Mike could not work out if the slower connection could be used at the same time as the rapid one and the screen was not a lot of help. He did not want to disrupt the connection to the other car by experimenting - we have enough power left for the next couple of days at least.

We missed out on a couple of items - the bakery section looked as if it was just selling of pre-Christmas leftovers and  much of the fresh stand was empty.

So, back to Lidl - not been to that store before but it, a bit to our surprise, does have its own customer car park. The stock on their bakery shelves was obviously fresh today. We found the other item missing from Morrisons (gnocchi) and a few other things crept into our trolley whilst we were not looking!

Back to the boat for lunch only slightly late. Christine went to the office to arrange a top-up of the electricity and to buy a bag of coal which the staff kindly delivered to the boat.

Afterwards Mike took a short trip to a nearby cemetery. It does not appear to have been added to FindAGrave, the web site that Mike uses to record his photos and transcriptions of the gravestones. Although he made a start, the light was poor and fading fast, but also hands were cold taking photos and the grass long and wet! He beat an early retreat back to the boat for a mug of tea.

Boxing Day to Boat

We are having a week on the boat - mainly because we are meeting up with three grand daughters on Saturday for a visit to War Horse in Oxford.

 We managed a good getaway, leaving not long after 10:30! It was a very misty day - foggy, even - but not enough to cause problems as we drove up to Swindon. The Sat Nav, before we left, recommended the route via Newbury but by the time we were in the car it had switched to the route along the Oxford to Swindon road.

Thus far no real delays but the ETA started to slip a little as we neared the A34 Oxford bypass.Whilst there were some slow patches it was rather better than we feared from Google. However, as we neared the junction with the M42 we could see that there was a speed restriction and most of the time until Junction 11 was slow moving.

Nevertheless, we were only about 15 minutes longer than the first ETA and were at the marina before lunch time. We speedily unloaded the car (we still had a surprisingly full load, but it did include two bags of fuel for the stove). 

We had arranged with Black Swan, the resident marine engineers, to do several items of maintenance but had not heard when they would do it - we had said that it was not urgent. So it was a pleasant surprise to find that at least the obvious bits had been done. Later we saw the chap who works for them and lives a couple of boats way from our mooring - he told us that one of the other engineers from another base had been assigned to the work.

We gradually packed things away, combined with getting the inside of the cabin up to a working temperature. In fact it was not too cold when we arrived.

Short Visit

 A bit of a catch up:

We had a meeting in Rugby Saturday before last (ie 16th) and opted to use the boast for a stopover as it is only half an hour to the meeting place from the marina. It was not convenient to drive up on the Friday as Christine has a Zoom meeting at 1 that day and we might not arrive in time (without a crack-of-dawn departure) So, we came up on Thursday.

This meant that we took it leisurely and called at Coleshill NT for lunch. (We called at their sister place a short distance away on our return home last time) Well worth it - others also think so as it was comfortably busy without being overwhelmed.

This left plenty of daylight to unload the car, set up the fire and fill the water tank before popping to the village shop for milk.

Friday we went into Banbury to food shop at Banbury. Whilst we were doing that we also topped up the car on a charge in the supermarket's car park.

The meeting on Saturday began at 10 but we have been a couple of time before so knew about where to park. The main Central park only charges a remarkable £2 for all day.

It was almost dark by the time the meeting finished but we made it out of town in the twilight. Not over keen these days in lengthy night time trips on unfamiliar territory, especially after January's experience.

Sunday we went to the church in Great Bourton. They normally only have about 15 for the morning service but today was also a baptism for a local baby and so there was a massive crowd (well, around 55 but it is quite a small church so it felt full!)

We came back home on the Monday - even with a laid back departure routine we were still home just after lunchtime.

End of Season

Yesterday we spent the morning completing more domestic chores (slowly!) and had lunch early. Christine wanted to go to M & S in Banbury and Mike to B & Q. The first was because a couple of days ago we discovered that one of our bottom sheets had come to the end of its usable life and urgently needed replacing. The latter was to find some better screws to fix the rear door furniture and to avoid the problems of last week recurring. The early lunch was so that there would be enough daylight to allow Mike to use the screws as planned - which he did.

Today we spent most of the morning transferring 'stuff' to the car (we did have rather a lot in the fridge despite last night being a 'use up' meal). First, Mike did the task that he too often forgets - cleaning out the drains around the rear deck board. There have been a lot of leaves around in the past few days. If the channels and the drain holes become blocked then the engine room can quite quickly become inundated.

