Rediscovery Cruise: Day 6

The forecast said we’d have thick cloud all day, but in fact it’s been sunny and warm.  We set off at 8am, past all the moored boats at Aynho Wharf,  before long we were at Somerton Deep Lock, at 12ft one of the deepest narrow locks on the network.  The cottage is very pretty but has no road access or services; they had their generator running.

That lock and the next one both needed turning, and the next one was almost empty, but a boat was approaching from below.  They were very grateful when Adrian lifted a paddle drain the water, and opened a gate for them.  The lift bridge at Lower Heyford is now electrified, so a key and the push of a button were needed.  Two boats were coming the other way, so Adrian kept the bridge lifted for them.

We’d arranged to meet my colleague, James, at Lower Heyford, and he appeared on the towpath very soon afterwards, and jumped on board.  Near the wharf we came across the fuel boat, Dusty, and would have had a top up with diesel had they had any on board.  Once past all the moored boats, the next section is very pretty, with the Cherwell running alongside, and wooded sections.  At Dashwood lock, a boat was just coming out, and it turned out to be Mary H; we said hello to Richard and Muffin, but Linda was inside.  A boat was waiting to come up, too, so one of their crew helped with the paddles.  North brook lock was empty so we got James to work.  We moored for lunch on the piling just before Pigeon’s Lock, but which time the sun was properly out.  Then James set off to walk back to his car at Lower Heyford, and we moved on through the lock.  It had been a really enjoyable morning with him.

The next pound seemed very short of water, so it was slow going.  Through Baker’s Lock we were onto the River Cherwell, which is much deeper but also very bendy.

The lock back onto the canal is Shipton weir Lock, which is shallow and diamond shaped to let extra water through.

We carried on to Thrupp, where I did a good job at the turn of getting round to let Adrian off with the key to lift the bridge, only to be blown sideways by the wind across the wide section.  Finding a mooring along the section by the cottages looked unlikely at first, but there was one space available on the 2 day moorings, right opposite the Boat Inn.

Another battery is now causing problems, so four new ones are on order, which we hope will arrive tomorrow.

14 miles, 8 locks.  (74 miles, 54 locks)