Author: mick

Today was spent travelling down the Oxford canal toward Oxford.  The scenery continues to be beautiful and the weather brilliant – although it looks like today was the last day of good weather!

We have turned round at Kirtlington and then stopped overnight just outside Kirtlington, next to the river Cherwell which is now noticeably larger than it is in Cropredy.  The Cherwell soon feeds into the Thames.

No pictures today as hard at it at the tiller!  A noticeable mention today for Wendy who took the boat in and out of a lock unaided.

Tomorrow we start to head back to Cropredy for the weekend visit of the Duke family to which we are really looking forward to.

The map of the day

 

Today’s trip took us to new territories, out of the Marina and turn right, this takes us right through the centre of Banbury and eventually on to Oxford, you can also join the Thames.

Stumbled across a farm shop, they have sofa’s fire pits and sell local Gin and Cider.  For us we needed a few mushrooms which they had.

Wendy with the cows.

 

Even the cows were enjoying a paddle.

This is where the river Cherwell just flows directly across the Oxford Canal, as its been dry it was fine but judging by the size of the weir it must get pretty hairy at times.

Todays map

Ok, Its a day late…

A busy day, taking the boat from Napton locks all the way back to Cropredy, thats 15 miles and 17 locks.

We started at Napton and worked through the locks, this is the view from “top Lock”

This is a tricky right hand turn, not that much room for a 68 footer.

The trip from Napton down to Cropredy was really nice, some beautiful scenery and a lovely warm day.

Short trip along the Oxford approaching the marina.

On arriving at Cropredy the reflection of the sky was fantastic

Now for that age old question, does my bum look big in this 🙂

When we arrived back at the Marina our post had arrived, I had been quite active on amazon and eBay!

Among the essential items was wine (thanks Naked wines) and a tea cosy 😀

This is the map of the day.

Its Sunday so we went to Church for the pentecost service at St Lawrence in Napton on the hill, This is a lovely village church, very welcoming and even remembered us from last time we were there.

After church we walked back down the hill to the folly pub for a sunday lunch, while we were waiting for our very substantial lunch to arrive we were treated with some very traditional english dancing!

 

We will stay here tonight and move on through the Napton lock flight tomorrow heading for Cropredy.

 

Another quiet morning, we had moored in a place where we had internet and that allowed us to watch the royal wedding – didn’t she look lovely.

After that we have made it to the bottom of Napton locks.  Tomorrow we will make the walk up to St Lawrence  for their sunday service.

We have now changed our route, we were going to make our way to Warwick, but now we will head back to Cropredy where we have a wine delivery waiting 🙂

Today’s journey

 

Not much to say about today.  We are heading back down the Ashby toward the Coventry Canal.  Once we reach there tomorrow we are going to head into Coventry for the Day

Here is the map of the day.

 

Started the day with a visit to St Peters in Bosworth where we were welcomed with open arms.

Swan begging for food by trying to eat the boat!

Been a quiet day, we have stayed put at Market Bosworth and got a few jobs done.

Wendy has used the Marina Washing machines and done all the washing and I have got on with a few jobs

1. Touched up some of the scratches down the side – there will be more!

2. Finally fitted the bathroom shower extractor properly

The boat never had one of these originally so this is a retrofit. Quite pleased with the result.

This is where we are

Leaving the end of the Ashby means going back though a tunnel

Change of transport today!

There were tea rooms but we both resisted the naughty stuff!

Water tower for the steam train

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKU6z9EmZcM&feature=share

Cleaning and polishing time

I new I was bald but didnt realise it went that far back….thank to wendy for taking this I know do!

We have continued on the Ashby canal to its current end.

The area had a lot of coal mining and subsidence has closed the canal.

There is plans to try to reinstate it but it’s not imminent!

This is the original sign that’s been placed on a renewed bridge. Goes back a far way to 1889.

The current end of the line

The view from the bridge

What’s lays in store for the restoration

Wendy is taller than a rape plant – just!

Todays map