really on our way now

Wednesday was a glorious morning to set off from Fenny Compton at 6.30!

We had the long winding journey of the Oxford summit to look forward to and what a great day to do it.

Hardly saw another boat in either direction until just before the first locks at Marston Doles.   Then of course one of the boats moored just ahead saw us coming and pulled out in front of us!   Some grumbling from a certain person, but after my initial annoyance I decided the day was too nice and life to short so hung back. and thought of England....as you do!

We did these two locks and then the top one of the Napton flight and there was no one in our preferred mooring opposite the field of Buffalos.

There used to be a  tearoom here on a local farm which sold among other things, buffalo ice cream, but it is long gone.   The fields of Buffalo remain however.

Man at work!

Thursday dawned somewhat murkier but the rain not too heavy.    The forecast for Friday looked worse so we decided to move our rest day to then.  Another early start, but slightly more civilised at 8am

Napton on the hill in the mist as we travel down the flight

We dont see another boat for ages and then meet one at a bridge

Further on we passed two huge fields of something growing of a purple/blue colour but couldnt decide what it was.   Willing to be enlightened.

eventually stopped in our planned spot again!    just short of bridge 101 and just over a mile outside Braunston.

Catch up day with various things tomorrow and then we will have the short trip in to have breakfast at the Gongoozlers Cafe, which we have been reliably informed is open.

Over the last 2 days we have travelled 15 miles and travelled through 9 locks.   3 days very pleasant gentle cruising to wash away the frustration of being held up by my fall.

We have escaped

 Two animals from todays trip.   One stuffed monkey driving a narrow boat and tthe most gorgeous looking Black Labrador that gave us both a pang as we went by.  We sadly said goodbye to Barney 2 1/2 months ago and its still very hard.

Just under a month later than planned we have finally set off.

My ribs were initially very slow to show any improvement.  So painful that Emma organised a telephone doctors appointment for me.  Lovely doctor who said I must go back to A and E to ensure I had not done more than cracked ribs.  So I spent the best part of  another another day in Horton hospital and a scan showed no other damage luckily, just confirmed 3 broken ribs.   However I was given stronger painkillers this time, Oromorphine.   The first day on this sent me away with the fairies……a very unpleasant feeling, but my body soon acclimatised itself and it was a great help. Geoff then set me on the train to London where Emma met me and I had a relaxing weekend being looked after very well and able to see granddaughter.
So 4 weeks on and 85% better,  we set sail, so to speak, this morning.   We very nearly didn’t however.
Whilst in the marina at Cropredy we have had the loo fixed and everything had been checked over.  Geoff ran the engines a couple of days ago and all seemed well.    As soon as the reception opened I trotted along to settle the bill and said Goodbye to all.   All set to go and the engine wouldn’t start!!   No amount of coaxing produced life, so we plugged back into the mains and had another go but no joy.  By this time I had a very unhappy husband😱😱😱
Our luck was in as we saw Clive who does our maintenance drive by to another boat.   He kindly came and had a look and did some fiddling around but was somewhat perplexed.   However he did get us going so we have set off optimistically.  We have moored in Fenny Compton in case we have the same problem in the morning and he has said he would come out for us again.

After all that we had a really good start to our cruising.  Pleasant temperature, not too hot and no rain.   The canal was not nearly as busy as we had foreseen.   There were enough boats going each way to make life interesting but not so many that we had to queue at locks.  We started with one boat just ahead of us but after the first lock they stopped for breakfast..(11am!).

So we are on our way at last.  No problem finding a mooring at Fenny Compton although a freshening wind tried to hamper our attempts to moor as though we knew what we were doing!   We even had spectators on the boat behind.......quite embarassing.

