UK Canals - Journey reports

Oxford Canal:Oxford - Aristotle Lane

Off to a good start this morning.  The first lock was a bit slow because the boat did not run back as expected when the lock emptied and obstructed the gate.  Just meant walking round to the laddder and pushing it back, but by this time my friends from yesterday had arrrived and were kind enough to close the gate for me.  They never caught up with me again.  There are four lift bridges to contend with to get to Oxford.   One above Dukes Lock where the first access to the Thames turns off, and the others on the canal continuation into Oxford.  The first three were all worked from the towpath side by a hydraulic winder.  The fourth was in the process of being upgraded and was still worked as originally, viz. The gate has to be unlocked with a BWB key, then opened from the non-towpath side using a chain on the balance beam to hold it in position (I used a handy concrete block) as the balance is very fine and could be upset easily with wind.  So to get to the non-towpath side I had to get the bow right up to the gate and get off at the bow onto the wall, open the bridge then get back on the boat to motor through.   Having moored up on the towpath side, it was easy to catch the dangling chain and pull the bridge down and retrieve my key.  Slowly cruising on from there past lines of permanent mooorings I found Bridge 240 and the Aristotle Lane Visitor Moorings which I wil use as there was space and it’s just a 30 minute walk from there to the end and the station.

Oxford Canal:Kidlington

Last evening’s meal was really excellent and more than lived up to expectations. I made up the time lost yesterday, but it was an 8 hour day.  My destination for today was Thrupp, but being later arriving, as expected all the decent moorings were taken, so I went on a short way ahead and found myself just on the Kidlington border within a couple of hours of Oxford centre.  It’s close to a main road, but I am deaf so I hope not to get disturbed.  On the boaty side, all went well with no issues except for a little hold up at Baker’s Lock with two boats ahead waiting for the lock.  After that it is the River Cherwell and deep water, which the boat loves, just for a mile or so.  Now I am back on the canal.   Incidentally, I passed the site of “the tree” scare, imagining that the canal was blocked after reading the information bulletin which gets put out regarding any issues.  This is the site today, the photo taken just after I had gone through. A bulletin  was  posted  today  to  say  that  it  has  been  cleared.

Oxford Canal:Aynho

Not such a good day today.  Firstly it was raining all morning.  Secondly I got stuck, literally, inside a lock.   Moored overnight in Castle Quay area, I had to clear one lift bridge and the Town Lock and deposit rubbish before I could really get moving.  The lift bridge can only be worked from the off side and once opened, to get back to the boat you have to go down to the lock and cross there then walk back. All this took 45 minutes.   Then the next lock, Grant’s Lock, is very deep and having opened the bottom gate and climbed down into the depths I couldn’t get the boat out.  Something was jammed behind the gate preventing it opening fully.   I tried all sorts of wheezes, but to no avail.   Then a boat appeared below, so rather than blocking the lock totally, I filled it again and backed out.  This boat, Olive Emily of March, did squeeze into the lock and the skipper was very helpful in trying with a long pole to dislodge whatever was there with no luck.   I had called CRT by this time, so stayed up top and put the kettle on (as they say). About 2 hours later CRT arrived in the person of Frankie and her assistant.  They tried valiantly for about and hour to deal with whatever it was, but with two boats behind and two below, thought it was worth a try.  Very helpful.  After letting the boat waiting below up, it was my turn and yes I did it. Thank you Frankie.   At the next lock, Kings Sutton, there was a queue waiting to come up and I had passed quite a few on way there, so I am assuming that the tree has been cleared.   Onwards to Aynho where I stopped for Diesel and then moored up for the night.  Will have to try and make up time tomorrow.  I am moored in the same spot that Pat and I always found at Aynho, so in her memory I will dine tonight at the Great Western Arms as we always used to.  I will have to dress up a bit though!! I 

Oxford Canal:Banbury

It’s a rest day today.  So going nowhere.  Did a little bit of shopping at Morrisons first thing, then some cleaning around the back cabin.  I tried the electricity situation again and managed to log on once to prove that the spare socket on the pedestal is indeed”occupied”.  This means that whoever last used it failed to log out after.  I expect it times out after a while, but that will be too late for me.   I needed to get rid of some salad leftover from the 18th, so opened a tin of sardines and finished off a packet of baby potatoes.  Then pm washed the port side down to get rid of bird droppings which have been irritating me since the first lock.  (I don’t see the port side at Barby Moorings but I’m all round the boat in a lock).  Finally a walk round Banbury centre just to refresh my memory.  I found the Wetherspoons that Pat and I used to use and remembered the amusing case when after ordering a fish dish discovered that they had no tartare sauce, so ran across the road to a convenience store and bought a jar to use.   There’s been quite a good wind blowing down the canal today, so the wind generator (aka “fan”) has been earning its keep.

Bad news is that a tree is down at Lower Heyford, on my trajectory tomorrow and the canal is closed.  Generally C&RT are quick in getting this sort of thing sorted because of the impact on hire boaters, so I’m not too concerned yet.  I was four to spend the night there in any case.

