Category Archives: Oxford Canal

Pipmas! 25th December

Middle of nowhere South Oxford Canal

Father Christmas had visited bring all three of us lots of goodies in our stockings. Tilly soon commandeered all four bouncy balls and started to work her way through her stash of Dreamies, old style and the super dooper new ones.

After a leisurely cuppa in bed accompanied by the first of the chocolate Mick got on with breakfast, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with a bucks fizz on the side. Tilly headed out and spent most of the day ignoring us and doing her best to find all possible friends who might be living in the sideways trees.

Next came presents of the Christmas variety. We had done well this year with a big stash that has been taking over the corner of the dinette for a while. Lots of good presents, foody stuff, beanie hats with built in lights, a new frying pan and roasting tin, Inspector Morse DVDs, mugs, books, a new fleece for Mick, a knitted mouse for Tilly and a book of swearing old ladies!

Tilly obliged in returning home so we managed to step outside for a bit of a walk. Our mooring, being a touch remote meant that there was no round route unless we wanted to eat very late in the day. So we only walked up to the next winding hole before returning, it was quite a grey day anyway.

Late afternoon we enjoyed our roast duck with all the trimmings although we nearly forgot about the stuffing, it was still sat in the bottom of the oven. In the past I’ve always stuffed the duck, but this year I’d read in several places that you shouldn’t. However it’s late arrival to the table meant we’d had chance to make some space for it on our plates. No need for seconds, just a rest for a couple of hours. We’ll have the seconds tomorrow.

hen came tree presents. Mick got new hair trimmers, I got Paddinton 2 and Tilly got a fish, except she was still a bit busy leaving body parts on the towpath! As it was now dark she was encouraged to head for home by being picked up. She quickly turned her attention to killing her fish. It is just like the fish I caught a couple of years ago, must get more practice at fishing.

Birthday presents came next. Prime Suspect DVDs, new towels, books, tea towels and a very nice smock from a lady in Cornwall we’d seen at Blenheim, my hefty hint had been taken.

Birthday cake. We think that maybe we will need to invest in new candles for the next birthday as these proved hard to light, some broke and they all did a very good job of covering the top of my cake with wax. This didn’t stop us from having a slice with some buffalo ice cream. Very nice.

Not much to watch on the TV so we carried on with our binge watching of Luther, just the right sort of jolly viewing required on Christmas Day!

The canal was quite quiet with only two boats passing us all day, one of them twice. Our nearest neighbour walked his dog past, he was the only passer by. So a nice quiet mooring for a very nice Pipmas.

Queueing For Christmas. 23rd December

Marston Doles to below Lock 9 of the Napton Flight

After deliberating over night when to pick up our Christmas bird, today turned out to be the day. We hopped in the car and headed straight over to Braunston. Braunston Butchers would only be open today between 8 and midday so the other things could wait until later. When we arrived, passing ‘Bangers’ steeple, I was glad we’d decided to do this today rather than tomorrow, there was a queue. Good job the village isn’t too busy on the traffic front as the queue was starting to encroach on the road. I hopped out of the car and joined in line whilst Mick found a space to park.

Everyone stood in an orderly line most clutching pieces of paper, their order with a handy reference number to make the butchers job a lot easier. I however had placed our order over the phone, so had no number. After around twenty minutes of standing in the near drizzle we entered the shop and a lady was sent off into the back to find our meat. Joints were brought out along with turkeys for those around us, people (mostly men) stood and ogled at the pork pies. Only small Braunston pies left but still plenty of other flavours. Luckily Mick had joined me by this stage so was able to choose a pie for himself. Our bird came out first and then was joined by a huge gammon joint that had been reserved for us. Blimey the size of it would feed both our families put together for a week! It was sent into the back to be reduced to about a quarter. With some streaky bacon too we were done. Wish I’d asked him about gluten free sausages when I rang, as today I spotted a sign saying that they were available, wonder if they are of the Banger variety? Might have to ask them after Christmas.

The Post Office was closed, so that left a job for tomorrow morning. Then we headed to join the queues of traffic trying to get parked in Daventry. Our timing was spot on as Mick managed to turn straight into a space. Waitrose provided us with all but one thing and we got a free Sunday paper too. Tesco filled in the final gap for our food shop. All fairly painless and we were on our way back to the boat.

A quick lunch and then time to move down the locks. The morning had been far drier than we’d thought it would be, sadly the afternoon made up for it. As we were about to push off the light drizzle turned into something a touch more substantial. A boat had only just gone past to head down the locks so we’d be following them, at least the flight isn’t of 21 locks! But just as we pushed off a Kate Hire Boat appeared up the lock, at least that was one we wouldn’t have to turn. A shame that in only a few minutes from them having shut the top gate it had drained enough to necessitate it being topped up.