We were eventually ready to leave by 11:30 but when we set up the satnav, it immediately warned us that it was selecting a route to avoid delays followi8ng an accident on the A34. It took us through Chipping Norton and Lechlade etc etc to come onto the A419 around Swindon by the former Honda factory. Apart from a couple of road works in Banbury and the consequent tailbacks, we had a straightforward run. The grey and misty weather meant that there was little worth looking at despite being in delightful Cotswold countryside. We reach home just after 2 pm and settled back into land-based winter life style and schedules. 

We may have a couple of nights at the marina in a few weeks time as a stopover en route to Rugby for an all-day meeting. By then the boat should have had its annual checkover by RCR.

Cropredy Marina

Today's Canal : Oxford

We set off just before 10 for the very short trip to the marina mooring. This marina has two entrances and we are in the half that is served by the northern - today the further - entrance. After turning into the marina the next task was to line up for a tight right turn into the narrow channel into the newest basin, Swan.

Across this channel is also a swing footbridge - at least the length of the channel is plenty to come to a rest and let off a crew member to open the bridge. (Not sure what a single hander would do)

Our mooring is only just into this basin so a tight turn is needed. We almost made it at first attempt but at the last moment the breeze pushed us just a bit too far into the basin and we were heading for the next slot up!

All we could do was to back off some distance down into the basin and approach from the opposite direction this time  and we made it with just a little help from a rope taken off the front to help with the last part of the turn without scraping the next door boat. Next time we will probably try going rather further into the basin and plan to make an about turn before attempting to slot in and onto the pontoon. At least this time there was only a gentle breeze - quite unusual for a marina, which is necessarily a wide open space.

After coffee Mike and Andrew set off to drive up to Leamington where Andrew had left his car . Only just over half an hour. A couple of minutes to transfer his luggage and we were both back on the road. The return trip was just as uneventful (thankfully)

Meanwhile, Christine had been to the office and checked that our paperwork was now in order. She also made a start on the domestic chores that would take up the rest of the day for both of us.

0.3 Miles - 0 Locks

Cropredy

Today's Canal : Oxford

The weather was much better today, sunshine mostly but with a chilly breeze at times and out of the sunshine. Occasional dark clouds fortunately did not turn into actual rain.

We set off a bit earlier than usual, just before 9. We moored close to the Wormleighton Radio mast and hoped to get a better picture for our library. However, we then discovered that the camera battery was flat and not recharged overnight (User Error!)

We did try with a basic tablet but its camera is not its strong point!

So here is one we took 14 years ago when still having our winter mooring in Lower Heyford. We are not sure what the mast is used for now - it was originally built as part of the DECCA Navigator system for maritime users but that has long since been superseded by cheaper and easier GPS. We could not see any significant aerials on the mast.

We continued to contour around hills and valleys until we arrived at Fenny Compton, a popular spot for long term moorers and others who like to find a winter stopover. There seemed to be rather more boats on the move today than we have seen for some time.

Just after passing Fenny Compton marina (now under new ownership we believe) comes a long straight section. Despite still having the name of Fenny Compton Tunnel, daylight never disappears. When the canal was first built, Brindley did specify a tunnel here but it soon became a bottleneck it what was at first a busy and important transport link to London. When competition from the new Grand Union started to erode the traffic on the southern Oxford the tunnel was opened out.

This turnover bridge results from having a towpath where once the horses would have been taken separately over the hill. That old track joined the towpath on opposite sides of the canal north and south of the tunnel.

Old OS maps show a brick works beside the canal (on what was originally the land above the tunnel) close to the main A423 between Southam and Banbury. It owed its existence to the opening out of the tunnel which produced a large quantity of clay suitable for brick making! (see) There was sufficient to last until 1915.

Strangely, the short section at the southern end of the tunnel was never widened enough for boats to pass  - odd because it was the one way nature of a narrow tunnel that caused the traffic delays.

Some tree cutting was taking place on a sharp bend and the contractors had moored a small boat right on the apex. In making sure we did not hit it (if we had they they would have had a long trek at the end of the day!) we failed to avoid some off side vegetation which blocked quite a lot of the width. Not normally a problem except on this occasion it swiped two of our fenders and hangers off the roof and we had to back up to collect them - the overhanging vegetation did not make this an easy task!

