Gentle journey to Lower Heyford

Mooring in remote places in the middle of nowhere for the last few days on the lovely Oxford canal.   I think this is still my favourite canal, lots of congenial places to moor in the countryside with wide towpaths so Barney and I can sit out and watch the world go by.     Geoff is not an outside sitter!!!!!

So to Lower Heyford, our intended destination for Geoff together with Barney to have a quiet time with no nagging wife ask  him to do things, whilst I swan off to Turkey with Emma and family for a week in a villa in the sun...….Geoff was invited but declined...…...

There are still things that need doing, such as pumping out the bilges......we are not leaning to post nearly as much as Geoff has pumped out several buckets but we think there is more to go.....

I am still trying to work my way through cleaning all the blinds from the grime accumulated over winter.   Never ever but narrow blinds, they are the devil to clean.....

We were lucky on reaching Lower Heyford as the water point was empty, so we spent a good hour there filling up...such a slow tap!  Even luckier as our preferred spot just beyond all the permanent moorings had a Petroc size space.  So we are comfortably moored for the next 14 days.

There are downsides as the phone signal is almost non existent and the Internet  signal almost as bad. It just seems to come through at certain times of day and you have to be quick to catch it!

The train station is just alongside and there are buses to Banbury, Kidlington and Oxford so not a bad spot to repose for a while.

Still meandering gently down the beautiful Oxford Canal

Yet another lovely start to the day, cruising gently towards Ayno Wharf.

The big total of 3 locks today!

A couple of deep ones

But light at the end of the `tunnel`

with my trusty crewman wielding the winch handle

The occasional passing boat

Past the Pig Farm

No stopping today as we have a full fridge

No one taking advantage of their comfy looking sofas

One of the many lifting bridge on this section.

All of them left in the open position

and finally another congenial mooring.

Washing out, chair and table at the ready when the kettle boils

Total distance:2.76 miles  Locks:3 Bridges:9

A very gentle day

I had a very gentle start to the day but Geoff was up incredibly early as he had decided to walk back to Morrisons.   Yesterday I bought him a new T-shirt  and on returning we discovered that they had neglected to remove the security tag...…..he wasn't very keen on wandering around with this big plastic thing dangling....

Lovely bright sunshine and gentle countryside

if you look closely you can see the duck sunning itself.

Once again we failed to reach our intended destination as we spied yet another peaceful open spot.

Barney and I had a lovely afternoon sunning ourselves on the towpath......not so Geoffrey.
The gremlin has struck again and it appears, after a lot of experimentation and swearing, that the connection from his aerial to TV has given up the ghost.

He has now, he hopes, located JUST THE LEAD I NEED on amazon.  Ordering is no problem....receipt slightly more difficult.   Tomorrow I will ring the baot place at Lower Heyford to see if we can have it sent there.

Goodbye Banbury

We wonder what the new development will do to Banbury. 

To the right there is going to be a hotel

and to the left will be a cinema

The white hoarding is around the north car park which is now closed

I had an early shop in M&S whilst Petroc was having her water tank filled...…..only took 50 minutes!!

A party of school children watched us descend the lock and took great delight in helping Geoff with the gates.

We only went a short distance so we could moor close to Morrisons for another shop.   Once we leave Banbury the shopping becomes a bit more difficult.

Whilst here Geoff informed me that he would like to grow some tomatoes!!!!    He has obviously been brooding on this for a few days. .   So after the main grocery shopping he walked all the way back to the garden centre to buy 2 tomato plants, having first walked back to Morrisons to buy a growbag to put on the roof.  .   All this when I was banned from having plants on the roof some years ago!!!   I this it must be a late life crisis...…......
The good news ortunatelyis that since his grow bag has three holes for plants and he only has two tomato plants I am to be allowed the other hole for a plant of my choice...such excitement.....almost as good as the new washing machine.

After all this effort I was exhausted  so when we set off for the intended destination of Kings Sutton, I was less than enthusiastic.

Not far along I spied what looked like a good resting place...we had travelled all of 2 miles......

Nice wide towpath for barney and me

Unfortunately I neglected to look behind where there was a massive building site

By the time we noticed it we were tied up and too tired to move...…..I set my chair facing the other way and it was a great mooring place.!!

yup....still in Banbury.....BUT

Well it never rains but what it pours...…..first the flood, then the washing machine and then my computer.  

