Aynho

Today's Canal : Oxford

Today was very different rom yesterday. When we initially awoke there was still much of the cloud still around by this quickly disappeared and by the time Mike went for a short explore around 8.45 sunshine and blue skies were the order for the rest of the day. 

Alongside our overnight mooring is Spiceball Park - just a large open area.

A hedge borders the towpath at this point and immediately beyond it is another public footpath, at this point pleasantly wandering though woodlands.

We set off just before 10 and soon passed under the Tom Rolt road bridge, named after one of the founders of the IWA which stimulated much of the canal restoration work of the last half century or more.

nb Hardy was the last wooden narrowboat bult by the famous Nursers of Braunston in 1940. Initially it was used extensively to carry coal but this trad dwindled until 1962 and since that time was used for leisure purposes. 

For some time it lay in Braunston submerged but in 2018 it was bought by Tooleys Boatyard in Banbury who brought it here and are in the long process of restoration. For a few years they kept it underwater to preserve the timbers but now it is at least afloat - much more work still to be done!

The first real challenge of the day was the lift bridge above Banbury Lock with Christine exploring whether her arm was sufficiently strong to steer the boat through lift bridges and into and out of locks from the lock landings. (Last trip she could only move the boat the short distance into and out of the locks and we had to enlist help at this bridge!)

At Banbury Lock, Christine spotted gentleman sitting on the bench beside it who obviously was keen to help. Mike lent him a windlass and he enthusiastically let the boat out of he lock, It tuned out that he cruised much of the network over 20 years but only last year had to give it up and was getting withdrawal symptoms!

We paused below the lock to use the services. Whilst the water tank was filling Mike took a look at a piece of public art similar to that at Cropredy Lock. The last one has an enigmatic inscription "The Greek who said you can never step into the same river twice" which is attributed to the 6th century BCE Heraclitus who asserted that everything is in a state of change and nothing ever remains permanent.

From Banbury southwards there are numerous lift bridges - all in the same style. Many of them seem to have little use with the rack on at least once side now missing.

A lot of the original bridges have long disappeared, presumably when their repair was no longer viable. The date stone on this one indicates that it was last rebuilt in 1943.

We moored for lunch on a good mooring just a little before Kings Sutton Lock. When we set off again, just after 2, it was not long before we reached the lock where a single hander was coming up - slowly. He even left one of the top paddles open and blithely offered it to us to close as a present!

The seasonal wild flowers have changed quite significantly from a month ago. We spotted the first yellow wild irises today.

This field hedge caught our attention as it is strangely well manicured - did it have some special significance? Actually the other side is not so maintained and looks just like all the other hedges. Nothing on old maps gives any clue.

The main rail line from Oxford to Banbury runs very close to the canal at this point and this former railway bridge once carried the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway that ran via Chipping Norton and Bourton-on-the-water. It was built after the three main north south lines that it interconnects and was intended to give the sparsely populated Cotswold area better access in a time when roads were still very inadequate, notably in the countryside. The ,line was constructed by a number of small companies which gradually amalgamated and eventually ended up as part of the Great Western Railway. As well as serving the local communities it also carried substantial iron ore from Northamptonshire to South Wales. By the early 1960s, parts gradually closed for lack of demand and the line was finally abandoned at the end of that decade. Determined enthusiasts can trace much of the route on foot, with the parts in towns now largely given over to housing.

We turned around above Nell Bridge Lock last trip but this time we continued on a little further, aiming to wind at Aynho Wharf. The locks below Banbury have single bottom gates, rather than the more usual pair. The gate here is rather hard to close as road widening has taken away the original part of the lock structure where boaters can gain some purchase to get the gate moving.

The next lock, Aynho Weir, comes just after the River Cherwell crosses the canal and is principally to protect the next pound from adverse rises in the river level. As a result its fall is only about 300 mm. It was built with an enlarged chamber in a diamond shape so that more water passes with each boat. This helps to ensure that the pound below does not run dry with another deep lock to follow.

For most of the years when we moored at Lower Heyford, Belchers Lift Bridge lay in pieces in the adjacent field - clearly there was little demand or it. More recently it has been repaired - perhaps it was listed and English Heritage stepped in to ensure that these iconic bridges did not further reduce in number, even if they no longer have much purpose!

Just after the bridge is a popular mooring spot - it has good Armco to tie to - and we were beginning to wonder where we might moor tonight. We spotted almost at the end of the line a suitably sized gap and we opted to pull straight in and not risk going on the short distance to the winding hole at Aynho Wharf. That manoeuvre can wait to the morning!