The end of the summit pound comes with the Claydon Flight of 5 locks.

At the second lock we met what is fast becoming a standard temporary repair to balance beams. At least it is quite and easy to install when a beam fails to make it to the next planned replacement (typically every 30 years). The idea has proved remarkably successful.

Oxfordshire County Council were due to undertake a major strengthening of Bridge 145 just below the middle lock. Many boaters have been planning their trips around a two week closure at the start of November - we have been aware of this for some time. However, kit has just been announced that this work and the closure will not now take place at this time, hopefully planned into 2025/2026! Let's hope the bridge stays up that long.

And so to Claydon Bottom Lock - 40 minutes.

The locks from here down towards Oxford all come one at a time. We worked through Elkington's and Varney's before mooring up for a lunch break, opposite Varney's Slipway - looking remarkably similar to when we passed last year except that the small boat has collapsed even more.

On again and after Broadmoor Lock we passed the entrance to Cropredy Marina where we now have our Home Mooring. However, we have booked to have a meal at the Red Lion in the village, close to the next lock.

After dropping down Cropredy Lock we arrived at the winding hole and service facility. We did not need to take on water but did need to empty an elsan and dispose of some rubbish. Turning took a little while a another boat had moored in the winding hole to use the water point (it should really have moored adjacent, but never mind, we made it without damaging his paintwork!)

We went back up Cropredy Lock and moored very close to the village and the pub.

9.3 Miles - 11 Locks

Wormleighton

Today's Canals : Grand Union, Oxford

Although today has been dry, it has also been very overcast and rather chilly. We set off in good time with a 20 minute run before the Calcutt Locks.

Calcutt Marina entrance is just below the bottom lock. 

Alongside the bottom lock landing is a small building associated with the back pumping. This design is typical of similar structures along this part of the Grand Union (and is noted in the reference we cited yesterday)

Two locks up and we called at the boatyard - we checked that they now were able to supply diesel today, after the disappointment that our lock companions has last week. As always the staff were very helpful and friendly. Christine nearly found a replacement for Tippy (our ash can) which is developing holes in the bottom but alas it proved to be a different make and a bit larger, too large to fit in the space available.

With the stop it was 10:30 before we cleared the top lock and headed towards Napton Junction. We turned right, back onto the Oxford, now the southern half. We passed the entrances to Wigrams Turn and Napton marinas. At the latter most of their fleet now seem to be back in for the winter. Certainly 20 of the, were.

This boat seems to have made use of every available surface to fit in  patchwork of solar panels. Should give them a good supply, at least on better days than today.

We paused just before the bridge below Napton Locks to fill with water. Another boat was just finishing its fill and started to set off when we spotted that they had left their keys in the water point lock! Lucky for them as it is likely that it would be some distance before they noticed that the were missing.

We had to move to the lock landing for elsan and rubbish but then we were ready to set off up the nine locks - back to narrow size now.

Alongside the lock we noticed a warning that we do not recall being there before - do not leave fenders hanging as some boats doing this have been stuck in the narrow locks. It is possible that at least one of the locks is a bit out of shape as well.

Moored just above the first lock was nb Silver Fox which we think was formerly owned by Colin and Shaun of Foxes Afloat videos fame.

Alongside the flight is a farm that has a specialist herd of buffalo, but where were they? The first field where we have often seen them before was full of (boring) sheep.

Above Lock 13 there was a convenient place to stop for lunch.

Off again and there at the next lock were some of the buffalo! Initially in the distance, they eagerly ambled across the field to come and greet us.

Soon after this we completed the Marston Doles locks and began the long trek across the 11 mile summit pound. The southern Oxford never received the straightening upgrade that took so much distance out of the northern half. All of this canal was first built under the direction of Brindley - at that time the technology available to him (largely shovel and wheelbarrow) dictated that he selected a route that avoided tunnels and large embankments or cuttings. Instead it followed contours which meant that it had a lot of bends! The Grand Union opened in 1803 and took most of the traffic into London that the southern Oxford previously carried down via the Thames. The northern section continued to carry a ,lot of coal and other goods so it received the upgrade, leaving the southern part to meander through rural countryside.

We cannot ignore the obligatory shot of the famous landlocked narrowboat which continues to be someone's home.

We began to see the HS2 works near Wormleighton. The first site, which does not cross the canal,.seems to be some sort of underpass, perhaps for drainage. It is the type of structure that is a major undertaking on its own but once the project is complete will not be noticed and probably be largely forgotten.

