Nell Bridge

Today's Canal : Oxford

Overnight a strong wind had arrived and was predicted to last until lunch time. We decided not to try and move until most of the storm (not rainy) had blown itself out. The tall buildings close to both sides of the canal make a good wind tunnel.

Mike made another foray to Lidl for a few items. Alas he could not satisfy Christine's (and his own) craving for lemon curd - our store cupboard jar ran out after our first day aboard! Alas, Lidl no longer stock it - apparently it did not sell well . . . Sells even worse now. He also tried Holland and Barrett but they too kept much the same variety of jams and spreads as Lidl, just with fancier brands!

11 o'clock and we decided to give it a go - we had a lift bridge and lock just ahead of us with the service block below Banbury Lock. As luck would have it, another boat came past us as we were untying and agreed to leave the bridge up for us - in the end they kindly also closed it so Mike did not have to work out a single handed method for a lift bridge. 

We followed them down the lock - they were filling with water so we took our rubbish and elsan down before emptying the lock, Fortunately no other boat came along. They turned out to be fairly new and enthusiastic continuous cruisers and were on their way down to the K &A, so maybe we will see them again.

On today's route there are quite a few lift bridges (and some former bridge holes) but thankfully none of them are left closed. Nevertheless, in today's wind, it took plenty of concentration to steer through without bashing the sides!

The first lock was Grant's - the one where the lock cottage burnt to a shell a few years back, with nothing having happened since then. We stopped on a useful mooring just above the lock to have our lunch.

As we were untying to re-start our cruise, a boat came charging round the bend just before the lock and made sure that we knew they were entitled to steal the lock from us. No doubt they have yet to learn about the DIS markers. In the days of working boats, such an action would most likely have led to a 'confrontation' but we are in no hurry today as we planned to moor for the night having winded above Nell Bridge

At Twyford we held back to let an oncoming boat to come through the narrow gap between boats moored either side, only for them to suddenly turn into the short winding hole (60 ft according to Waterway Routes, 62ft according to a boater at the next lock who proudly told us that they had turned their 62 ft boat there last year!) without giving us any warning.

Anyway, in the process we learned that they are on a tighter schedule to get back to Oxford in their hire boat having had a delay with five boats in a queue at one lock. So, when we both reached Kings Sutton Lock we suggested they went on ahead and they were duly grateful.

Another pleasant stretch followed - a stiff breeze but much less strong than this morning and so easier to steer. Old and new bridges - the M40 is the third time it crosses the canal since we left the marina.

Suddenly a very low flying transport plane came overhead - we just managed to capture a picture of it. It felt very much larger in real life and even closer to the tree tops! It was too quick to get the camera out when the plane was at its nearest.

We turned in the winding hole as planned - a bit more difficult than it should have been as a CaRT work boat was moored opposite (us lesser mortals are not supposed to moor at a winding hole!) We found some good Armco for tonight's mooring, close to the last of several other work boats. The winding hole is just the other side of the lift bridge, just where the blue boats are.

6.2 Miles - 3 Locks