As I opened the bottom gates of the second lock a lady came for a chat and helped with the gates. They had moved up the flight yesterday along with the other boats from the last pound. Leaving one boat and it’s butty, very sadly the the chap on board these had passed away the night before. She wasn’t certain whether they would still be there as someone was planning on moving them. When we’d walked down to the bins the other afternoon the chap had been sat by his Epping stove with the butties cabin doors open. So very sad.

As we approached Lock 14 we could see that we’d caught up with the boat ahead. One person was working the boat down the lock and slowly moved around, it appeared that they were single handing. I walked down and helped shut the gates just as his wife appeared from inside. Their little dog had just fallen in and had needed drying off, poor thing still new to boating. They pulled in the long pound below and we carried on past them.

Most locks were just about in our favour so I stayed with Mick and Oleanna, not bothering to go ahead to set the next lock. This saved walking the muddy towpath three times.

At Lock 9, the one that has recently been rebuilt a sign has been put up on the fencing nearby. This has a good photo of when the work was being done and an explanation of the breeze blocks. They had been let down by their supplier and new coping stones would not be available until after the lock was due to open. So instead of delaying the lock they have put in breeze blocks as a temporary measure. These will be replaced in March/April time when a short stoppage will be needed.

We made our way down with the normal 6 to 8 inches of spare width in the lock, it was wider. Just a little bit disturbing the amount of water coming out of the new brickwork on lock sides. This lock is now most definitely a pisser with numerous spouts, one to make sure your windows are shut before you go through.

The pound below was empty of boats so we made use of the space and moored up, now both really rather soggy. Poor Mick had to walk back up to Martson Doles to move the car down, so he got even wetter. But neither of us minded as we were one step closer to Christmas. We deserved a well earned pint at The Folly before dinner, well it is Christmas!

8 locks, 1.89 miles, 1 duck, 1kg gammon joint, 6 rashers of streaky, 1 pork and chorizo pie, 3rd supermarket lucky, 1 free Sunday paper with lots of puzzles, 1 boat followed, 1 boat overtaken, 1 soggy dog, 2 soggy boaters, 2 beers, 1 toast, 1 lock left to Christmas.

https://goo.gl/maps/sU45ar1Akdk

Christmas Logistics. 22nd December

Marston Doles

Sussing out your Christmas food shop takes a bit of doing whilst living on a boat. Our last four years we’ve known where we would be and been able to sort things out accordingly. 2014 we moored outside the Copper Box on the Lee in London and went to my brothers, easy. 2015 we were moored in Kings Marina, Newark. Mick and I were recovering from operations and managed between the two of us to do the shopping, one walking slowly the other one handed . 2016 saw us at Bugsworth Basin with a holiday cottage for my brother and family to stay in, so we arranged a food delivery and used the butcher in Whaley Bridge. 2017, Llangollen Basin and town served us very well. But this year knowing just where we would be couldn’t be guaranteed.

Not really wanting to be in Rugby or Leamington Spa, we originally opted for Braunston. We knew where we’d be getting our festive bird from, but would we actually manage to get there? With the lock being rebuilt at Napton there was always a chance that the work wouldn’t be finished in time. The weather may have done the opposite to the summer months and plunged us into a deep freeze, so we could have been stranded somewhere on the Oxford Canal. These things all had to be taken into consideration. We could have booked a supermarket delivery three weeks in advance, but where too? Instead we hoped we’d be able to reach at least Marston Doles and booked a hire car, so what ever happened we should be able to get to the shops. If everything was in our favour and the lock reopened early then we could make it to Braunston and get the car from there, the same Enterprise branch covering both areas.

Car hire was very expensive so we booked a small van instead and used up some of our loyalty points, getting one day free. Only snag was we’d get the car this morning and need to return it on Christmas Eve morning, we also had a flight of locks we wanted to get done, pick up post and parcels from two post offices along with doing the food shop and visit the butchers whilst it was open. What to do when?

Pick up by Enterprise this morning was sometime between 9 and 12. Of course it ended up being nearer 12, but as quite often happens we ended up with a car instead of a van, bonus. First we visited Napton Village Stores. The last of my shopping had been delivered here along with a few bits of Poste Restante. As I walked into the shop I said there were a couple of parcels to pick up and maybe some post and gave my name. No questions asked, just’ ‘you’ve got quite a few’. However I was expecting another parcel from my best friend in Australia, but there was nothing else for me. I had a thought and asked if they happened to have a parcel for Emma, ‘Oh yes we have!’ Last year this had happened and it took a while for me to be able to give adequate evidence to the chap in Llangollen sorting office to hand over the parcel, today none of that. The parcel was addressed to Emma at the Post Office and had been delivered by a courier that they shouldn’t have accepted. What stars they are. They also had a loaf of fresh bread, still warm early afternoon and we treated ourselves to a pot of Buffalo ice cream to go with birthday cake on Tuesday.

