We have spent a few days at Braunston, enjoying the sunshine and meeting up with a few familiar faces. We were originally moored on the 48hr moorings but once we decided to stay over the bank holiday weekend we moved round the corner onto the 14 day moorings.
Braunston was, as expected, very busy at the weekend, everyone enjoying the sunshine.There were the inevitable speeders on the cut, but not as many as I might have expected. We really didn't feel like joining in the cavalcade of boats, we can cruise any time so there was no point in adding to the congestion.We got some painting done and I crocheted myself a sun hat.
We set off this morning after evicting a toad from our fender and headed for Wigram's Turn where the Grand Union turns westwards towards Warwick and the Oxford continues south towards Banbury and Oxford. The Oxford canal follows a meandering almost river-like course as it follows the contour round Napton-on-the-hill, crowned by its windmill.
From Braunston we had a journey of about eight miles to reach Napton bottom lock where we dumped the rubbish we had accumulated during our stay at Braunston. With that job done we made our way up through the locks, a very easy journey today as there were plenty of boats heading down the flight so locks were set in our favour, mostly with the bottom gates left open for us by an oncoming boat.
We carried on beyond the moorings at the top lock at Marston Doles for just over a mile and moored near Priors Hardwick for the night.
Today's journey 11.9 miles and 9 locks
This year we have travelled 148.1 miles, 161 locks, 5 swing bridges and 1 tunnel
In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks, 55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 2226.7 miles, 1921 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 72 tunnels
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