Weekend Cruise

Summer finally arrived this Bank Holiday weekend as we basked in temperatures reaching 27C.

On the tiller is our new Quidditch captain Robin Sargeson!!

We set off on the Friday afternoon from Wigram's and moored as planned just after bridge 100, Oxford Canal. Shortly after arriving we were joined unexpectedly by John & Joan NB-Tagine Queen. Dee had been keen to get the dingy out so like the gentleman I am I allowed her to blow the whole thing up on her own! :)

In the evening we BBQ'd, messed around on the dingy and sat out till late with John and Joan listening to the farmers harvesting the nearby fields and working until nearly midnight. How hard they work at this time of year.

On the Saturday afternoon Jackie and Kevin arrived (NB-Enigma), we knew it was them well before they got here as the deep put put put of their huge Gardner engine could be heard some distance away! Kevin loves to make an entrance...

On the Sunday we had to make our way back to the marina to pick up some more friends. After turning and stopping briefly at our overnight mooring to hook on Dee's dingy we were hit unceremoniously by a Napton hire boat who had completely lost the plot. Both John and I looking stunned as I fired off a few expletives in the direction of our assailants, gouges of paint stripped from our gunwales.

An hour later we arrived back at the marina to pick up Katherine, Julian and Robin who we were taking on a cruise to Braunston and back. Some three hours later moving through something that resembled the M25 motorway on a bad day we arrived back at Wigram's and shot off to the Kings Head for carvery. A good time was had by all. We remained at Wigram's for the remainder of the Bank Holiday weekend having had an extremely pleasant and sociable few days.

Pictured... left : John on Tagine Queen... Middle : Dee & Jackie... Right : Kevin on Enigma

Home-Base

Saturday August 18th.. After moving down from Cropredy and completing the Claydon locks in excellent time we moored for the weekend at Fenny Compton in more torrential rain.

We were actually very lucky to get in as the whole mooring was full as we arrived but fortunately just as we drifted past a boat pulled away and we slotted in very nicely thank you! The weekend turned out to be another thoroughly wet one!

Monday August 2oth.. We set off from Fenny with the sole intention of arriving back at Wigram's around 5-ish this evening and had a very good transition through the Napton Flight. We completed the 9 locks in just over 1 1/2 hours, meeting up with John & Joan (NB-Tagine Queen) briefly at Adkin's lock, who were on their way up to Fenny.

So I suppose our summer has come to an abrupt and disappointing end! We're away at the beginning of September for a few days to celebrate mum's birthday and then shortly after returning we drive to France for a week on the French canals with Johnny and Pat (NB-Le-Hoddydod). We're really looking forward to this one guys! So in effect that doesn't leave much time to stray beyond our locality.

The coming bank holiday weekend is likely to be something resembling the M25 motorway along our local stretch, in what is affectionately known as 'Tick-over Alley' so our intention is to depart the marina and moor for the duration somewhere between here and Braunston. At least the weather for once is looking positive and we may even get to BBQ.

Mmmm.... am I sounding a bit down? I suppose it's always the way when we return after our travels.

As we gather our thoughts on this years summer tour, which we intend to post shortly I can't help but feel that the summer of 07 will become known as 'the summer that never was'

Good Call

Tuesday August 14th... Well, as forecast the rain arrived in the early hours of this morning but although breezy the gale force winds that had also been forecast didn't materialise.

We laid up for the day as planned at Dashwood Lock and were able to get a walk in later in the evening. We spotted a couple of tree's that had fallen during the day but none fortunately in the direction of the canal. Our mooring ran alongside the river Cherwell so we were also able to keep a close eye on the levels which on the Tuesday evening had risen slightly.
Wednesday August 15th... Today was a much windier one with the persistent rain giving way to heavy showers, sometimes accompanied by the odd rumble of thunder. We moved only a short distance 'winding' just before Kirtlington and found a decent mooring once again parallel to the River Cherwell. By the evening we could see that the river was definitely running faster and had risen a good few inches.