It is good to note that Christine's arm survived remarkably well today with the exception of when we grounded just below Nell Bridge. Getting off the bottom with the engine and tiller is quite strenuous on the arm so we know for the moment where the limits lie.

6.8 Miles - 5 Locks

Off Again to Banbury

Today's Canal - Oxford

We drove up to the boat yesterday. We were well organised and so were able to get away well before 11. Most of the car packing was done the day before, leaving only the fridge and freezer as the main remaining items.

We made very good time, with all the roads to Newbury rather quiet. The stretch of A34 up to Oxford was  busy with the usual nose to tail trucks but we still kept moving with the ETA at the same as when we set off. However we suddenly encountered a slow tail back and the ETA leapt forward over ten minutes. Not being a motorway we did not have regular overhead signs to update us and it was only just before the M40 that we discovered the cause. A lorry had broken down, blocking one lane so everything had to funnel at short notice into one lane. After that we were back to the original speed. At least it appeared not to have been an RTA.

Once at the boat we unloaded and stowed. Later we took the boat for the short grip to the service point to fill with diesel before taking it easy for the rest of the afternoon.

This morning we had to make sure we were up in reasonable time as the boat cleaner was coming to complete what she had started when we were back at home. With Christine substantially out of action when we came to the end of the last trip it was worth being able to come back to a nice, clean boat! (There is a message coded in the last sentence but you will just have to work it out for yourself!)

Whilst the cleaner was at work we went into Banbury for a visit mainly to Morrisons for a good shop to re-stock the larders but also whilst doing that to charge the car back up to 95%.

Our immediate plan is partly determined by going to a funeral in Hungerford next Wednesday. Going north from the marina does not give us a good option for travelling there by train so we plan to return to the marina and use the car. But watch this space - it could change. The funeral is for Ann, one of Mike's fellow Waterways Chaplains who, together with husband Steve has been supporting a lot of boaters on the stretch of the K & A.

Back at the boat it was almost time for lunch and we were ready to leave the marina just before 2. We have commented before about the twisting route we have to take to get from our mooring either to start a journey or to visit the fuel point. This picture was taken from the stern as we started to reverse from the pontoon so you can see that we are rather close to the narrows into the next part of the marina. The swing bridge is normally left across the water as it affords pedestrian access to the far side of the marina and is in frequent use. This means that Christine has to go ahead so that it is open as soon as the boat is ready to come through - even on a calm day the breeze can easily push a stationary boat into the wrong path! On the other side there is a narrows with landing stages either side so we can wait there, even doing that part single handed if need be. We have found that coming back in, the turn is just too tight, especially of there is a boat in the adjacent (not today and yesterday). Instead we go right forward, turn about and then come into the space with much less difficulty.

We turned right and retraced the route we covered just over a month ago. There were not many boats on the move but it seem that  quite a lot had m oved. That is, the number of boats appearing to be used by liveaboards were moored at all the usual places. Even so, there was rarely a lack of space,

Down through Cropredy Lock  and we found, to our relief, that Christine's arm has recovered sufficiently to be able to steer into and out of locks - this makes otherwise single handing very much easier, not having to walk back from the lock to untie and bring the boat in.

As we neared that first lock we could see that a boat was just leaving and they signalled that they were leaving the gates open for us, making it even easier! nothing had gone ahead of us so that the next three locks were all almost full, just needing the leakage to be topped up.

Yes, that is not an especially interesting photo but it is intended to convey today's weather. Despite forecast for sunny spells and 20C, kit was actually permanently grey and sufficiently chilly to put on an extra layer over our late spring short sleeves gear,

After Little Bourton Lock our first night stop on the last trip) we were tempted to carry on to the next lock. 

Yes, the dreaded yellow bags are still decorating paddles at both ends of Hardwick Lock. After this lock we were further tempted to look for our overnight mooring in Banbury. The final stretch was long enough for Christine to make tea and put jam into croissants as we cruised along. 

We did exchange a friendly wave from a gentleman in the conservatory as we passed this house once again - alas we were just to slow to capture the action in the shot.

There were several mooring spaces just before Sovereign Wharf so we popped into one of those rather than risk finding the central area fully occupied. At least we are out of range of the worst of the motorway noise.

4.7 Miles - 4 Locks

Back Home and Fracture Clinic

We packed the car slowly, but there was quite a lot to take for various different reasons. We were ready to leave by around 11:45 but opted for a final mug of coffee before setting off - we had rolls packed for lunch en route.

