Bridge 99 (Oxford Canal)

A long day!  Not that we set out so to do, but a case of "Just let's go a little further" and then finding no moorings.  We reached the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight of locks in about an hour from Yardley Wharf and set off up.  Half way it appeared that a boat was coming down, confirmed by a passer by so we waited.  It turned out that there was a boat ahead of us after all and the boat coming down was waiting too!   The boat ahead was a small (plastic) cruiser and we named the skipper "Bob the Boater".  We were to meet up later.  Moving on with more opposite boats in between we reached the top and passing straight through the canalside village reached Blisworth Tunnel entrance.  Bob was waiting there seemingly not knowing quite what to do because he had no tunnel light.  I suggested that he might like to follow us.   We have a stern navigation light which can be quite helpful.  He did and kept up well.  After the tunnel it is four hours plus to the bottom of the next flight at Whilton.  We needed a few odds and ends from the chandery there as well as a pump out (now £12), so while we were getting that done, "Bob" passed us and set off up the flight.  We followed joined by nb Charity.  Pat as usual worked ahead and got chatting to find out that "Bob" had only picked the boat up that day and had no previous boating experience whatever.   We reckon he had done pretty well.  "Charity" stopped at Buckby top pound.   We carried on, through Braunston Tunnel and down the flight looking for a mooring below the marina where a TV reception might be better.  Nothing.  The only option was to carry on onto the Oxford Canal section where there is plenty of new metal piling and lots of popular mooring spots.   It was nearly seven by the time we settled down for the night.  Good freeview though from Sutton Coldfield.