Soon after came the main bridge crossing the canal. When we passed here last year there was only one span but now a second is well on its way. The structure over the canal is in place but now work is needed either side leading up to it. The first span is a temporary haul route for construction vehicles and the one in the photo is the 'real' crossing. It certainly has more 'finished' look, including the textured wall on the right of the photo. See here for some images of how it is expected to look when complete and will have the name Oxford Canal Viaduct.

As soon as we reached the next available good mooring we pulled in before it was dark!

10.4 Miles - 12 Locks

Gibraltar (Bridge)

Today's Canal : Grand Union

Storm Ashley, or its remnant, was forecast to bring rain and high winds for today. Although it was definitely very grey, we set off in good time, remarkably warm and dry. Apart from a very short shower it stayed dry until lunch time.

Across the field from the canal (but it is a long way round on foot!) is the Radford Semele church and even before we set off we could hear the bells summoning parishioners to worship (though how many notice them these days is a moot point!)

The poor light and the fact that we came this way only a few days ago, means that we do not have many useable and useful pictures, but we quickly established an efficient routine at each lock. Out times were helped by the fact that we only had one set against us and two or three boats came the other direction at just the right moments.

The former lock cottage at Welsh Road is very impressive in some ways a reminder that even in the 1930s the canals were important and that lock keepers were key personnel able to ensure that boaters had the speediest journey available. This cottage was one of six constructed by LG Speight (see), one of the many contractors that worked on the major improvement programme for the Grand Union. Some say that its design reflects the style of similar cottages at locks on the Thames.

At the Bascote Staircase we noticed a distinctive feature not at any of the other locks in the area. It looks as it it is a paddle mechanism and is where in some places a side pond was once in use. Here, the only place that a sluice could discharge is into what are now the former narrow locks. However, we understand that these remained in use whilst the wide locks were being constructed and for some years after. In any case, why use a side pond only in the staircase is a mystery. Unless someone knows better!

We aimed to stop for lunch just before Long Itchington bit as we were coming alongside a sudden and very heavy shower arrived! By the time we had tied up and retreated inside we were rather wet!

After lunch, Mike was directed to begin preparation of tonight's roast dinner whilst the other two set off to tackle the next batch of 10 locks - there are very few mooring opportunities before reaching the top lock.

Very soon, the weather repented of its sins and turned very pleasant, with quite a bit of sunshine that lasted until the sun set.

Andrew and Christine through these ten locks in even quicker times, into Itchington Bottom Lock at 13:56 and out at the top by 15:18, a total of 82 minutes, 8 per lock. Not bad going!

We continued for a short while above the locks to find a good overnight mooring. As we passed the entrance to Stockton Top Marina the late afternoon sunshine was catching the trees, now quickly taking on autumnal colours, unless blown off by the high winds.

Beyond Birdingbury Bridge, the first part had been signed for winter moorings (starting 1st November) since we came down. At a quick glance as we passed, it seems that the designated stretch has no mooring rings or armco piling and very poor ground for pins. Plenty had taken up residence on the much  better option next along! Not long after we also moored to good armco.

8.0 Miles - 20 Locks

Radford Semele (facing the other way)

Today's Canal : Grand Union

Before we could move off today we had to wait for the delayed Locksmith that we booked yesterday. We were given an estimate that he would arrive around  10:30. Just after that time he phoned for detailed directions but was only a few minutes away.

Initially he was faced with the same difficulty that we had yesterday and could not make the lock turn. However, he must have a more skilled 'shake' as after about five minutes it eventually conceded defeat and the door was open! In fact, the lock itself was perfectly OK, except that we had that stripped the grub screw that retains the thumb knob used to open the lock from the inside. 

THE close examination it was obvious that Mike had not been careful enough when adding epoxy filler to solve the previous problem earlier in the journey. It seems that only the lightest of pressure on the end of the lock causes it to refuse to open - we guess that this is an intentional security feature. Although for the last three days there had been enough room for the lock to work properly, it was now catching on a small piece of the filler. With that removed, He Presto! and all was well. Although the locksmith did not have a spare grub screw he managed to fit an ordinary screw at least as a temporary measure. An expensive learning experience!

After settling the invoice we were able to move off, with an ETA from Andrew around 1 pm at Lidl. 

