Fenny Compton

After having a really good day's cruise yesterday we only made a little progress today.Our journey was hampered by strong winds and the winding course of the canal gives little opportunity to get used to the direction the wind is hitting you from before you go round a bend and are being buffeted from a different direction. We managed to reach the moorings at Fenny Compton before we decided to call time on our journey.

It was an uneventful day, photography wasn't an option, I don't think I could have held the camera steady!
The next couple of days don't seem to have a lot to recommend them as far as the weather is concerned so we may stay here until Saturday. It is a pity that cowslips are a protected species, I could have picked enough to make some cowslip wine.

Today's journey 5.7 miles


This year we have travelled 153.8 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 2232.4 miles, 1921 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 72 tunnels

New territory, the South Oxford

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

Braunston Turn

Ok, I confess, I had a blonde moment yesterday, quite clever for a redhead! Braunston, as any boater knows, has six locks not seven like I said yesterday.

Anyway, I woke this morning to find that my bucket of herbs which I lovingly planted at Fenny Stratford had been totally trashed. No, it wasn't the local youths it was the local feathered vandals, they did leave me a present of a duck egg. I almost feel guilty that when that duck comes back to her 'nest' she will find it is no longer there.

We made our way through Braunston tunnel, meeting just one boat on the way, at the kink of course. Then it was down through the six locks to Braunston in glorious sunshine under cloudless blue skies. I felt quite envious of the customers at the Admiral Nelson enjoying a lunchtime beer beside the canal. I left Ray to work through the bottom lock solo while I went into The Boat Shop and bought us an ice cream each.

We moored by Braunston turn and phoned Brian to let him know where we were and he was with us in about twenty minutes to look at our fridge/freezer. It has now been regassed and seems to be working well. After that we wandered over to Midland Chandlers to get the part to fix the leak on our water pump. We found they had a similar pump on a special offer so we had the choice of £30 to repair our old pump or buy a new one for £60 with a 3 year warranty. we decided to opt for the new pump. so we now have a working fridge/freezer and a new water pump, fitted by Ray this afternoon. So all is well apart from our bank balance!

We have loads of time to waste now as I need to be in Banbury on the 15th which doesn't really give us enough time to go to Oxford and back, not the way we like to travel, so we will slowly make our way to Banbury, with lots of days off.

Today's journey 3.3 miles and 6 locks


This year we have travelled 136.2 miles, 152 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 2214.8 miles, 1912 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 72 tunnels

At the tunnel end

Our planned day off turned into two, the weather continued to be very blustery so we decided not to move.
After a day of getting the washing done and a bit of boat tidying on Sunday we had a fairly lazy day yesterday. I did some crocheting, porthole lace coming off the 'production line' and also owl keyrings.

Today the wind had dropped and we pulled pins and made our way to Buckby flight in cool but mainly sunny weather. We experienced the amusing scenario of overtaking the traffic on the adjacent motorway for about a mile, it's such a slow life on the canals!

When we had readied the bottom lock there were two boats heading up the straight towards us so we held the lock, then both of them moored up. It always seems to work that way, if you wait people are stopping and if you don't they are carrying on. There was a fair bit of movement through Buckby flight today, not busy but a few boats on the move. We did the usual 'facilities' stop at the top lock and were going to moor there for the night but the 'fridge man' phoned us to say he can see us tomorrow in Braunston so we moved up to the east portal of Braunston tunnel. We took a stroll to the shops and got some bread, milk and a few bits then made our way back to the boat fortified with a portion of chips to eat on the way. We can both remember not being allowed to eat in the street, even at the seaside we had to find a bench to sit on if we were allowed some chips, it's probably a generational thing.

We will have Braunston tunnel and seven locks to look forward to tomorrow and after that it will depend on what the diagnosis is on our fridge.

Today's journey 8.4 miles and 7 locks

This year we have travelled 132.9 miles, 146 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 2211.5 miles, 1906 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 72 tunnels

A very wet tunnel

We had to start the day with Ray sorting out the tunnel lights, it transpired that there was a slightly dodgy connection in the switch. While he was doing that I wandered back down to the blacksmith's hut. There was a young man working there who wants to try and find funding to allow him to serve a proper apprenticeship. If there are any very rich people reading who would like to sponsor him contact him via Bob Nightingale at Blisworth tunnel!

