slowly, slowly towards Banbury

Well we could have made Banbury in a day if necessary, but since it wasn`t we decided to do it in two days, then changed that to 3 days!!

Leaving Lower Heyford a menacing frog and a rabbit!

and a solitary black swan.   We saw a pair of black ones whilst at Windsor
but have never seen one on the canal before.

We stopped for fuel at Ayno Wharf.  The answer to my question....Can I declare my own split?   was....is there any other way??   How nice, as there are boatyards who will only do a 60/40

It was a grey old day, rain when we started and although it ceased eventually, the day never really seemed to get going......no sun at all.   Despite our early start it was 9.45 before we left Heyford as the water filling took forever.   Geoff blames my doing the washing but think the flow out of the tap might have a bearing!!   Unfortunately the gauge for the water tank has never worked from the day we took possession of Petroc so it is all by guess and by god as to how much is left in the tank.

So we moored just before Cleeves bridge for the night.

Today, Tuesday dawned extremely misty but we were not heading for an early start so by the time we got going it had lifted with the promise of a much better day.

We were held up to start with by Geoff trying to order something online and getting extremely frustrated because it wouldn`t do what he wanted!!   Gilly to the rescue.......I have much more patience......is this a man/woman thing??

I decided on a slight role reversal first thing, so I set off to work the first two locks leaving Geoff at the helm.   The first lock was OK. gates and paddles relatively easy but the bottom gate at the second one nearly defeated me......at one point I thought Geoff would have to climb the ladder in the lock, I shall probably feel the effect later on.

A rare sight, Geoff steering into the lock...this was the gate that nearly defeated me.

After Petroc rose in this lock we changed places and the status quo was maintained.......all back to normal operation.

Barney walked the whole way today, first with me and then with Geoff so he is a well exercised dog this evening.

We moored just after Kings Sutton Lock, nice wide towpath and the weather was such that Barney and I were able to sit out for the afternoon, the first time for a couple of weeks.......could this be an Indian summer.......having seen the forecast I think probably not......

So just a short hop into Banbury tomorrow where we are meeting friends Iain and Christine for lunch.

Monday  

Total distance:6.42 miles 
Elapsed time:4h47m25s (includes nearly 1.5 hours watering!)
Locks:3
Bridges:13 
Average speed:1.34 mph (1.97 lock/mph) 



Tuesday

Total distance:2.95 miles 
Elapsed time:2h2m42s 
Locks:3
Bridges:9 
Average speed:1.44 mph (2.91 lock/mph)