The short 45 minute run was very pleasant as bright sunshine had now arrived - early morning, the overnight rain was still with us.

Mike crossed this railway bridge on the car shuffle last week.

Between the mooring for Morrisons and that for Lidl there used to be a rather unsuccessful open space, presumably created when the adjoining large roundabout was built. It is currently being used as the base for some roadworks nearby - we suspect that not too many locals will be unduly discomfited by the lack of amenity. Hopefully it will be restored with a little more thought then before.

We arrived at the Lidl mooring in good time so started on the shopping - there is little available once we leave Leamington.  By the time we had finished (at least the distance from store door to boat was about as short as it could be!) Andrew had arrived and unloaded his stuff (including some spare firewood!) As he had had lunch on the way he then went to park his car nearby whilst Mike and Christine enjoyed her latest soup.

Around 2:15 we reversed back the short distance to the winding hole so that we could turn and begin our return journey back to Napton (and then down to the southern part of the Oxford Canal)

We stopped at Morrisons with a short shopping list of items that we could not find at Lidl. Christine was still stowing away the earlier collection and Andrew decided to take the boat down to the water point - we were getting rather low. This left Mike to visit Morrisons (not the best of experiences as it took some time to discover that they were out of stock of some of the items!) and then walk the towpath to catch up the boat two bridges along,  next to the student accommodation.

Shortly before he reached there, he was greeted by Andrew with the news that the tap has been decommissioned as it is not owned by CaRT. We concluded that it was by now a little late to make it to the next tap, three locks up and would stop at the same spot as last night, except for facing the opposite direction. Frugal washing until some time tomorrow morning!

4.7 Miles - 0 Locks

Leamington Spa

No boat movement today.

Christine had a Zoom meeting this afternoon, starting at 1.30 but she wanted to take advantage of being near a good shopping town centre whilst still being in a place with a reasonable mobile signal. The only option was to go in this morning - we aimed to catch a bus on the nearby main road into town, just about 7 minutes away.

We had yesterday studied the bus possibilities on Google maps - the main route is 63 which is an hourly service but an extra service on a different route was available at 9:46. What we should have done is to realise that this is the only service on this route each day! As we neared the stop, a very late 63 (should have been 9:30) went by and in the past we might have tried running for it but not now! 

When we reached the stop and checked on the timetable there was no mention of the other service. After a short dither we opted to walk to the next stop where we had been told there were other buses on a different route. Turned out to be a false hope and with yet another dither we decided to walk into town as we were by now almost half way there!

Overall, it was around an hour from leaving the boat that we reached the shopping district. On the way however, we did see some of the development that made this a very sought after place in the past, First we crossed over the River Leam. Before that bridge many of the houses were quite substantial but quite a lot have, inevitably, been subdivided into either offices or flats.

Once over the river, the buildings became ever more imposing. Victoria House was said at the time it was built around 1841 to be the most impressive in Leamington. It was, however, a speculative project and went through a cumbersome process to get from the initial purchase of a plot of land 21C to having a real building (almost as long as modern planning approvals!) Even then it was held on the market waiting for a buyer as the developer did not want it for himself (and in any case probably ran into his own financial troubles) It went through a lot of short term uses, often standing empty until in 1889 it was bought by a syndicate of local freemasons who converted into a masonic lodge. 

They soon formed a limited company and donated the property to it so that it could be rented out as meeting rooms for all sorts of purposes. It is that company that still operates it today, proud to being able to market it as offering some of the finest regency rooms in the area. Weddings, wakes, Christenings, conferences and many and varied celebrations take place here. (The web site has a lengthy history of the building)

Next along the road is Lansdown Crescent, an impressive row of town houses built in the very middle of the 19C. It seems that the original intent was to rent them out to wealthy visitors to the spa but gradually they became permanent residences, gradually being turned into flats.

The main shopping street, The Parade, (after about 1.75 mile walk) is also full of imposing buildings, many seeming to be too large for the ground floor shop that they house.

We found Trespass, The Body Shop, Mountain Warehouse as planned, all very close to each other, Christine found what she was seeking! (and Mike was persuaded to buy a couple pairs of gloves that he needed)

With the better part of an hour before our planned return bus (we did check out the stop and time!) we adjourned for a coffee and pastry. We might, if we missed out the coffee, have been in time for the hour earlier service but . . .  and here lay our big mistake. 