 

Total distance:5.38 miles Elapsed time:3h27m32s Locks:8 

Bridges:14Average speed:1.56 mph (3.87 lock/mph)

 

 

Off to a cracking start

 A very apt title to this post😱😱😱😱

After a pleasant weekend with friends Mary and Ivan we were reunited with the good ship Petroc on Monday.   We were lucky enough to complete the unloading of the car before extremely heavy rain and thunder set in.We even managed a meet up for supper with Iain, Christine and Fiona in the Brasenose Arms in Cropredy.  Under new management, we had an excellent meal.

With two more visits to friends planned before venturing out onto the cut, we returned to Petroc.   Then it all went wrong!  Somehow, and I have no recollection, I slipped down the step getting inside.  Alcohol cannot be blamed as I had had one small glass of wine before driving back.  In fact if I had had more it would probably have been better!

As it was I landed in a tangled heap amidst the chair situated just inside having passed by the stove en route, thankfully not lit.

It was a good job there was no one on the neighbouring boats as they would have thought Geoff was murdering me, such were my howls of pain.

With some difficulty and with assistance from Geoff I managed to get to bed thinking I might have a few bruises in the morning.   However the pain intensified through the night and at 4am, by which time Geoff was blissfully asleep, I called 111 as I was convinced I could have broken my hip.   

This line seems to be a good triage system albeit there were a lot of admin questions before we got to the all important....What seems to be the problem?   However the promised call from a doctor was not long in materialising.  He was very reassuring and I was able to believe him that it was not my hip.   He ended by saying that if the pain got worse or I was worried I should go to the A and E in Banbury.   I debated the pros and cons of this for the the next few hours but the decision was made by daughter Emma who insisted I went if only for stronger pain killers.  

This managed to fill the morning.  Only 1.5 hours wait which could have been a lot worse and I then saw a very nice doctor who confirmed no hip broken, but a couple of cracked ribs and prescribed stronger pain killers.......

So here I am confined to boat and departure delayed.  Not the best start to our summer cruising, BUT, it could have been so much worse........so whilst I am exceedingly cross I also thank heaven for small mercies😎😎 

To a Mouse

BY ROBERT BURNS

On Turning her up in her Nest, with the Plough, November 1785.

Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie,

O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!

Thou need na start awa sae hasty,

          Wi’ bickerin brattle!

I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee

          Wi’ murd’ring pattle!

I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion

Has broken Nature’s social union,

An’ justifies that ill opinion,

          Which makes thee startle,

At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,

          An’ fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;

What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!

A daimen-icker in a thrave

          ’S a sma’ request:

I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,

          An’ never miss ’t!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!

It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin!

An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,

          O’ foggage green!

An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin,

          Baith snell an’ keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,

An’ weary Winter comin fast,

An’ cozie here, beneath the blast,

          Thou thought to dwell,

Till crash! the cruel coulter past

          Out thro’ thy cell.

That wee-bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble

Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!

Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble,

          But house or hald,

To thole the Winter’s sleety dribble,

          An’ cranreuch cauld!

But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane,

In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men

          Gang aft agley,

An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,

          For promis’d joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!

The present only toucheth thee:

But Och! I backward cast my e’e,

          On prospects drear!

An’ forward tho’ I canna see,

          I guess an’ fear!

The best laid plans of mice and men

Another (very short) cruising season over

 After a somewhat soggy sojourn in Banbury we have made it back to base.

The sorry sight of Banbury centre at the moment

It used to be a lovely place to moor but sadly it is now a noisy building site.   However we mananged to find space around the corner after Tom Tolt bridge.   There we stayed hunkered down for three nights of heavy rain.   The one bright spark of the stay was an outing for supper to a local hostelry with Bones, Maffi and Susan.

Sunday saw a lessening of the rain so after coffee we decided to make a run for Cropredy.  We have never seen the locks with so much water

Walking across the top gates to work the paddles
 both sides was quite an adventure!

The tow paths were awash and in some places almost non existent.

However the rain held off and we had a easonable run back to Cropredy.   

Now all that remains is to pack everything up and abandon poor Petroc until the spring.   We are hoping it wont be such a long time away as this year.

