Oxford Canal:Claydon

Off to an early start again and everything took longer than I remember.   An hour and a half to Napton and although we had a smooth ascent of the Napton flight apart from a lock set against us while a boat above took on water (naughty but we elected not to turn it round again) the long meandering pound didn't get us to Fenny Compton until 13:00.   Here a pumpout token was bought (£13) from Fenny Marina and the job done.    Whilst sitting doing the long pound we decided to take stock of our plans regarding the K&A and our plans to meet our daughter at Devizes to carry on to Bath.   We are a day ahead of plan and could make Devizes in time all things being equal, but they are not.   There is some easing of the flows on the Thames with more heavy rain forecast later today, so the likelyhood is that the river will be closed again.    County Lock in Reading, the access to the Kennet & Avon, is currently closed and there are still warnings of strong flows.   So rather than attempt to carry on and get trapped somewhere, we have decided to stop at Oxford and get our family to meet us there.   Then we will come back up the Oxford Canal and carry on "up north".     So we now have plenty of time to get to Oxford and the pressure is off.    Our new found relaxed feel means that we can stop, and here we are at the top of Claydon.   I even have time to give you a picture.

Top Lock Claydon Flight. We are moored on good piling this side of the bridge