On the washing machine front Tooleys came up trumps.   I checked that Midland Chandlers had some arriving `drekley` as they say in Cornwall.   So it was ordered through Tooleys and they arranged their engineer, Steve,  to fit it, which he has done successfully today....not an easy job as boatbuilders don't always take account of things needing to be replaced when they build them in!  However it was achieved today and first load done...how exciting!!   I did have occasion to use the launderette yesterday as the laundry basket wouldn't hold any more......

On several days the Banbury moorings have looked like a ghost town.

Note the people walking over the footbridge.

That footbridge is now closed making life a bit more difficult when moored outside Tooleys.   Its a long walk round to take Barney to Spiceball Park.

This is all part of the plan for great things on the waterfront that have been promised for some years now.   There is to be a hotel on the town side and a cinema on the other side where the car park was (this is now closed)

We have never seen it so empty

The white hoardings on the left are where the car park is, now closed.

And so to the other big misfortune......my computer.    It just gave up the ghost.   It could have gone away and been restored but I would still have had the task of putting all my programs back on and it was nearly 7 years old......so I am now 3/4 of the way through getting up and running again.   Most of my stuff was backed up to date but a couple of things had slipped through the net and were a few days or in one case a couple of weeks out of date...….take note everyone....back up your data every day!!!!

Our other problem with our list to port has still been bothering me so I discussed with Steve whilst he was fitting the washing machine.    He said we must still have water in the bilges which we needed to get out.   He asked where our inspection hatch was and we hadn't a clue!   Well we`ve only had the boat 13 years...… We searched in all the cupboards to no avail, so a quick call to Rob at Clifton to ask him where they used to drain her from the flood a few weeks ago.   Lo and behold it is under a false floor in the bottom back step.    I`ve only kept my hoover and iron there for all these years....who knew???

So Geoff had a great afternoon with the battery operated small hand pump he had recently bought.  Barney and I were forced to decamp to the park to avoid the mutterings and possible bad language.   Two big bucketfuls removed and it has made a difference already.    More to do when Geoff has got his strength back.

In between all this I had my time down baby sitting Kensa on Thursday and Friday.   

So tomorrow is moving day...…...the goal this time is Lower Heyford in very slow time.    I leave on holiday with Emma and family in 10 days time and Geoff has decided that Heyford will suit very well for Barney and him during my absence.   Well that's the plot anyway...unless something else breaks...  Hey Ho

Still in Banbury

And likely to be for another week.

However we have been away on an adventure......

Sister-in-law Edith reached a milestone birthday and decided to have a get-together at the Aspinall Foundation Safari Park in Kent.

Altogether 39 adults and 8 children gathered together for the weekend, including all 3 of our children and spouses and all 4 grandchildren.   The 10 of us stayed in the glamping tents in the Bear Lodge.   (The bears were notable buy their absence.)

This is something that Geoff and I have not done before and will think very carefully before repeating the experience.......it would have to be mid summer if we ever did.   The tents were very adequate and in a great situation at the top of the park with great views.   However the good old English climate interfered and made the nights less than happy occasions.   At 4am on the Sunday morning I was kneeling in front of the small and totally inadequate log burner, hugging a hot water bottle and praying I could get the thing going again before we all died of hypothermia!

However after a warm night with friends Tony and Di last night I have recovered somewhat.  They were kindly looking after Barney for us.   

My good humour has now been tested again.    After unpacking and catching with with the laundry our washing machine decided to give up the ghost.   As I opened the door after the second load, smoke followed the clothes and I assume it has burnt itself out after 12 years use.

This is definitely bad news.  Whilst I have sourced a new one of the same make and model,albeit updated, we have to find someone who will be able to remove the old on and fit the new.   I am off to have a word at Tooleys Boatyard tomorrow to see if they can help........it wont be an easy task as it is in such a confined space.

Off to look after Kensa at the end of the week leaving Geoff and Barney in peace.......

and so to Banbury

back to the quiet life on the canals

On Friday we moved on to Fenny Compton .  It was a 4 layer hat and gloves day...what a contrast from this time last year!   Fenny was very quiet and no problem with a choice of mooring spaces.  We were disappointed however to find that our memory had let us down.....I thought I remembered that the Wharf Inn served breakfast...NOT SO....

Visions of a lovely cooked breakfast were replaced with the promise of Bacon sandwiches on the go the next day.

Saturday was a comparatively late start...8.20.....and was not only 4 layers, hat and gloves but hood up as well as it was somewhat breezy.  (personal hood that is and not boat hood)  The bacon sandwiches helped though.    Luckily most of the approaches to the 9 locks we had to manage en route to Cropredy were sheltered from the worst of the wind.   By now we knew that the first of this years visitors was planning to join us.   Boe duly arrived late afternoon and after supper she and I decided to be very daring and visit the pub who were advertising a group.   Geoff had his normal early night and didn't even stir when we came in!   Mind you were were hardly late.....once the group got going we could not hear ourselves think so we  beat a hasty retreat.....