Thursday August 16th... We set off northwards heading back towards Banbury and met up with a boat also going north as we passed through Northbrook Lock. They informed us that the Cherwell level boards were just entering the red zone. Between Shipton Weir Lock and Baker's Lock (pictured) around a few miles south of our location the canal and river share a common course, this can be hazardous if the river is in flood and these guys had luckily just passed through. We continued on stopping briefly at Lower Heyford for milk and bread, mooring for a short while at Summerton, which was solid with boats. We were able to squeeze in at the very end but after deciding we were too close to a bend moved on finding an excellent mooring just after Summerton Deep Lock.

Friday August 17th... As we continued on it was obvious that the Cherwell would pose no hazzard to us having probably reached it's peak but if we had any regrets as to whether we should have continued on to the Thames they were put to rest later in the day. As we arrived at Kings Sutton Lock we met up with a guy who told us that he'd been stuck on the Thames for 19 days last month and had passed through the Thames Locks at Swinford Bridge and Kings two days prior just as the red boards were going back up. He informed us that the lock keeper had told him not to continue but had told him that there was no way he was getting marooned again and so swiftly moved on escaping back onto the canal system!

We stopped in Banbury for supplies for around an hour and then moved on mooring at Cropredy for the night.

Talking of Banbury, a couple we'd spoken to earlier in the week told us that they wanted to moor in the town for the night and had moored next to a boat where, they'd been told, the owner had unfortunately mysteriously died aboard. His tools and wellington boots etc were still on the towpath exactly where they'd been left. Feeling a little rattled by the events they had moved on. The story made Dee and I laugh until she pointed out that the boat we'd moored next to had pots of paint, tools and wellington boots sitting on the towpath!!! We swiftly moved on after shopping.

Too Risky

Friday August 10th… After leaving our overnight mooring we continued our journey south, eventually stopping just short of Lower Heyford.

Having checked our usual weather internet sites it was apparent that the forecast for the forthcoming week was looking grim. Gale force winds and torrential rain were being forecast for the Tuesday/Wednesday and so after discussing our situation over dinner we’ve decided to abandon our plans to go onto the Thames, we’re also running out of time as we need to be back at Wigram's no later than September 1st!
Thinking logically the flood plains surrounding the Thames area are still saturated and boggy, even the towpaths where we are now are still extremely soft and any further rain will simply have nowhere to go, other than back into the rivers! We really don’t think it will take much for the Thames to go back into flood and thus marooning us. This summer is so unpredictable were simply not going to take the chance.
We’ve actually met several boats at locks who incredibly had been stranded on the Thames for over 5 weeks during the recent floods and had some pretty horrendous stories to tell. One lady we passed, almost in tears, told us that she’d simply had enough, wanted to go home and would never complete a river again! Another couple told us that they were asked to abandon thier boat several times but refused and sat it out.
Saturday/Sunday August 11/12th.. After our decision to abandon our Thames trip we decided to remain at Lower Heyford for the weekend. The weather has been superb and the Lower Heyford marina now has an excellent café were you can get a great traditional afternoon tea. We took a train into Oxford on the Saturday morning, which was typically a ½ hour late, and enjoyed some shopping and civilization before we had withdrawal systems for the seclusion of the water and made our way back. On the Sunday night both Dee and I wrapped up well and camped out for a few hours to watch the Persied Meteor Shower. This is actually an annual event for us but this year the conditions were excellent, no moon and clear skies. We did see a few dozen meteors over an hour and a half but Unfortunately I have to say that this years display was disappointing, we eventually gave it in at around 1.30am.
Monday August 13th… After a lie-in we set off around 12.30pm and took on water before continuing south. The plan was to find a good sheltered mooring in the knowledge that the approaching gale would hit sometime in the early hours of Tuesday. We’d actually only gone 2 miles before we came across the perfect spot just after Dashwood Lock at bridge 209, a single mooring on armco and with good views of the River Cherwell and slightly sheltered. Here we’ll remain and will update in a day or two and let you guys know how we get on.

