Back into Marina - just for a couple of days

Today's Canal : Oxford

We are actually able to return to the marina a day earlier than needed but we were concerned that if we went on to the next place to turn about we might have erred the other way. A visit to M&S (if they have any stock yet!) has been planned for this stopover but that is tomorrow. We will also do a good stock up as it is quite a distance northwards before we can find very much.

The morning was rather grey, chilly but not cold. We were ready in good time and it was only 9:43 when we went under the first bridge. 

There was a brief glimmer of sunshine as we arrived at the first lock but it did not prevail for long.

There was a slight surprise when we arrived at Little Bourton Lock. When we came by on the last trip in April some scaffolding had been put up around one chimney (see) but the structure was still intact. This time, the brickwork has all been disassembled and stacked ready for rebuilding (we assume). So, although it looks as if nothing is happening, someone is doing something! It is never going to be an easy project and we noticed also this time that there is no garden to the rear, the field comes right up to the cottage wall.

The rest of the route was quite familiar -  we did have another encounter with a posse of canoes, overtaking a boat coming towards us, on a blind bend. Seems to be a common experience around here from comments by other boaters! 

We also had to hold back at another bend with several boats moored and an oncoming hire boat gave them too much room and hence ran aground on the inside of the bend. As we waited, the fuel boat Dusty came up behind us and we let the, go ahead, once the way was clear.

Finally we came through Cropredy village and thence into the marina. Again, with almost no wind, it was straightforward.

By now it was lunch time and afterwards Mike tackled the after effects of a rather substantial bird strike - with poo dropped all along the roof and the sides. Not sure when it happened but it was some time over the weekend when we were in Banbury or at Spiceball. It is difficult to remove and by the time Mike had cleaned off the worst places it was obvious that a full clean of the roof was needed. That done, more droppings were found on the sides and so that needed a wash as well. Actually, we already knew that we would have to tackle the sides quite soon as a think layer of dust from the marina car park surface had covered stem to stern! Overall, we are now looking quite a bit smarter - doubt it will last very long!

4.7 Miles - 4 Locks