Sunday morning Boe and I ventured into Banbury in search of suitable attire for Sister-in-law Ediths 70th birthday celebrations.    We are off to the Aspinall Safari Park in Kent and the required dress is animal print for the dinner on the Saturday evening.....Geoff meanwhile attended the local church where he was made most welcome.   They have an even smaller catchment area than we do at home but managed to muster 17 for Holy Communion.

Back to the Brasenose Arms for a very good Sunday Lunch.

Today I ventured out with only 3 layers which was a mistake........

Its Bank Holiday Monday and the grass cutters are out in force,   This gentleman told Geoff they were on treble time!!!

What a contrast this is to last year when we came down the Oxford.   Hardly anything had been done and large areas were overgrown making walking quite difficult.   They must have found a Pot of Gold!!

There were 3 of them working together here.

And so into Banbury where we have our favoured spot just back from the entrance to Spiceball Park.  Boe had left us at Cropredy in search no doubt of more adventure than we can provide...It was good to see her.

Petroc is still causing a bit of concern.  We seem to have a definite bias to the port side which makes her not quite as stable as normal.   Rob from the yard thinks we must have some residual water left in the bilges which he assures me will dry out........WE NEED SUNSHINE and HEAT.

Boes arrival caused me to seek out the spare bedding under the rear bunk......disaster......this must have had the worst of the flood as it was all soaked....so two duvets have bitten the dust and new will have to be sought.    

A Better Day

Starting up the Napton flight

After yesterdays trip I fancied a lie-in but in my normal fashion I was awake early.  Since the forecast was for rain later in the day it made sense to set off early, hence we were on the way at 7.20!   Lovely bright morning but 3 layers of clothing necessary as were gloves and hat!

Not many boats about this early so we gently pottered along and were happy to find no one ahead of us at Napton, but as you can see we were closely followed.   All the locks were in our favour so it made for a very leisurely trip up the first 6 locks to our preferred mooring.

Geoff and Barney taking it easy

Our favourite spot was free so before 10.30 were were nicely settled and I was able to have my morning coffee sitting on the towpath in the sunshine.....mind you I still had several layers of clothes on.....

Later in the day just as the rain was starting, who should float past but Timothy West and Prunella Scales
The poor film crew were huddled under an umbrella!!

A much better start to our cruising season than yesterday.   In addition I have an Internet signal which was noticeable by its absence yesterday.   Although I have to say there is something to be said for not having internet as I managed to devour most of my first book of the season. 

Total distance:6.58 miles 
Elapsed time:3hr 10 min
Locks:6
Bridges:17 

Not the way we planned to start our cruising!

We arrived back at Petroc just over a week ago and exhausted ourselves unpacking a car that seemed to have everything but the kitchen sink in it!

Yes, we have probably brought far too much yet again.........

However a few days in the boatyard at Clifton and eventually everything was working....even the toilet which has been refurbished over the winter.   It had an initial hiccup which caused Geoff to have conniptions but was eventually sorted.   She has had her 4 yearly Boat Safety inspection and all is OK.

We abandoned her last Friday to go to an RAF reunion in Gloucester followed by a visit to friends, Fran and Keith. 

A excellent weekend at the reunion and good catch up with friends but life took a downward spiral on Monday afternoon with a phone call from the boatyard.

Dee from the yard spotted that Petroc was leaning at an alarming angle.  Closer investigation revealed that the water tank was spilling its guts into the boat.  Since Geoff had topped it up just before we left there was a lot of water.  Apparently it was over the floorboards and going well......

The short story is that they had to take up the floorboards to pump her out and then had 3 heaters on board to dry her out.    It could have been much worse but they found her in time.   We stayed away an extra day to give her time to dry out.  When we returned yesterday (Wednesday) she was sitting innocently in the water and if we hadn`t been told what had happened we may not have noticed.   The only bit still drying out is the floor in the wardrobe.  

This is the offending article.

My non technical brain is not too sure what this does but I gather it is a strainer connected to the water pump.

With that all sorted we decided to set off as we had done our shopping on the way back.

I was blithely promised we would just do the Hillmorton 3 locks and then probably stop at the Barby moorings......about an hour.....this didn't seem too bad for a late start.    However Geoff had an attack of pressonitis....a very nasty disease which some boat skippers get.    Consequently we carried on through Braunston with his goal of a rather nice mooring in the vicinity of bridge 100.