In the end it was 12:30 before we locked up the boat and 12:45 (after a visit to the marina office) when we finally hit the road. Traffic was generally quite light especially as it was the first day back to work for many after the long bank holiday weekend (aka Easter)

We made it back home without incident and just about the normally estimated best time.

Today we had to be at Swindon for 10am for Christine's Fracture Clinic appointment. Again, we found them well organised and although busy they got through remarkably quickly.

First an x-ray and then a short wait to see a consultant. It seems that the break is healing well, much as expected (so she can claim to have been behaving herself . . .) and an appointment with a physiotherapist will be made, hopefully before our scheduled return to the boat. A regime of exercises awaits. We were back in the car just a little over an hour from our arrival.

Housekeeping

This would normally have been 'car shuffle' day but as we ended up back where we started this time, that was not needed. Instead we allocated the day to various housekeeping tasks that normally get left 'to next time'.

Christine spent most of the morning sorting out the various clothes boxes, mainly in preparation for the change from the cool to warm or even hot season. This past week has actually been generally remarkably warm.

Mike had a short list of maintenance tasks, none of which was very substantial or earth shattering but inevitably each turned out to take rather more effort than could have been expected. One of the internal bolts to the bow doors has gradually become more annoying: it holds the door closed as well as ever but has lost its ability to stay unbolted, to the extent that just closing the door caused it to drop down into its recess in the door frame. First, Mike tried to see if a little force from a hammer might tighten it up enough but the metal declined to be at all malleable. We had to go in to Banbury to get some bread rolls, both for today and on the way home tomorrow so we stopped off at B&Q to buy a replacement. They had the right size in stock but when we got back to the boat we discovered that it did not have the same 'footprint' as the original, with screw holes in quite different places and overall much narrower and would obviously be a replacement. So, he thought, we will fit he new one at the top where the roller blind hides it from  normal view. At this point, he thought to fit the bottom one at the top (not a problem  being a bit loose this way up, it just drops down out of the way) and use the top one at the bottom. The bought one is now in our spares box where we already had one of the right size left over from Take Five but brass not chrome.

The main task set by Christine was to sort out several of the cupboards with tools and spares bits, as well as a box that had been sitting on a bunk bed for some months! 

The rear deck port locker had let in rain again and as Mike was drying it out, more rain arrived but at least he discovered how it was getting into the locker -  through the holes for the self tapping screws holding the lid hinges. These had to be removed during last year's repaint but they are no longer tight and thus leak. Of course, only two of the three in each hinge would shift. By now Mike was reluctant to drill them out, not sure whether we have the right size self tappers in our screw box. In the process he found some epoxy filler that we bought last year to deal with a similar problem with the screw holding the rear door lock in place. That fix seemed to have worked so let's try it here, by forming a large lump to mould around the underside of the screw, keep them steady and perhaps, may be perhaps, also keep the rain out. We shall see but if not we now have a better measure of what is needed and how long it might take. It might be that bolts and nuts, rather than self tappers is the way to go, especially as there is quite a bit of load placed on these hinges.

Normally, car shuffle day sees Christine giving the boat a good clean through whilst Mike is gallivanting around the public transport system. Yesterday, Christine asked in the marina office if they knew of a boat cleaner and was given a name of someone that does quite a bit of work here. She called immediately and has booked them to come in whilst we are back home - relief!

It looks as if it will be 4 or 5 weeks before we can cruise again, not least as The Arm needs plenty of time to heal properly. Her first visit to the fracture clinic in Swindon is on Wednesday so hopefully we will have a better estimate then (it might advise longer, of course) Some re-planning of this year's route is needed. We had been intending to go down the Nene and onto the River Great Ouse - we have never made it quite as far as Bedford. However, we do know about the manual guillotine locks on the Nene which are rather physically demanding. A route confined to narrow locks will be our first consideration but that will be busier sections than the lonelier parts of the empire that we normally head for in the summer. We shall see . . .

Quiet Easter

The morning service at Great Bourton was not until 11 am so we were able to take the start to the day at a slooow pace.

There was a reasonable congregation - around 25 with a few children and what seemed to be visiting either parents  or grandparents. The liturgy was tailored for the occasion when some of those attending might not be too familiar with what happens. It was led by a retired priest who looked as if she was well known to regular members. 

Afterwards we headed straight back to the marina so that we could fit in a 'proper' coffee before lunch - but no biscuits, too late for that!

After Mike spent the first part of the afternoon preparing our evening meal (a very tiny roast turkey joint and a peach and kiwi fruit upside down pudding)

Later Mike went Cropredy church to complete photographing the grave stones - he did the first part some months ago. Christine relaxing and pottering.