On our way back to Oleanna we decided to have a look at a place we might be able to park the van/car right beside lock 14. Driving in at Holt Farm, past the camp site, through the farm yard we got to a very pot holey lane. Those who ever visited Fenwicks Lane where I grew up will understand when I say that the undulations were deeper and wider than those in Fulford, we nearly needed armbands at one point. We reached a gate that led to the parking area, a combination bike lock looped around the gate. It wasn’t locked, but had the potential. So we decided that we’d not bother moving down just the first two locks and do the flight all in one go.

Late afternoon we headed to Rugby and the big Sainsburys. We knew most people would be doing their shop today, it turned out not to be as bigger bun fight as it used to be in York! However there were no copies of our Saturday paper to be had, until we went to the garage to put a tenner in the car, phew! Five bags of shopping and only a few items missing from our list was a very good outcome. We can do those tomorrow, between picking up the bird, moving the boat, hopefully visiting Crick and cramming everything into the fridge. We could do with the temperature dropping just a little bit so that our overflow fridge can come into use under the pram cover.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1st boat up the locks, 0 van, 1 car, 3 parcels, 1 card, 1 loaf, 1 pot chocolate and orange, 1 tank, 15 baby cows, 3 bottles (yes bottles) of wine, 30p sprouts and carrots, 0 salmon, 0 foil,

Walking Down The Locks. 21st December

Bridge 126 to Marston Doles Visitor Moorings

Windy this morning, but with possible rain later on we decided to move earlier rather than later. No need to push off today, once the bow was untied I had to pull it back in to jump onboard before Oleanna was blown back out, no hoping on at the stern today!

Only an hours cruise for us today, all grey and windy. The hot tub by the teepee has been removed and sheep installed in the field. The boat in the middle of the field has been levelled out, it must have been on a list for some time (the muddy mark still evident on the hull).

The visitor moorings at Marston Doles have been turned over to Winter Moorings. Two boats were tied up with permits in their windows, space at the end possibly for us. The washing machine was put on as we approached the water point and ran as we filled up. The tank was full before the machine had finished, but nobody was coming past so we waited for the final rinse before topping up the tank again.

In the mean time I had a walk down to see if there was any space below the second lock to moor. One cruiser sat there, but the towpath was rather muddy so we decided to use up the space left on the winter moorings instead. One of the winter moorers commented that we were the first boat he’d seen in months. We knew there was a boat ahead of us somewhere so we weren’t the first boat to pass him.

After lunch we decided to walk down the flight to check on progress at Lock 9 of the Napton flight which had been closed since 5th November to more or less be rebuilt. The stoppage notice had said that it would re-open today at 4pm, we wanted to check if that was the case. With a bag of rubbish each we set off hoping that the big black clouds would find a route around us. We were fortunate and only had a light bit of drizzle for a few minutes, the bins were getting on for two miles away.

On our way down we made note of where else we could moor should we need somewhere. In the long pound a section of the towpath had disintegrated so much that it was fenced off with orange netting. But this had left no space to be able to walk, so the towpath sideways trees had had a severe cutting back. The black area on the ground is how far they used to encroach.

Lock 14 was open, no signs suggesting that the flight was still shut and as we rounded the bend before Lock 13 we could see NB Wol, the boat that was in front of us, just entering it heading down the flight.

We walked on ahead and at the last bridge before Lock 9 there were a lot of builders bags of sand and aggregate, either too much had been ordered for the works or it would be used on the towpath. There was no fencing around the lock, just orange mesh to keep you off the newly laid earth. The site was clear, the bottom gates of the lock wide open and boats were sitting in the pound below.

Lock 9 is where NB Tyseley got stuck this summer. Numerous ropes, a boat pulling and flushing through of water had to be used to get her unjammed. The lock had been gradually getting narrower and any older boats with a touch of spread had been getting caught. The stoppage notice said that they would ‘Take down and rebuild the towpath chamber wall. Take down and rebuild the offside approach walls. Carry out localised repairs throughout. Please be aware the end date of this closure is outside our published winter stoppage period due to the extent of the works involved.’

The works were certainly finished. The towpath side chamber wall is 7/8th new brickwork, the off side about 1/5th. We did wonder why some bits of old brick work had been left, but there must have been a reason. The large stone on the bottom off side of the lock looked like it had been shaved back and put back in place above new brickwork, the corners having been chamfered off. One thing we were very surprised about was the use of breeze blocks as new coping stones on the towpath side. These are normally large bricks or stone (as on the off side). Will they be able to withstand the beating from boats entering the lock to come down, especially as in the summer months many will be at the helm for the first time on hire boats. Will the gritty texture do wonderful things to gunnels as boats rise encouraging more use of fenders in locks?! The use of them does suggest one thing, that Lock 9 is not a listed structure so cheaper materials could be used.

On our way back from the bins we quickly closed the bottom gates for the chap coming down hill, the bywash in the pound above was blocked so at least the water could run over the gates and start to fill the lock for him. He was making good progress down the flight, if it hadn’t been so late we’d have offered him a hand, but with no torch and a muddy towpath ahead we carried on.

