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:)