 

ever onwards

Sunday saw the arrival of Gill and Ronnie complete with home baked cake!!  Slight pause in the diet for the next few days at coffee time......

We lunched in the Jolly Boatman which was OK apart from the mask wearing.   Now you have to wear it until you sit down and if you get up to go to the loo.......however we all seem to be getting used to it.

sneaking quietly out of Thrupp just after 7 on Monday morning.

Geoff has the bridge raised ready for me.

We stopped to water etc and then had a delightful cruise.  Extremely cold when we set out but sunshine and it did warm up.   The intended plot was to bypass Lower Heyford as the WIFI in the area is less than useless and I had a bridge game booked in the afternoon.   We carried on above Allens Lock in the hope of finding a better signal but to no avail.   I had to reluctantly give in and cancel my game.

 Tuesday was  a more leisurely start, somewhat duller but not as cold and it did perk up eventually.  We were definitely in search of better WIFI for this evening as I had bridge booked again!!

Alternative Balcony

Moored just beyond Ayno Wharf opposite what we call Rabbit field.
It used to be full of rabbits but no longer,  Not sure what happened to them.
However as you can see there are new residents.

Luckily there is water between the cows and us!

During the afternoon Maffi passed by with Susan and stopped for a chat.

The forecast for today was dire so we having a layover day.

 

Back to Thrupp

 3 days in London for me whilst Geoff lingered in solitude just outside Thrupp.    Not completely devoid of company thpugh as Maffi and Susan paused briefly to say helloand his mate Fletch called by to whisk him off to the pub for a pint.  That was apparently not the best experience with the new COVID rules.   They had to sit to be served and when the waitress came over and was asked what beers they had, she didnt know!!!!

For me it was sights like this ........

.....to this

That was after battling with underground station that were shut and tubes that never came!!!!   However British Rail (is it still called that??)  came good by being 5 minutes early into Oxford allowing me to just catch the bus I needed and not have to wait 1/2 hour for the next one.

Just tthe one lock to  Thrupp so a gentle little cruise.  Very blustery today.

Friends Gill and Ronnie arriving for lunch tomorrow. 

northwards we go

overnight at Aristotle Bridge moorings

Very quiet here and moored opposite some lovely back gardens.  

Another early start today, probably the last if the weather forecast is correct.   It is Ok to have an early start when the temperature is reasonable as today but we are doing this for pleasure and once the cold and rain set in I shall be more reluctant to leave my bed too soon in the mornings!

The first part today was slow as expected as there are a large number of boats moored which reduces our speed,  There are also several lifting bridges for geoff to operate so he had a good walk along that stretch.

One of our small bridges to negotiate as we travel under a much larger road bridge.

Approaching Dukes cut, the other way to the Thames.

 Our goal was Thrupp but just after Kidlington Green lock there was space on the moorings so Geoff decided he would be quite happy there for the next few days whilst I depart for London and granny sitting.   Its a 20 min walk to the road to catch the bus to Oxford and thence the train to London so that will be my exercise for the day!!

Lockdown news is not good but no sign that grannies are to be incarcerated again yet......so have to make the most of it.

Down to the meadow

Nice little spot on the meadow

We eventually left our cosy little mooring above the lock and moved down to the meadow.   On Thursdy we met up with friends Dick and Jackie and took ourselves off to the Nags Head for lunch.  Good company but meal and service left a little bit to be desired.      Ah well...cant have everything.

On Saturday we availed ourselves of a Weatherspoon breakfast.  Not exactly gourmet cooking but fills a space and is dirt cheap!!  Whats more I dont have to cook it or wash it up.

Later in the day Giles and the boys arrived in White Velvet.

No room to moor near us so we took our contributions to BBQ and ate in their garden!    The hamburgers were 100% improvement on the ones we had in the Nags Head!!

Giles and the boys decided to stay the night, their first night sleeping on board.  

Sunday was the last day of our licence so we had an early start back to Oxford.   0720!!!!   Not used to these early mornings anymore.  We watered at the top of the lock and then had a pleasant run back, all the locks on self service.   The lock keepers seem to be on much shorter hours.

