Oxford Canal:Clifton Cruiser's Winding Hole

I suppose we could have gone to Braunston & back, but as this is only a boat proving cruise and we will be back home on Saturday we elected just to turn the boat and essentially stay where we are.    So a very leaisurely dawdle up to the winding hole.  However it was not straightforward.  The offside has been used as a mooring and the winding hole was almost completely obstructed by three abreast moored boats making a traditional turn impossible due to the position of the gap.

With the stern inserted into the small gap between moored boats we wait for a passing boat before attempting the turn

  So rising to the challenge I thought it best to reverse into the gap and then nothing for it but to use the bow thruster to push the bows round trying to keep clear of the offending boats.  Without the bow thruster it would have been necessary to put the crew ashore with a bow rope and pull it round since there was no manoevering room for the stern.   Once achieved we returned to the towpath moorings opposite our previous spot.    Cooler today and little wind, so the wind generator remains untested.