The lock must have been reopened today early on. The site had been cleared. A bit further up hill we could see where C&RT had had access to the site, a temporary road across the field had been laid, now removed leaving yellowed grass beneath.

If we’d known the flight would open early would we have moved along the summit quicker? Maybe, maybe not.

Up north on the Middlewich Branch, NB Halsall and NB Bargus look to have been the first couple of boats through this morning at just gone 9am. NB Harnser went up Wardle Lock after the fuel boats came down. The canal looks a touch sterile from the photos, but once grass has seeded and nature has weathered the concrete it will soon mellow. But what’s more important is that the branch is now open, linking two routes north again. Middlewich has boats back and C&RT and Keir have worked wonders in getting this done before Christmas.

9 locks walked down, 9 locks walked up, 2.34 miles, 1 blowy day, 2.5 hours they said, 2 hours on account, 1 boat going down, 3/5ths of lock rebuilt, 1 no longer skinny lock, 1 clogged bywash, 1 full water tank, 2 bags of rubbish, 0.5 of a sock to go.

https://goo.gl/maps/G3aoNGC96g32

Have They Started Already? 20th December

Lower New House Farm to Stoneton Bridge 126

As we had breakfast Tilly was allowed an hour of shore leave. She’s not often allowed this, it’s only on days when it doesn’t matter when we move or we’re staying put. She trotted back on board spot on an hour. Today we planned on moving, but not very far. Just as we were putting on the extra layers a narrowboat came past, pulling in a distance ahead of us. Their three dogs all came off for a wee before being individually picked up to get back on board. As we passed by their TV aerial was being adjusted, I think they were settling in for the day, we’d leave them in peace with the view.

As we approached bridge 128 I took this photo.

It’ll be interesting to see how things change through the coming years.

After bridge 127 the canal makes a boot shape. At the toe end is where HS2 will pass the canal quite closely.

Up on the hill we could see what looked like big work lights, a dumper truck was heading down the hill and a man in high vis was busy close to the canal. Had they started work here already? Maybe there were only two of them, hence the 2 in HS2. If so it would take a long time for them to reach Birmingham.

A large corrugated pipe, possibly a culvert was flanked by sandbag walls at a gap in the trees. Later on Mick checked the plans and it looks like they were working on moving a footpath slightly, giving it a kink before it will dip under the new railway as it nears the canal.

Along the towpath were several blue plastic barrels on stilts. Suspended under them what looked like small troughs for animals to eat from. Were these barrels to help feed some beasts? What creature other than human is partial to Mango Chutney?

Just past the heel of the boot and we pulled into the mooring we’d come across on our way south three months ago. The sun was out, what a beautiful day again. Tilly took her time pouncing on possible friends hiding just behind the armco, making us slightly nervous in case she over leapt into the canal!

We settled down and pottered away the remainder of the day. The sun disappeared and was replaced by torrential rain.

Further north, at the Middlewich Branch things are getting very exciting. Back in March there was a breach which washed away a large portion of the canal. Works have been on going and the hope was that the canal would be reopened before Christmas. Brian and Diana on NB Harnser are loitering at the east end at Middlewich and NB Halsall and NB Bargus (both coal boats) are waiting at the west end to go through. Late on this afternoon we had a C&RT notice saying that the branch would reopen tomorrow. The Middlewich Branch is part of our home patch (as it were) and if we were anywhere nearby we’d also be waiting to go through, so we shall be watching facebook and blogs tomorrow for the first boats to pass thorough.

0 locks, 1.21 miles, 3 woofers, 1 footpath on the move, 45kg, 1 pot of gold, 1 food list, 0.5 sock knitted, 4th Luther, 1 hour 7 minutes to the next tap, 37 pounces, 4 soggy paws.

https://goo.gl/maps/YyT4N8pyfdS2

HS2 View. 19th December

Fenny Compton to over looking Lower New House Farm

The sun came out today, what a difference. Tilly immediately started to try to find a way to sit in it, she will always find a sunny spot to sit in unless they are only on vertical surfaces, but she’ll still try to give it a good try.

Todays decision was which mooring to stop at. If there was space would it be at a gap in the hedge with a good view, or a few more wiggles to the mooring we found on our way up that we really quite liked by a bridge with sheep in the field. Neither of them that far away, we’d see what space there was.

This section of the summit pound has the biggest wiggles in it due to following the contours. We set off heading North East, then northwards, then west followed by east just to get around Wormleighton Hill. On the off side in a wood was a fenced off area with water butts and small shelters, we wondered what animal was kept here, hogs? The medieval village of Wormleighton more noticeable than before with the low sun picking out the highs and lows of the old settlement, the more modern village now sits high on the hill above.

Wormleighton Grange sits on the end of the biggest loop the canal does. What views they must have from up there, just a shame they planted tall trees so you only get the occasional glimpse, not enough for a photo. Sheep wandered from one field to the next in front of the house, separated by a stone haha. The trees were most probably planted to help cut down noise from the busy A423, if it had been us we’d have invested in double glazing and kept the view.

