“Your Bloody Cat” – Yea, Tabitha did not make any friends yesterday.. the day we were supposed to be moving.. the day we ended up staying put because the little madam would not return to the boat in the morning, but stayed out until 4pm!
Needless to day, last night she was not the happy one.. once they were all back for evening meals.. there all locked in for the night, clawing and meowing at the doors! We need to move on today – and I’m not risking them not being back this morning and stopping that two days running!
First off, Dashwoods Lock and onto the water point at Lower Heyford. Whilst stationary, we have been trying to get the wash-mountain down.. so another top up of the water tank is on the cards.. as once were in Banbury, were staying put for 5 days before moving to the other side of Banbury (which would then provide another water point to fill from!)
Once the tank was filled and the washing machine on again.. up past Oxfordshire Narrowboats.. with quite a few of them out – which is good to see.. during the winter months, there is just enough of a gap between the bank and the moored boats to get one boat past.. no such issues today though!
Past the farm buildings, with St. Mary’s church in the background..
Then up through Allens Lock. Took a little while to get through this one, we were third in line to get up the lock, with a day boat infront with Birthday revellers in having a good day of it – and good on them! 🙂
Then past Somerton and “Cow Field” 😉 No space today, which is not a surprise on a day like today.. with the Cow’s hoping boats arrive with gardens on the roof.. but not us.. not again – you leave the Black Medic alone you lot!
And, just after that, Somerton Deep Lock – which proved to be a bit of a problem! Celeste decided to drive the boat into this one, and with a lower lock gate that would not open all the way.. didnt quite make it in and got wedged royally between the wall and the lock gate.
After flushing some water through, managed to get the boat loose and back away from the gate, raised the fenders to get a little bit more clearance, and then got the boat in the lock. It cost us a fender – the rope snapped on one.. but were up and through. With a very upset CC stating “Why Me.. The first lock I do I mess it up”.. Which is untrue.. it would have happened to anyone driving the boat into that one..
And onto Aynho Wharf (Now.. Is that pronounced Ain-Yo, Any-Ho or An-Yo – Who knows !) and past a boat well known to us.. which is still here making the most of their permanent mooring!
Through Aynho Wier Lock, the remaining Cherwell stretch and Nell Bridge Lock (which this time thankfully didnt take any plants off the roof!) and on past “The Pig Place” – which is nice and busy today!
On through King’s Sutton Lock.. with the local “lock keeper” keeping an eye on us as we fill the lock…
And on into Banbury. We managed to get a spot just outside of Morrisons – which will be handy, but it is on a corner, and a bridge approach – but should not cause any issues, the canal is wide enough here. The only thing I may need to do is setup spring lines again, as the hire boats (and private ones as well) round here don’t slow down, and with the boat being on a bend.. that can cause a lot of crashing about!
And.. So ends our summer run. 385 miles.. 270 locks, and we have done a VERY large circuit and were back where we started (almost!) 😉
But.. for tonight.. PUB!