I busied myself washing the floor which was less than savoury after all the water.   In fact I was so involved on my hands and knees I didn`t even realise we had passed Braunston.   

A tone change in the engine as Geoff went into full reverse brought me scurrying aloft.   Due to his inattention whilst he chatted to a passing boat he had managed to drive into the offside bank and was trying to excavate himself........and they say women talk.......

Unfortunately in reversing he picked something up from around the prop and the noises coming from the engine were not good.  It was not easy to reach the the bank as there were sloping sides and it entailed a very athletic leap on my part to get ashore with a line.   There followed much cursing as Geoff went down the weed hatch.   The offending article was a slim rubber fender with attached line which he had to cut away.   He looked a picture when he had finished, covered in mud!  His temper was none too good either.

My athletic prowess was not sufficient to get back on the boat so he picked me up at the next bridge, by which time it was beginning to rain.... and of course when we reached his desired mooring we were too late to enjoy it!

All was not lost as we had purchased an excellent steak and kidney pie from Fran`s butcher

Homeward Bound

And so ends another season on Petroc...our 12th year.   Its been a good year, slightly too hot at times(dare I say that?) and with very few rainy days....UNTIL TODAY.

We crept back onto the yard at Clifton early this morning in the pouring rain......finished our clearing and loaded the car in the pouring rain!!

However there were better moments to the day.  We had an excellent Sunday Lunch in Bridge 66, the cafe in the yard.  In addition we had the company of Paul and Helen and had a good catch up.

So tomorrow morning it is farewell Petroc for the winter....be back in April 2019

Back to Petrocs winter home but not finally yet

And so back to Braunston for the weekend as usual at the end of our season.   Saturday cooked breakfast in the Gongoozlers Rest boat and lunch for Sunday in the Admiral Nelson

Saturday we had one of the wettest days this year.but we cant complain as there have been very few days like that all summer.

Most of the weekend went to plan but not all.   We duly fronted up for church at the new time of 11.15, having carefully checked the notice boards both outside the church and in the porch.  However when we arrived at about 11am the church was like the Marie Celeste...........we should have checked the website as well!!!   Belatedly checking we discovered that as it was Harvest Festival the service had been mover to a farm some way up the canal.   Not a single notice in the church!!

If we had checked earlier we could have walked as the trusty Google told us it was just over half an hour,  ah well....we live and learn.

The sun was shining by Sunday and we were able to sit outside at the Admiral Nelson
 before our lunch and watch the world and boats go by.

Despite being almost autumn there are quite a lots of boats still travelling.    

Monday we decided to go most of the way to Clifton as we had arranged to go in so our broken toilet could be removed ready for Geoff to drive down to Lee Sanitation at Fenny Compton.

The locks at Hillmorton are still on restricted opening times so we went through on Monday and positioned ourselves just before Clifton ready to go in early Tuesday.  We were just short of where major road works are taking place and a new bridge is being built over the canal.   We understand it is for a new road which starts at Daventry and is to do with a new huge housing estate, although we cant work out where.

The offending toilet was duly removed and Geoff took it down to Fenny.   He also had to make a trip to Roadpro in Daventry as he had somehow messed up our satellite receiver.   He had done the same thing once before and they had managed to re tune it.  However he was not so lucky this time and it looks like we shall have to purchase a new one for next year.

We are not due to leave until next Monday so have left the yard and come down towards Rugby as it is much quieter and also better for Barney.

The yard is much busier than when we first moored there as there are now over 50 permanent moorers.

So a final few days pottering and not going very far and beginning to sort the boat out.   Geoff has already started and thrown a big bag of clothes away.   

Getting closer to Petroc`s winter home

Thanks to several comments I now understand the logic of shutting the locks overnight to save water.......allows the water to gather itself for the next day.   Also now having done the Claydon flight with lots of boats going both ways it does save a lot of unnecessary emptying or filling.

There were so many boats coming in the other direction that we thought Fenny Compton would be empty.   Not so!!  We were lucky to get the last space before the pub so where all the other boats had come from, I know not.   

Mike from LeeSan came down to discuss what needed to be done to our toilet housing over the winter to make it more accessible.   He is confident he can fix ours which is good news.

Wednesday we travelled on a rather grey (but dry) day to just beyond Marsdon Doles and down the first of the Napton flight.  We wondered if the notices would ask us not to moor in the flight overnight as they had done at the Claydon flight but luckily not so.  