Other people waiting told us that this service is notoriously very late and so it proved, not helped by having to stop shortly after we eventually boarded in order to change driver. In the end we were almost half an hour later back at the boat than we planned. Still enough time for Christine to log in to her Zoom meeting.

As Mike began to unlock the rear doors he found that the lock would not turn. Eventually we gave up and used the front doors only to find that the mobile signal was having one of its hissy fits and so, annoyingly, Christine's meeting had already started without her when she logged on.

Mike then set about trying to found a locksmith as his further attempts at opening the rear doors only resulted in making the problem worse (the turn knob came apart!) The first three numbers from Google that he tried all had numbers invalid! He then made contact with another two who promised to come back to him in a couple of minutes - total silence! Eventually he tried a nationwide company (presumably an agency of some sort) but at least within a few minutes we had an email conforming that a locksmith would attend before the end of the afternoon. Phew!Relief.

Alas the relief lasted only an hour when a call came to say that the allocated locksmith had gone down with a tummy bug and it would be first thing tomorrow morning before anther one could come to us . . .

At least, tomorrow Andrew is joining us around midday, driving up by car so that if we eventually have to track down a new lock and see if we can fit it ourselves, we can do that more readily. So, not the best of days - shame we could not be cruising in a day of warm sunshine, but that's canal life.

0 Miles - 0 Locks

Radford Semele

Today's Canal : Grand Union

The forecast promised us a day with 0% rain and lots of sunny spells. As previous promises in the past week had not been fulfilled, we were very pleased that when we set off there was already more blueness than we have had for a while.

Although we have been deluged at times with falling leaves there is still a lot of green in the trees and shrubs. Even so, the sense of an imminent autumn is gradually growing on us.

We stopped after the first bridge to fill with water and to dispose of rubbish. The boater facilities along this stretch are spread out with no one place having everything.

Once we were underway yet again, it was not long before we arrived at the top of Bascote Locks. As a boat had just left we had hopes that at least some of the flight might be set for us. The staircase puzzled us a bit as the top lock was full (a boat had just left) but the bottom one was empty. The only reasonable way this would occur in normal operation is if the up boat had passed a down boat (one did pass us before we set off this morning) in the locks. Although the instruction panel says to check that NO boats have already started to ascend, this is one way, when there is only one  boat it at least one direction, to save a bit of time, effort and water.

The instructions also ask that a down boater checks that the bottom lock is empty before opening the paddles between the two locks of the staircase. The water from the top lock drains into the bottom lock, thus bringing it up to the correct intermediate level. If there is already water in the lower lock then there is a flood. Don't Do It! we are asked. However, we noticed that this flooding must have happened all too often as a channel has been built around the bottom gate structure to take the water away from the towpath! (yes, that looks like water in the channel but it was dry - we did NOT flood!)

So much blue!

There are two more single locks in the Bascote flight - we noticed a couple of contractors vans at the top and as we worked down we saw the crew of three carrying various heavy items of tools and equipment down to the bottom. They explained that they were due to conduct a routine inspection of the back pump which transfers water up to the pound above Bascote. Different aspects of the inspection required different skillsets.

After Welsh Road Lock we reached the site of an HS2 crossing. 

A large viaduct is needed and the track will be ramped up on either side. In the past we have spotted some of the huge amount of earth moving that is needed and now the two supporting pillars either side of the canal are gradually emerging from below ground. We did not see any activity on the site at all so perhaps it is a 'working from home day' . . . 

After Wood Lock we reached the three Fosse Locks. Below the first we paused briefly at the Fosse Way road bridge to avail ourselves of the outdoor elsan disposal point.

Three more locks to go. Alongside Radford Bottom, the last one, the towpath had a pretty carpet of leaves.

So, Radford Bottom marks the end of the descent from Napton Junction and we are on the Leamington level. This is a 'sump' as on the other side the canal commences its climb towards Birmingham, much with the Hatton 21 flight - which, thankfully, we do not need to do this trip as we will be turning around in Leamington after Andrew joins us.

Just after the bridge below the lock we could see the sunken boat about which we had been warned. A boater who came through a few days ago also advised that we keep as close as is sensible to the wreck  as others had given it a wide berth and run aground on some submerged objects on the offside of the canal. It is always sad to see a distressed boat such as this but even more so when it is one with some of the heritage bound up in it.

About 15 minutes later we arrived at Radford Semele and found a good mooring just before the main road bridge into Leamington.

5.0 Miles - 10 Locks