Stayed the night in the moorings above Osney Lock and after shopping today bade a fond farewell to the Thmes.   Such a brief visit this year but at least we made it.

Hardly a boat had moved this morning but as I approached ISIS lock a hire boat emerged and turned around to go back up.   Not a great drama as we were not in a rush and luckily the plan was only to go as far as Aristortle Bridge.   It might have been tedious if we were going further as it was a learner driver going at snails pace.    There is slow......and slower.

from wide river

to narrow canal

Goodbye River Thames

Lingering above Abingdon

Sunrise from our mooring

view from our kitchen window.  I thought they were harvesting the wheat
but it turns out they were digging up potatoes

 So nice on the mooring we lingered yet another day but then moved down to the meadows in Abingdon.    Availed ourselves of the sanitary station at the top of the lock.  However despite a good flow of water we left before completley filling the tank as a large number of people were waiting.

Found a congenial spot although we had trouble getting the stern right in.......a bit shallow......do we need rain????                     

Met old friends Dick and Jackie and took ourselves off to lunch in the Nags Head.  Good company, but service and food that left a little bit to be desired.  Despite having booked a table we still had to queue to get in and efficiency didnt seem to be much in evidence. 

Theres worrying talk of further lockdowns on the news so we are wondering what will happen next.

Seduced by a nice mooring

 

We set off on Sunday morning with Abingdon the goal.    However just short of Abingdon we saw a lovely little spot that was just Petroc size out in the open........

We had seen the lock keeper on Saturday evening who said he would be at Osney Lock just after 9 and yes he could sell us a short stay Thames licence.   This was contrary to what the lady at EA had told me previously on the telephone, who said lock keepers were no longer issuing licences!!

We duly presented ourselves and bought a weeks licence.  

Rowers our in force......it is Sunday!

We gently ambled our way through Oxford doing some neat zigzagging to avoid lots of rowers.   

We briefly thought we might moor above Sandford lock for the night but there was no room.    

Just short of Abingdon however we spotted this nice little place......might have been made for us.

We are alongside the pathway so we see walkers.   So pleasant we have decided to stay an extra day.   We seem to have chosen the best week for our mini Thames trip.   In fact today is even too hot to sit in the sun......

However life is not right unless the skipper has something to moan about.   After breakfast I discovered a leak from one of the inlet pipes to the galley sink!   There ensued a lot of huffing and puffing on his part.   At the moment we have a bowl underneath and cloth wrapped around but G walked into Abingdon for his exercise and came back with something that is supposed to cure leaks.......we shall see when it is administered later.    Looks like another job for the winter maintenance list.

This mornings sunrise

A week in Oxford

 Monday saw our departure from Thrupp.   A gentle run down to Oxford.

Some stretches quietly rural

Some quite closed in.....our small lifting bridge ahead with much bigger bridge
 carrying the main road up above, just visible through the trees.

One lock in need of some TLC over the winter methinks.

A lovely memorial to a 78 yeard old lady.

After a very slow final stage of the journey as we pass lots of moored boats, we filled up with water etc and then found plenty of space at Aristotle Bridge moorings.    These moorings are designated as quiet moorings.   We are asked to keep engine noise to a minimum and generally keep quiet.  The notice fascinates me as there is a park on the towpath side where children play (it dosent bother us but children make noise!) and on the opposite side the houses are all set well back from the waters edge so are unlikely to hear anything.  I am not sure the notice is directed at the correct people!

On Wednesday we moved down to the end of the canal so I was near the station.  London this week for 2 days grannysitting......

This was the day we heard there were more COVID restrictions coming into force.   Slightly worrying as our plan is for a week on the Thames.  Geoff felt if we were to go into lockdown again he would rather be home in Conwall!   However Emma and I managed to persuade him we should keep to plan A for the time being.   Accordingly, on Friday, in my absence he moved Petroc down the last lock and onto the moorings just before the first Thames Lock.

