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for now - it was originally built as part of the DECCA Navigator system for maritime users but that has long since been superseded by cheaper and easier GPS.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
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