The radio mast came into sight, so we knew we were close to the first mooring. Not one single boat was moored here, we pulled in at the first big gaps in the hedge, could we get views from both the dinette and bedroom. We pulled back and it was almost possible. If we’d have carried on a touch further the gaps in the hedge are longer, but we were happy with where we were. What a view stretching on for miles.

The low sun was so strong that the galley blind had to be pulled down so that I could see anything to make us some soup for lunch. Then I could get on with making a wreath for the cratch.

Tilly busied herself finding friends (one a little bit too big!) and helping to prune the sideways trees. We were surprised when she didn’t venture off down into the huge field below, I was saving that for tomorrow.

With enough day light left and a cat indoors we decided to take a walk up to bridge 128. In a few years time the view we were enjoying will be very different. HS2 will cross the canal at Bridge 128 (link to maps) and cut across the valley we have a great view of. Mick found a map of the planned route so we could trace out where it will go. Some work will go on around here, a viaduct will replace the (Lucky Sods) bridge to cross the canal and it looks like embankments will take the tracks across the valley. Now the world up here is calm, faint noise from the A423 and today only one boat passed us, but that will change.

Looking things up later I came across a petition to Parliament from Lower New House Farm regarding HS2. Only having had a quick read through it looks like part of their farm will become a temporary works compound (Oxford Canal North Compound) whilst construction takes place. This works compound will operate for five years and accommodate between 90 to 170 workers with temporary living accommodation. The road leading to the farm will be upgraded and they have concerns about the safety of the radiofrequency beacon on their land and it’s protection whilst works are on going (another petition here about the beacon, part of the Marine Beacon Differential Global Positioning System network, covering 50 miles around the UK coast line). Storage of their own topsoil and noise levels of the works are also a concern to them. This was all written in 2013, another document showing homeowner protection zones was published in 2016 with the route remaining the same.

Our mooring today will change in the coming years, the view will be different and high speed trains will cross the valley at regular intervals. A massive amount of upheaval will happen as the construction takes place, but once everything has settled down and nature restored around the new line it will become like any other railway line crossing the canal and valley. How many of us marvel at the viaducts built in Victorian times, here’s hoping that HS2 has it’s own structures to marvel at. Here’s also hoping that all the upheaval will be worth it in the long run.

But the biggest question is, will this mooring still be worthy of a Mrs Tilly stamp of approval?

0 locks, 2.76 miles, 2 boats moving, 1 sunny winters day, 4 root veg soup, 1 GF homemade biscuit topped pie! 1 wreath, 1 large friend, 1 field yet to help dig up, HS2 to come, Ep 3 Luther, 0.5 sock, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

https://goo.gl/maps/tUv4Z3UPXHv

Another Wrong Forecast. 18th December

Fenny Compton

Awake early for a change, brilliant! Our plan to get up and get going to beat the weather, mooring up for breakfast before the rain started, sadly didn’t happen. We were woken by strong winds that hadn’t been forecast to start for a few more hours. Only one thing for it , stay in bed a while longer with our cuppas.

By the time we were up and dressed it was rainy too, should we stay put or battle with the elements to get to a better view. An easy decision, stay put. The storm that we’d hunkered down for a few days ago was nothing compared to today. The winds were far stronger throwing rain at the starboard side for much of the day.

A walk to see if we could find some milk took us out for a short while in between downpours. There is a Co-Op about a mile away in the village, but we decided to see if the shop at the pub had any first. At The Wharf Inn they have a launderette with large machines and then if you go into the pub at the rear there is a small shop. They stock pasta, rice, pop, cleaning things, fire lighters all none perishable goods. If we were stuck I’d have been able to put a reasonable meal together from their supplies. But did they have milk? A lady came through from the bar and went into the kitchen to get us a litre bottle. This will see us through to a big shop at the weekend, hopefully.

Having the milk there was no need to walk down to the village, an explore for a finer day. We scurried back to the warmth of Oleanna instead.

Tilly wasn’t that impressed by the day. Her first look out the back brought on her morning snooze, not stirring for a couple of hours. Then she sat at the back doors waiting to be let out, only to disappear off the back and re-appear at the side hatch a matter of seconds later hoping to be let back in. A few Dreamies and then she’d be asking to go out again. This got quite tedious and the thought of a cat flap was appealing.

Whilst watching an Australian film I made another loaf of bread for Mick. This time I had the oven turned down a touch, but the top of the loaf still came out a good sort of brown! In the evening we watched the first two episodes of Luther, several years behind I know. But with every episode on demand at the moment we will try to catch up to be able to watch the new series which starts New Years Day.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 litre milk, 1 dark brown loaf, 1 pair socks finished, 2nd pair started, 2 Luthers, 1 resigned cat who would far prefer to be sprinkling glitter at the top of the BT Tower!