Once the light switch was sorted we made our way through the tunnel which was very, very wet. There were waterfalls down the ventilation shafts and mini waterfalls through the brickwork of the walls in places. We made good time through the tunnel and soon reached the north portal.

After leaving the southern end in a hail storm we emerged into sunshine 40 minutes later. We stopped briefly in Blisworth for some bread and milk then carried on cruising to Heyford Fields Marina, well just past it. Sunday being a day of rest we will take tomorrow off, it probably won't be very restful as there is a basket full of dirty washing that needs doing.


Today's journey 7.8 miles and 1 tunnel

This year we have travelled 124.5 miles, 139 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 2203.1 miles, 1899 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 72 tunnels

A different sort of day

Although this is Friday's blog it probably won't appear until Saturday because we are moored close to the south portal of Blisworth and the internet signal is a bit hit and miss.

Blisworth tunnel entrance

The day started with Ray managing to leave a mooring pin behind at our overnight mooring, he normally hands me the pins before he steps on board but because the wind was making Morgana behave badly he stepped on in a hurry bringing the rope with him but not the pin.

We made our way to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne, got rid of our rubbish and decided to wait a while to see if another boat came along to share with. Just as we decided to move Shaun (Sean? forgot to ask the spelling) and Mary on NB Zygmena arrived so we shared locks with them. When I walked on to set the second lock I found that NB Victoria, Royalty Fuels was loading with coal there, they said they would be about 15 minutes, it was obviously canal time more like half an hour. Whilst chatting I discovered he had 2 bags of coal to go to the blacksmith's hut at the tunnel entrance, we had intended to stop before that but I volunteered our services to take them, it was easier than him having to walk up the flight with a sack barrow. They were loaded on board as we worked through the second lock and it meant we had an extra pair of hands to work the lock flight.

We made good time up the flight and were soon moored up near the blacksmith's hut and the coal was delivered. Bob Nightingale, the blacksmith makes excellent mooring pins as well as other things. They are more expensive than the standard ones you will find in a chandlery but are worth the extra in my opinion. Our pin obviously got left behind so we could justify buying a new one.

The blacksmith's hut at Blisworth tunnel

The weather has thrown a bit of everything at us today, sunshine, wind, rain, sleet and hail. I'm glad I didn't buy flowers for the boat as there is the chance of frost for the next couple of nights.

Today's journey 5.7 miles and 7 locks

This year we have travelled 116.7 miles, 139 locks and 5 swing bridges

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 2195.3 miles, 1899 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Out and about in the sunshine

Today was beautifully warm, fairly sunny but so very windy. I'm sure I have commented before about how a flat sided narrowboat presents a large, in our case about 30ft x 5ft, 'sail' to catch the wind. For most of our journey today we had the wind blowing across the canal, it's not too bad when you are in 'open water' but is problematical when passing moored boats, especially if you encounter a boat coming in the opposite direction at the same time. I'm told that our problems are made worse becasue we are shallow-draughted and tend to bob across the surface of the water. Slowing down while passing moored boats wasn't much of an option today,it was either go past faster than normal or risk being blown into them, I know which I would prefer, a little bit of extra rocking on a windy day is preferable to being bumped.

We have noticed a marked increase in the number of hire boats since Easter so I guess the cruising season is underway. There are pros and cons during the 'season' , on the plus side you are more likely to meet other boats at locks to either share the lock or at least do part of the work, the flights of locks are more likely to be manned and the waterside businesses tend to operate longer hours. On the downside when you do want to moor in towns and villages the moorings are more congested, you are more likely to be delayed at locks and going through tunnels can get really interesting.

We gave up after a couple of hours travelling today as the wind was making it hard work, we reached Thurp Wharf and decided to call it a day. The cats were happy because they had loads of time to go mousing, although Treat keeps bringing shrews back, which none of them eat. At least I don't think we have any live ones running around at the moment.

Tomorrow we intend to get as far as Stoke Bruerne and moor in the long pound, giving us two locks and Blisworth Tunnel to look forward to on Saturday.

Today's journey 5.4 miles and 1 lock

This year we have travelled 111 miles, 132 locks and 5 swing bridges

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 2189.6 miles, 1892 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels