Our new schedule was to stop tonight at Cropedy. Leaving at 8:00 we met just one opposite direction below the first Claydon Lock and the three before Cropedy without further traffic. I was hoping to see the fender maker at Broadmoor Lock, but of him there was no sign. Too early? Needing water we passed through Cropedy Lock rejecting a few potential moorings beforehand to arrive just in time to see a boat leave the services. A likely mooring nearly opposite turned out to be reserved for a workboat and the remainder along this stretch are all long term moorings. So goodbye Cropedy! The new Cropedy Marina is massive and pretty well full, but there would have been space for some of the inline moorings to relocate at least. It comes down to expense I suppose. Perhaps inline moorings should command a premium to discourage their use now that more marina moorings are available? Three locks later we arrived at Banbury. Plenty of room by Spiceball Park and even some places by Castle Quay.
Interestingly our number was taken as we moored up, presumably mooring control. No TV signal here though, so it means another trip to Wetherspoons to download important stuff for viewing later. Someone has to do it!
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