Pre-Christmas Family Christmas. 7th to 10th December

Castle Quays to Sovereign Wharf

On Friday after breakfast we moved Oleanna the great distance of 0.16 miles up to Sovereign Wharf. Planning a weekend away we’d booked her in for a few days so that we could leave her plugged in to the electricity and not have to turn the fridge and freezer off, there’s still a lot of fish pie mix to be eaten!

As we set off a C&RT man was walking down the towpath and he announced to us that the way ahead was now open. The dams had been removed and he soon returned with the Canal Closed sign from the lock. Think he was a little bit disappointed that we wouldn’t be going that far, we were also a bit disappointed not to be the first boat through.

Sovereign Wharf is only open on Fridays, so it was a good job we were turning up then. We’d already been informed of our mooring which was right outside the office so made to pull in. The gap to us looked a touch too short and after pulling the bow in our suspicions were confirmed. Ian the chap from the wharf had come out to welcome us and quickly checked for space up ahead of us, there was none, and then went to the boat behind asking if he could nudge them backwards. With another 18inches we slid in sideways, fender to fender, a nice snug fit. Once we’d paid, been given a key to the gate and checked about a couple of deliveries we were hoping for we plugged Oleanna into the electric to get the batteries up to full power. The electric kettle could now be used and so could our Alde boiler for heating, without using any gas.

At round 2.30pm NB Dusty pulled up alongside us. They had just been a few boats behind us in the morning, but they seemed to be having a good chat with everyone so it had taken quite a time to reach us. A small top up of diesel, a new gas bottle and some more coal. This was going to be the last time we’d see them and we wanted to be stocked up to keep warm over the next few weeks.

The stove was left to burn itself out and the boiler took over the heating. Our plan was to leave the boiler on to keep Oleanna at a reasonable temperature whilst we were way, so that we wouldn’t get complaints from the feline one. However the post we were plugged into kept tripping out. A few resets and some adjustments to settings on the inverter were done and we hoped that the post would stop tripping out.

A sudden sharp hail storm covered the ground before we were ready to leave, luckily stopping in time for our walk to the station. One big bag and a shopping bag did us for the way to London, clothes, presents and a couple of bottles of wine. Our train tickets had been a bargain, but we should have thought a bit more about the time we were heading into London on a Friday evening. The train was rammed, standing room only as was most of the tube journey from Marylebone to Bethnel Green. The final leg on the bus wasn’t too bad, but it was nice to have room again as we walked around the corner to my brothers.

There was a fire lit, Christmas tree was up with loads of presents under it, a very festive house. We enjoyed a lovely meal catching up on all the news.

Saturday we spent preparing for the afternoon, when we were joined by three of Mick’s four sisters. Sadly Anne lives a touch too far away for her to have joined us for the evening. Thank you very much to Andrew and Jac for offering to have a get together at their house, it did mean there was plenty of good food to go round (Andrew inherited a bit more of my Mums genes than I did, he also has a bigger cooker).

Lots of presents were exchanged, much wine and salmon consumed and a lot of conversation. Sadly we were all to busy to get a group photo of everyone and the time for Marion and John to leave to catch a train back south caught up with us too soon. A very lovely evening with both our families together.

Sunday was a far more leisurely day. No visitors, time to read the weekends papers and be sat on by Finn and Ziggy, who both seemed to enjoy having new knees to sit on. After a lazy breakfast and returning tables back to where they’d come from Mick and I headed out for a walk across Victoria Park. The last few days I’d been suffering from a twinging calf muscle and by the time we nearly reached the other side of the park it was reminding me I should be taking it easy! However the lure of the Hertford Union Canal was strong, so I hobbled onwards so that we could have a look to see if any boats were on the move.

Over looking the canal by the top lock (one gate left open) there was a boat waiting it’s turn at the next lock as it was being set for one to come up. We loitered for a while, but everything was taking quite a time and it was a touch too chilly to loiter for long. So we slowly walked back across the park between numerous football matches as the sun elongated our shadows across the grass.

This morning we were up in time to say Goodbye to Josh, the first to leave the house this morning. He was heading to school to start on a week of exams, I’m sure we didn’t have exams when I was 12!

Then we had to try to find means of carrying everything back to Banbury and Oleanna. Our siblings have been very generous with presents and we also had a few months worth of post along with a couple of large parcels of our own. I was very glad I’d thought to pop in an Ikea bag, as we left with a very full wheeled holdall, a brimming Ikea bag and another carrier with all our swag. Mick had studied our routes to Marylebone last night trying to find the one with the least amount of walking due to our luggage and my leg. In the end we had a lift from my brother to a bus stop where we caught the No 30 to Baker Street, from where we walked round the corner to the station. We’d allowed plenty of time and managed to get seats all the way back to Banbury where we caught a taxi back to the Wharf.

So they left me. For days and days and days and weeks! They have never left me this long before. My magic food bowl worked very well and provided me with tasty morsels.