Forecast looks good for the week, even rather hot, so we will take advantage of what could be the last of summer.

One good thing to come out of lockdown is my bridge playing.   In previous years I have missed playing  all summer, but during lockdown I was persuaded to try playing online.  This was something I had sworn I would never do, but any port in a storm........

I now really enjoy it and can continue to play whilst we are away.  I think it will be a while before we are back to playing at the club so this could be the new norm.

Busy at Thrupp

Big Chimney??

On Friday we had a gentle cruise down to Lower Heyford.   We moored just short of the bridge with designs on having our Saturday breakfast in the cafe there.  Sadly it was not to be as the cafe has not reopened since COVID.   Neither is the shop doing papers anymore.   I had also discovered previously that the station was no longer a good place for my trips to London as it appeared there were hardly any trains stopping there.    All in all a bit of a disappointment.  However it was a pleasant enough mooring for the night.

Saturday was a very early start by order of the skipper!!!  A little bit after 7am saw us on our way.   

En route we saw a rather tall chimney, at least I assume it was a chimney and not some secret type of aerial.

Geoff solo whilst I walk along the stretch where the river Cherwell joins the canal for a while.

I hopped off later on for my morning exercise.   Its very odd as we dont have Barney on board so we are not doing as much walking...getting lazy.   Sadly his age and back legs are not what they were and he would not manage getting on and off Petroc, let alone the steps on the boat.  So he is residing with Giles and family in Goring Heath. 

Here he has a new pal called Ronnie.  Ronnie is an injured duck who is being lovingly tended by Susannah after being injured by a fox.  He is just a small part of the menagerie that resides chez Lovegroves in Goring Heath.   I think it is 8 chickens, 9 ducks(including Ronnie), 2 cats, 1 dog (+Barney) and a Bearded Dragon...oh yes and a goldfish...a very large one.

On reaching Thrupp we found it was very full.  No room on the 7 day moorings but we just managed to squeeze in on the 2 day stretch.

Sunday lunch in the boat in was advertised as a carvery but although the carvery was in view, we were not allowed to help ourselves, it had to be done by the staff.   such is COVID.    However this does not seem to be a universal rule as we have had a carvery in Cornwall where we could help  ourselves.

 

slowly heading south

Gently meandering down the Oxford and under the many lifting bridges.  

Nowadays they all seem to be left open    M40 in the distance

Gently grazing cows...best viewed from a distance

Some sorry sites along the way

and even sorrier at Cropredy

 

But all nice again at Aynho   the view from my kitchen window

We`ve actually moved

 Petroc has had 3 weeks in the Marina at Cropredy, a lot of the time with Geoff on board and occasionally with me on board.   There has been a round of grand daughter sitting, house sitting and animal sitting.   I even had to lock chickens and ducks up for the night on Sunday, much against my better judgement, and let them out again the morning.

BUT we are off at last.   We broke free just before lunch today and travelled all of 0.64 miles to the bottom of Cropredy lock!    All systems go now.........we have just about 5 weeks and we may just make it as far as Oxford.    

Things seem busy on the canals and there were quite a lot of hire boats around today, obviously making up for lost time as we are.

Banbury calls tomorrow and we hope to find a reasonable spot to moor away from all the dreadful building work in the centre.

Whatever are they doing to Banbury

 The centre is no longer a nice place to moor......it will be interesting to see what it looks like when complete.

As we had had two very hot days we set off just after 6am to beat the heat and also so that we didn`t have to queue at the locks as we did on the way down!

The temperature was ideal.  Between us we walked the whole way with eyes downward in the hope of finding Geoff`s wallet.  Sadly no luck.  

There were very few people around at that time of the morning.

no sign of Maffi outside Tooleys....just the RAF ensign

A gentle cruise up to Cropredy.  No room on the 14 day moorings below the lock but space for us in the centre.   The downside is that once the sun came out just before lunch there was not any shade.