Oxford Canal:Banbury (just)

The weather forecast was not good this morning.  Rain at first, then brighter spells but with thunderstorms.  I got it all but without the thunder, just the storm bit.   The most amazing heavy downpour lasting 10 minutes or more on my approach to Cropredy.  My HiViz jacket kept my top half dry except for the hat which started leaking in the end.  Bottom half was shorts, but my feet in shoes and socks were thoroughly sodden.   Other than that the run went well with no holdups and quite a few useful opposite direction boats meaning less gate work for me.   Banbury looks full, so for the moment I am in the first visitor mooring you come to and the only one I can see.  It’s next to a pile of mud making getting onto the bow for mooring up somewhat hazardous.   I will go and explore shortly and report back.

So I walked along to “the strip” and found free moorings by the electric pedestals, went back and moved the boat.  It was a struggle because the wind was blowing down between the buildings and I could barely manage to hold the boat which had blown over to the other side at the bow, the stern was tied to a bollard.  In the end I had to tie the centre rope and then drive the boat in.   With all this wind, I thought I should put up the fan, but there again if on an electric point it’s a bit stupid.   Next thing is to connect the electric.   Remembering all the problems I had last time I was here I thought I ought to just log on to the service first, before deploying any wires.   Couldn’t find the password, probably since the phone was repaired.   Then iPhone got me in a tangle and I got cut off.   So I did put the fan up in the end, whereupon the wind died down.

Oxford Canal:Fenny Compton

Stage 2 of the journey completed.   Left the overnight mooring at 07:00 and was soon at the canal junction continuing on to the Oxford Canal southern section leading to Banbury and Oxford.  Shortly after passed Napton Narrowboats.   Their hire boat moorings looked pretty full, meaning that not many out on the water.  This might be pretty general and if so then the lock flight and moorings will not be too busy?   Arriving at the bottom lock of the flight I found myself alone with a couple of dog walkers for company.   Thereafter with some limited help from one of the dog walkers I had a rapid and uncomplicated climb of the 9 locks, then onwards.   Yes, the canal was quiet with en-route moorings usually busy, now mostly empty.   Passing the HS2 worksite there is some evidences of foundations being laid for the viaduct that will take  the railway across the canal, but the site was deserted.  After all this is a bank holiday weekend.  Only one boat on the visitor moorings at Fenny Compton, so now there are two.  It would  be  a  shame  to   be  moored  outside  a  pub  and  not  have  a  drink,  so  I  have  put that  to  rights.  This  is  the  Wharf  Inn.   Quite  busy  inside  with  lunches  and  a  lovely  garden.

Grand Union Canal:Nimrod Bridge

Lying in bed this morning it came to me that I had left my dark glasses in the car.  So after breakfast I walk over and indeed I had.  I would be glad to have them if th weather improves and we get some serious sunshine.  Before departing I got the slow cooker out and prepped that for the slow cook beef stew which I thought would be a good option for the two heavy days ahead.  Then set off at 9 am.  There was not much traffic to stat as expected but by Braunston Turn it was building and for the Grand Union Section is was really busy.   I got hailed by a boat behind, that had appeared “out of nowhere” to let it overtake me, so I pulled over.  They certainly were moving once they got by.  There are some tricky bridges on this bit of canal all associated with ‘S’ bends and there were issues with all of them.  I was just the boat at the back of a small queue and unable to see what was really going on, so took it all very slowly.  Plenty of moorings after Bridge 108 (Nimrod) and I pulled in 3h 30m after leaving Barby.  This is the spot where I cut my finger with a saw when I was trying to trim back the overhanging hedge.  I see that now it has been trimmed right back and the grass cut.  Looks good, but this is the exception.

2024 Cruise

I’ve arrived at the marina in preparation for leaving tomorrow as per the schedule.  Parking here is limited and about 100 yards from the mooring, so I have a collapsible trolley to facilitate moving the “luggage” and then have to move the car to a larger car park. I’m took me an hour and about 4 trips to get the bulk moved and then I had lunch.   Having arrived here at 13:30, by 17:00 I was just about finished putting stuff away and the car moved to the permanent parking place.  Having already spent a few weekends getting all the snags dealt with, it was only necessary to fill the water tank and I am ready to go.  Tomorrow is an easy day but expecting two hard days starting Saturday with lots of locks, and with it being bank holiday weekend, lock queues and slow going.  I’m going to try using the “selfie stick” which Sam and Gemma got me before I went on holiday at Christmas.  I’m so impressed by the quality of the Canal boat videos that one can find on ‘U-Tube’ and would love to emulate them but fear that my efforts will be pretty bad. At least I can give it a go.   I suspect that the footage seen on-line has been very well, even professionally edited, which basically I would have an immediate problem with.  However, as no more that a handful of people follow the blog, my exposure would be very limited.

 

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Cruise plan 2024

Cruise plans for 2024

I'm looking for company.  If interested message me.

The cruise starts on 24th May from Barby Moorings reaching Banbury on the 28th. From there I am planning to go down the Thames to London.  I really need "crew" for the trip through the centre of London to Limehouse.  If there is not, then I will take the shortcut and join the canal system at Brentford.  I am inviting friends to join me for a day or a day or two, so the programme is designed with rest days at significant points to allow time to join comfortably.  Last year there was too much pressure (on me) to be at next stopping/picking up points and I have to allow for the possibility of bad weather and canal stoppages.  

Mike

Download Nuggler 2024 Cruise timetable (southbound)

Download Nuggler 2024 Cruise timetable (northbound)