But they were away sooo long that I had to eat the bits I’d left in case they never returned. The smell of fresh baking and Hot Cross Buns didn’t help from next door! Along with the lack of food and no shore leave (within the sight of trees and good looking things to climb) they left me with NO heating! They said it would be 18C whilst they were away. It was for about an hour, then it stopped. Good job it isn’t like it was this time last year otherwise they’d have returned to an icicle of a cat! The boiler tried to turn on a couple of times, but that was all, it didn’t succeed. So I was left for a life time in the cold with limited food supplies whilst they were stroking other cats in that London place.

When they came back today I was really pleased that I was given an extra dingding and they put the heating on, but this took ages so I had to sit in a box until it got warm.. Tom swept the chimney and then lit the stove, so it is now getting warm again. I have commandeered the end of the sofa nearest the stove to make up for it, if they think I’m moving then they’ve got another think coming! Well until they give me some more dingding, then I might just move.

The electric post had tripped out again fairly soon after we’d left. The gizmo Mick added to the electrics cupboard means that we can check to see what power is being used and what state the batteries are in from afar. On Saturday Mick asked a chap on a neighbouring boat if he could turn the power back on for us, this he did. But we suspect that our boiler was wanting a bit more power than the post could provide each time it wanted to fire up, so it tripped again almost straight away. This meant there was no point in getting it switched back on again, we just hoped Tilly would survive, she has a fur coat after all.

0 locks, 0.16 miles, 1 tight squeeze, 1 nudge up, 4 bags coal, 30 litres diesel, 1 gas bottle, 1 empty wee tank, 1 Christmas rose, 2 bottles wine, 4 years, £22 return for both of us, 1 train, 2 tubes, 3 London Leckenbys, 1 fire, 18C more like 5C, 2 warm cats, 3 nights on a sofa bed, 3 nights in the freezing cold, 2 salmon, 600grms sugar, 7 egg whites, 1 wreath, 1 helper, 3 sisters, 10 for dinner, 1 very jolly lovely evening, 1 lazy morning, 1 walk in the park, Back to the Future 2, 1 blue bag not enough for lots of presents, 1 lift, 30 Bus, 1 slow walk, 40 minutes early, 1 train, 1 cab, 1 cold boat and cat, 0 food left, 4 chilly paws now defrosted and hogging the fire, 30%, 1st load of washing in the machine.

https://goo.gl/maps/Bweof8hybgK2

Sneaky Rain. 1st December

Belchers Bridge to Above King Sutton Lock

Needing water soon we need to keep moving towards Banbury. Yes we could have pulled in at Aynho Wharf but with little need for anything they could sell us it would have felt rude to stop, hog their service point and fill up the tank. So the next tap is Banbury.

We got ourselves ready and went out to roll up the covers, aiming for King Sutton Lock or there abouts today. As I unzipped the cratch and stood on the gunnel to roll it back everything was just that bit damp. It was that sneaky rain. If you look out of the corner of your eye you’ll catch it, hanging around in the air waiting for someone to land on. This is the sort of rain that gets you really wet when you’re not looking. We both looked at each other and decided to put off pushing off for an hour, hoping we’d be able to fool the weather.

My completed knitted orders were wrapped and made ready for posting. Back at the wharf there is a post box, but one that looked like it only really liked letters or postcards being fed to it. I could have walked back there to see if my parcels would squidge in but that would mean printing off postage labels and if they didn’t fit then I wouldn’t be able to post them til Monday (you only get til the end of the following day to post things when buying on line)therefore having to pay again. So instead we pottered away the morning, opening up the galley window every now and again to see if the sneaky rain was still there.

Mick had suggested that this mooring would be ‘surprisingly quiet’ considering there are numerous railway lines close by, three in fact. It was quiet considering two were within sight, one above the other, the third one lying behind the other two. Trains still came and went though so a more peaceful mooring was required for tonight. In the end we had our lunch before setting off and luckily the rain had got bored and moved on shortly after we pushed off.

I checked the river level before we filled up the foot of water at Aynho Weir Lock, still in the green. At Nells Bridge Lock the level is important as there is a bridge just before the bottom gates. Here a coloured level marker tells you whether to proceed or not. Above this is also a height gauge, for those who want to chance it.

Passing The Pig Place there was space on the towpath to moor, but their normal visitor moorings have now become winter moorings. NB Tungsten was tied up close to the coal stocks, no going cold there over winter. All the sofas have been removed, along with the caravan that was a bar, suspect there’s little call for alfresco drinking mid winter.

A chap moored on the towpath warned us about bridge 182. The shackles that hold the bridge in the upright position were no longer holding, so he’d had to open the bridge and secure it using one of his mooring spikes pinned through the chain. He said to check the spike was still holding before we went through. As we approached we couldn’t see his spike, but the chain was certainly holding on, so we cruised through in one piece.