Lunched in the Brasenose Arms.

Spent the rest of the day trying to keep cool.........thunderstorms and flooding forecast for later in the week!!!

All freshly blacked

 

Phew is all I can say.!!!

Yesterday was hot hot hot.    We only had to move Petroc from ouside Tooleys down one lock and then try and find some shade   However as you can see from the picture we were unsuccessful.  So with all windows and hatches open we set about unpacking and trying to get straight.  By 3.30 we were just about dead on our feet when Maffi and Susan arrived..........so a bit of a chat and catch up and we arranged to meet for a meal......only the second time we have eaten out since lockdown.

On their recommendation we went to Calzione  ( I think thats how it is spelt.)   There followed the odd glass or two, an excellent meal and good company.....much better end to the day.

Today started off well, an excellent breakfast in Morrisons which was half price as they are participating in the government deal  during August.    My chores in Specsavers an the EE shop were also successful but how things are changed.....masks on everywhere and controlled entry in both those places.   A visit to M&S which is sadly closing here in Banbury,  all the food was 50% off, so managed to overrload the wheelie shopping trolley!!

Meanwhile whilst I helped empty some of their shelves Geoff drove the car back to Cropredy marina to await our arrival back there on Monday.   That is when the day took a turn for the worse.  Geoff was full of ambition to walk back to the boat (4.5 miles) .  Mission was duly accomplished but as soon as he settled down for a well earned rest he found he had lost his wallet.   Despite lots of phone call and him retracing part of his route nothing has been found.   So I have had a fun afternoon cancelling bank cards and applying for a new driving licence.

Aint life fun!!

Back to Petroc at last

No boat pictures yet....all to follow later this month!!

At least we are back if not actually cruising yet.

We have taken the good ship down to Tooleys Boatyard for blacking and sorting out the water tank.

She had weathered her prolonged stay in Cropredy Marina well apart from the fact that everything inside is dusty and grubby.  

Clive Mant, who came and did work on her over the winter before lockdown and then came to do some pre season checks on her, sadly found that water from the water tank was a no no.    Despite his efforts no water was forthcoming and it was decided that after 13 years the integral tank probably needed attention.   Luckily for us Tooleys had a slot and are not only able to fit her in for this but have also brought forward the blacking they were going to be doing in October.   

So a quick trip to unload our belongings and then down to Banbury.   We set off about 10.30 which is much later than our usual time of departure so had a very very very slow trip....definitely back to life in the slow lane.   Only 4 locks to do but about 6 boats ahead of us and only 1 behind.

Still, it was  a lovely day and we were back on the water. 

An unpleasant shock on arrival in the centre of Banbury.   What was a very congenial mooring spot is now beset by huge building works.   We can only hope that when complete things will improve.

We had no option but to moor there as we needed to be positioned for Tooleys to take her into the dry dock on Monday morning early.   In fact we thought we were lucky to find a space.......but that could be because it was not the best place to moor any longer.

An unexpected find outside Tooleys.........who should we find moored there but the Millie M with Maffi and Mollie.

We now are residing with friends in Oxfordshire until the work is complete, we hope by Friday.

Imprisoned in Cropredy Marina

Sadly Petroc is still imprisoned in Cropredy Marina..   However she is being well looked after although we are so sad not to be back aboard.

Our compensation is that we have Cornwall with no visitors !!!

I remain optimistic that we will be back later in the year.

This seasons cruising nearly done.

Sad to say we have worked our last lock for the year.   

Geoff had 5 days in Banbury whilst I was on granny duties and on my return yesterday, Saturday, We set off for Cropredy.

Everywhere seems very quiet.  Normally there are lots of boats moored above the Cropredy lock but we were alone last night, although tonight we have neighbours.

Petroc`s last mooring place of the year.

Tomorrow early we will go into Cropredy Marina which is to be the new winter home for Petroc.  It puts us that bit further south towards family.    It may not be a huge distance by car but by canal it is about 5 days closer at our pace!!