This looked like up market camping.  Behind the fence was a bath! 
 I wasn`t quite quick enough with the camera to catch a glimpse of it.

The horses all have their winter coats on

Today we set off at a very leisurely hour at 9.15....wonderful lie in.

Past the Buffalo.

Opposite here used to be a farm shop and cafe selling Buffalo ice cream but that disappeared a few years ago.

The cloud broke up by the time we moored and wonder of wonders I was able to take my chair out and sit in the sun, even had to strip off several layers of clothing.   We are promised more of the same tomorrow BUT Saturday is a different story if the weather people are to be believed.  We are moored in one of our preferred spots just after bridge 101.   Not far to Braunston tomorrow.

Total distance:6.35 miles Elapsed time:3h5m21s Locks:6Bridges:16 
Average speed:2.06 mph (4.00 lock/mph) 

Very slowly up the Oxford Canal

I blame our slow progress on this little cherub.   Our weeks are interspersed by my weekly visits down to see her.

Sadly we are wending our way slow;y back to Petroc`s winter home at Clifton.

However the Oxford is one of our favourite canals and so far we have had some nice late summer/autumn days.

Lower Heyford was one of our very convenient station stops...the station couldn`t have been any closer!

A bit nippy some mornings as the morning frost shows

Lots of fields with grazing cows

The old man of the sea has been shorn after this picture and looks vaguely respectable for a while!

A working barge towing another working barge

This was an interesting meeting as we tried to be so obliging and give them room that we ended up stuck on the bank.......eventually wriggled free....

Through Banbury with its convenient moorings in the centre

We actually moored just downstream on the 14 day moorings as I was away from Wednesday to Sunday.  The rest of the moorings are 2 days only until the end of October.

Some sad sights along the way....a boarded up lock keepers cottage

CRT are still coping with a water shortage on the Oxford and the locks are only open from about 10 until 4.   I must confess I can`t work out how this saves water.  If the same number of boats are travelling they will just do it in a concentrated space of time......must use the same water.    Perhaps some wiser person can enlighten me.

Total distance:6.03 miles Elapsed time:4h13m18s Locks:8 Bridges:23 
Average speed:1.43 mph (3.32 lock/mph) 

We would normally have at least an overnight at Cropredy but decided to do the next 3 locks so we could have a lie in tomorrow and be ready to do the Claydon flight tomorrow.   I did jump off briefly to nip into the shop to buy a loaf of bread but we had watered etc at Banbury ( with yet another slow tap!) so didn`t need to pause here.

Aren`t canals narrow!!!

Isis Lock at the end of the Oxford canal.

It takes a bit of acclimatising to get used to the canals after being on the Thames for so long.

We lingered at the bottom of the Oxford for a day so that Geoff could take the train down for lunch with Emma and Kensa.

see...men can multi task

Kensa reportedly had her best nights sleep after Geffiepa had departed !!!

By now I had succumbed to a very nasty cold but manfully (or do I mean womanly) struggled on for the trip to Thrupp on Wednesday... We were lucky enough to find a mooring although there were a lot of boats around.  

By Thursday I retired to my bed and we decided to stay over another day......I was very cross as I had planned to go down to London on the Thursday evening but common sense told me that taking my cold to a baby was not the best of ideas.

Friday saw improvement and I decided I might live after all.......so we were off at 0815 on a beautiful if crisp morning.   We had forgotten how narrow this part of the Oxford can be in places.   We struggled with a couple of the locks.  At the first we had no idea what was trapping me half way in and only solved the problem when a kind gentleman appeared and helped Geoff pulling on the rope to aid the large amount of throttle I was having to use.  At the next it took four men pushing hard on the gate to open it sufficiently for me to slide in.

Happily on reaching our intended destination of Lower Heyford, our preferred mooring spot right just before the start of the permanent moorings was free.

How well we had timed it.   After a lovely morning we had no sooner raised the pram hood at the stern than the rain came......

Some time later I heard a loud cursing from the back and discovered Geoffrey not very pleased with himself.   He had left the spare set of boat keys in the control box of the lifting bridge as we left Thrupp.   Several phone calls later we have located them as some kind person took them to Annies tea room at Thrupp.  Giles had said he might call by tomorrow so he is going to pick them up and deliver them....we hope......

So train ticket for London is booked for tomorrow.  Having seen the weather forecast it looks like we are in for a wet weekend.   Not fir for travelling by boat....

Total distance:7.18 miles Elapsed time:3h32m28s
Locks:5 Bridges:17 
Average speed:2.03 mph (3.44 lock/mph)