Back in the Marina

Today's Canal : Oxford

Just the final short hop back to the marina today. The weather had turned much more 'average' for the time of year, with overcast skies and a chill in the air. Actually, later it turned better with a smidgen of sunshine in the afternoon, once the morning showers had passed over. Fortunately they held off until we were moored up again.

When we moored yesterday we were the only boat, plus one already there, on a fairly long stretch of good mooring. As can be seen, when we left this morning there was quite a line of boats.

The small group of canoeists (probably from the centre in Cropredy) passed us just before we left and without warning turned to come back towards us and then seemed to play 'chicken', heading straight for us until the last moment when we could not see where they were! 

Later, one of the group paddled up close and was very cross with us because we were taking photos of them, "Very suspicious", he exclaimed ominously. He seemed unconvinced that we were photographing the canal features (bridges at this point), not in slightest interested in them and, in fact, rather wished they were not in the frame!

Then a long line of long term moorings which meant that the canoes could not pass us and so had to stay behind at a snail's pace! Much more interesting was to see our namesake boat.

And so to the last lock of the trip: Cropredy. A hire boat ahead was taking some time in the lock. Turned out that the lady who was working the paddles and gates was not confident to cross over the top gate footboard and so only opened the nearside paddle. As the bottom gates are quite leaky, they reached a steady stage a few inches below full with as much going out as was coming in. Once we opened the other paddle the lock was soon ready.

A new challenge just at the last minute - there was no-one around to open the swing bridge into Swan basin and so, for the first time, we had to do it ourselves. Not difficult to open and come through but closing it had to wait until we were moored, but by then another moorer had turned up and wanted to come across so closed it for us.

The wind had now picked up a bit more but we have now a routine for getting into the mooring slot  - made a lot easier by having a vacant pontoon next to us! Wider target to aim for.

After lunch we drove into Banbury, mainly to visit M&S on one of the out-of-town retail parks, so that Christine could use up some money-back coupons buying new pyjamas for Mike - as with most of the clothes he has on the boat they are hand-me-downs from home use and so these particular items had been declared as having reached the final end of their usable life! Christine was looking for a baseball style hat (but with a bit more style!) that has a wide brim to help keep the sun out of her eyes when steering (hoping that she will soon be sufficiently mended to resume those duties. It took three stores before she found a suitable size and design. We also drove to Morrisons - to get some items for a change of menu tonight. If we had company, we might have to call it party time!

1.7 Miles - 1 Lock

Slat Mill

Today's Canal : Oxford

We were away in good time today with just a short section before the services below Banbury Lock. The weather was quite pleasant although it gradually became a bit gloomier and chillier later with just a few drops of rain.

This moored boat reminded us the lengths some owners will go to find a relevant but unusual name for their boat. We assume this is an all-electric boat.

We arrived at the services with a boat that had passed some time before we set off, still ensconced and doing its tasks rather slowly with rest intervals in between. Once we were able to move up and start our own tasks we had quite a lot to do. As well as most of the water tank to fill, there was also the elsan, glass, recycling and general rubbish to dispose. Not sure how they will fit in the extra food waste bin when it finally makes its appearance. Having the bins under lock and key is rather important in this urban setting. This service block seems to attract enough vandalism as it is.

Once we were through the lock the next obstacle was the lift bridge by Tooley's boatyard. Despite Mike's intention to do it all himself. Christine wisely persuaded the chap from a boat on the upper water point to do it for her!

Alongside Tooley's we spotted Milly M, known to us from our time mooring at Lower Heyford. We think he has been here for a while now.

Responses to an earlier blog hinted that we should look out for Dink as we passed her house (sadly, Malc passed away a little while ago) Alas the only creature in the conservatory today was the rocking horse - and it failed to respond to our wave!

Rather more traffic today - some boaters coming down reported queues of up to five boats but we only had shorter delays. Mostly there was a boat waiting to come down and willing to lend a hand. The first two locks conveniently have bridges just below where the steerer can jump ashore having taken the boat almost into the lock and allow it to drift gently to the end (or with Christine able to slow it down it needed)

The second two locks had no such help so Mike need to take the boat right in and then use the boat roof and the lock ladder to get ashore to work the lock.

We found a convenient stretch of good mooring just above Slat Mill Lock - by the time we had finished lunch we decided to complete the short run to the marina in the morning. The chance of rain this afternoon had also been increased in the latest weather update.

4.4 Miles - 4 Locks