Kings Sutton Lock looked full, so I went up to empty it, only to find it full of boat! An unusual sight at the moment. They were just about up and were going to pull in just after the lock as their engine was playing up. Once the top gate was closed I set the lock for us. The sun was just at that wonderful level where it turns things golden, the lock cottage was getting a good dousing of such light.

The wall along the side of the house was being rebuilt when Mick last came through. Today it looked almost finished, work lamps suggested there’d been a few late evenings trying to get it done and capped off before frosts arrive.

As we rose the boat ahead had moored up and it’s noisy dogs were being allowed out one at a time to do the necessaries. All different shapes, colours and sizes their five dogs certainly wanted to be heard! We cruised onwards past them to find a more peaceful mooring, just nicely within ear shot and view of the M40!

3 locks, 3.02 miles, 0 sofas, 2 moving boats, 1 spike held bridge, 1 new wall, 5 woofers, 2nd noisy mooring in a row, 0 Saturday newspaper.

https://goo.gl/maps/HfviYDRWBmn

Is That A Badger? 28th November

Somerton Meadows

This morning Mick stopped in his tracks looking out of the galley window and said ‘Is that a badger?’. I looked, it was a suitable size, but the markings didn’t look quite right, it was a touch too brown. Whatever it was was having a good rootle around, hopefully Tilly was alright. Then the creatures head popped up from behind the grass. Not a badger at all, just a German Shorthaired Pointer (I think).

oday we have spent much of the day avoiding the wind and rain. The forecast had suggested that it would be worse than it seemed, but we still hunkered down. Tilly has spent much of the day coming and going, bringing more and more mud indoors and demanding Dreamies on each visit. Well I was told 6 hours and that she wanted to see me at least six times. So I made sure I came home six times in the first hour to get ‘Thank you for coming home’ Dreamies, then I could go off for a long time. Although I’m a little bit concerned as I could see the bottom of the Dreamie pot! Does this mean that my trips into the great outside will end when the pot is empty?! Maybe I’ll stay in for a while and save the last few.

Arrangements with the London Leckenbys for a family Christmas get together were sorted and some Christmas shopping done via the internet.

I then added some decorations for sale to my Etsy shop, yes I know it’s not yet December.

I’m working my way through my orders for knitted things much quicker than I thought, so if you’d like anything making, get in touch.

Some Parsnip and Apple soup was put on the stove to cook away this morning. It was very tasty for lunch and will be for a couple more days too. Then this afternoon I got round to trying out my friends recipe for Beetroot Brownies. I altered the recipe to use gluten free flour and as we don’t have a microwave I cooked the beetroot on the stove for about 40 minutes until they were tender. This however meant I had to let them cool down before I could peel them, so they didn’t melt the chocolate as suggested in the recipe. But my zuzzer certainly chopped everything up and the end result was very tasty indeed. So we now have pudding to last us a few days.

Thoughts turned to next year and where we plan to cruise. We are undecided at the moment. The River Nene followed by the Middle Levels. Or The Kennet and Avon and the Thames up to Lechlade. Both options would mean a lot of new water for all of us and a gold licence.

When we bought Lillian (NB Lillyanne) we picked her up from Woodford Riverside Marina on the Nene. Her Environment Agency Licence had just expired so we felt under pressure to reach C&RT waters, we also only had a week to move her before having to be back at work. On a Saturday in April 2014 we sailed her away from what had been her home and cruised all the day light hours we could to reach Crick Marina. This experience of the Nene wasn’t the best, even though it was very exciting to be moving our first very own narrowboat. Finding moorings was hard with the limited info we had on hand, especially as we were pushing day light hours, the occasional lock landing did get tied to!

So to help us make our minds up which way to head we sat down to watch a DVD that we’d got from Paul, the Waterway Routes DVD of The River Nene. The popular footage DVD picks out highlights of the route from the bottom of the Northampton flight all the way through Peterborough and to the Dog in Doublet Lock. With commentary by Paul it is much like a TV programme, reminiscent of railway journeys. We also had a copy of the Bowcam version. This is a speeded up view of the whole journey. If you enjoyed the All Aboard! Canal Trip of the Kennet and Avon shown on BBC 4 a few years ago, this is very similar, just a lot quicker! Our DVD player can also do double speed with sound, this was very very amusing, the crew working exceptionally hard to get through all the locks.

We enjoyed watching the route we’d done on Lillian and paused the footage when the boat passed Woodford Riverside, only a glimpse on a bend. Certainly we think the river would be worth another visit, the churches look very picturesque standing high above the river. We’d be able to take our time, have much better maps, know about the Friends of the River Nene and their moorings and Sue from No Problem has also done a guide. But which way we go next summer is still undecided.

0 locks, 0 miles, 0 bridges, 1 storm, 0 badgers, 2 dogs, 1 C&RT boat, 1 boat seeking shelter, 6 portions of soup, 8 puddings worth of brownies (4 each that is), 1 wrist warmer nearing completion, 1 boat roof cleared, 1 stormy night ahead.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna