September Cruise: Day 6

The moorings at Somerton Meadows are lovely.  We had a nice sunset, it was quiet, and it was lovely and dark.  This morning was less windy than expected, at least at first, and as the day went on the forecast rain also seemed to get later and later.  We set off at a bit before 8.30.  The first couple of locks, Heyford Common and Allen’s were both full ready for us.  I always like the bridge at Heyford Common Lock, which has a normal parapet on one side and bars on the other.  I also like the Tithe Barn at Upper Heyford.

The lift bridge at Lower Heyford is electric, and Adrian went to press the button.  At the bridge past the wharf, some people in orange boiler suits were inspecting the bridge, standing on top of a Rothern boat; they pulled it back so we could get through.  At Northbrook Lock, a boat was coming up and told us the bottom gate wasn’t opening fully.  Indeed it wasn’t as we got stuck on the way out, below the water line.  Adrian opened a top paddle to give a bit of extra depth and pushed the gate as far back as it could go, and we got out.

At Pigeon’s Lock, one of the top paddles isn’t working so the lock takes more than ten minutes to fill.  We were third in the queue, but we had a nice chat to the couple in front, on a boat called Chubb’s Nook.  I was quite taken with the footpath sign alongside.

Eventually we got down, and then had lunch on the move. Bakers Lock takes you down onto the River Cherwell, and there’s an impressive bridge over the river entrance.

The river ends with Shipton Weir Lock.  When we got there, Chubb’s Nook was just leaving — or trying to.  They had a problem and no propulsion.  While we came down the lock, the owners, Jill and Nick, had the engine boards up and could see the gear box was in pieces.  They phoned RCR, who weren’t keen on the location as there’s no road anywhere nearby.  So we offered them a tow to Thrupp, where there’s easy access.  They accepted, and we set off at a fairly sedate pace.  One obstacle was a lift bridge.  Adrian got off at the bow and lifted it, and we left it open as there was a boat coming the other way.  It was then much easier for him to get back on the boat we were towing.

Just beyond, an Anglo Welsh boat was aground, so there was fun and games there too.  The boat going the other way was helping them.  At Thrupp, there was no space on the first set of moorings, but one of the Club employees offered to lift the bridge for us, and suggested the stricken boat moor on the first space, perhaps slightly overhanging the bridge mooring.  Once they were secure, Jill put a bottle of wine on our roof, and we carried on and moored in the next available space.  As we were tying up, the RCR van arrived — amazingly quick; someone must have been in the area already.  We’ll pop along later and see what the verdict was.  We’d thought we might go further today, but it’s been quite a tiring day, and it’s probably going to rain later.

11 miles, 7 locks.  (74 miles, 54 locks)

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)