Steady South

Tuesday August 7th... We departed Wigram's around 12.30pm, glad to be out once again and made steady progress through the surprisingly quiet Napton flight.

We eventually moored for the night just beyond Ladder Bridge 129 in the one remaining space available. Having climbed the Napton flight you get a great view of the surrounding countryside below.
Wednesday August 8th.. Today was wall to wall sunshine and the plan was to complete 10 locks and 10 miles and moor just to the north of Banbury. We knew that the going would be slow thru' Cropredy due to the Fairports Festival (pictured above) this weekend but grossly underestimated the popularity of this event. We slowly made our way past over 3 miles of moored boats, some of which I have to say were moored in some ridiculous spots, one even moored on the lock bollards! Fortunately we came through Cropredy lock with impunity but another boater told us later that he was part of an 18 boat queue on the Monday, good job our departure was delayed by a day! Mooring for the day at Bourton Lock around 5.30pm we were astonished to see a couple of the local constabulary cycling down the towpath shortly after. A first in over 4 years of boating but obviously in connection with the festival some 2 miles back, still a refreshing sight nevertheless! We'd also received information from a passing boat that the Thames, our final destination this year, was due to re-open today.

Thursday August 9th.. We completed a slow transition through Banbury stopping briefly for water and the essential milk & bread and met up with John & Joan off NB-Tagine Queen who although not currently out on the canals were shopping in the town. Amazing isn't it to think that what took us 2 days to complete on the canals took them 40 minutes in the car! I love the magic of boating!

Pushing on we completed a further 6 miles and 5 locks loosing an hour at Nell Bridge Lock where we formed part of a five boat queue. Interesting also to listen to the boatee grape vine. A lady passing through the lock informed us that the Thames was still closed and "There were many frustrated people further down at Thrupp who are waiting anxiously to get onto the Thames". A quick phone call to Nigel the Henley lock keeper informs us that the Thames is navigating as normal and that his lock is just about to drop off the amber warning onto green! We've always taken the grape vine with a pinch of salt and this was another story that's obviously travelled many a lock.

We are currently moored near where the River Cherwell crosses the canal and you can definitely see signs of the recent flooding with plastic bags and various washed through items hanging precariously about a couple feet above the waterline in the surrounding trees and bushes. The wildlife in this area seems abundant too, a Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker and in the evening we watched a Mink walking on the opposite bank and then swim silently by later. We listened to several owls roosting in nearby trees after sunset and there was plenty of activity in the bushes behind, probably mice, voles and hedgehogs. With the current weather it's just a pleasure to actually be able to sit out this summer:)

Break Over!

It's Monday evening and Quidditch is serviced and ready to depart from our home-base at Wigram's Turn on our journey down onto the Thames.

Good job I decided to give her a good check over while we were in port so to speak, one of my fan belts was about to give up the ghost! I've also re secured our anchor which we are never without when navigating rivers.
The original plan was to set off today but a few last minute chores have delayed our departure until tomorrow morning (Tuesday 6th). We don't really know what to expect this time around with the foot and mouth outbreak still being investigated and what damage has been done to the system down near Oxford and further onto the Thames. Those areas were really hit bad by the recent floods. I telephoned our friend Nigel who's the lock keeper at Henley-On-Thames last Thursday and he informed me that at the top end around Kings Lock the river is still into the red. He also told me that a great amount of water was filtering down quite quickly and by the time we arrive down that end hopefully all will be well. You can put the vino on ice Nigel me thinks!!
Well that's about it really, just a short post to let our friends, family and keen followers know were back on the cut. A big thank you to those guys who we've met while out on our travels this summer and who have taken the time to sign our Guest-Book, we're always appreciative of that. Also, well done to Graham & Jennifer (NB-Best-O-Mates) who've made it onto the Lancaster Canal via the River Ribble, we look forward to hearing about your adventures.