Slow Progress as the Oxford Gets Busier

As we slowly cruise further south and school holidays begin we have noticed subtle changes taking place on the canal.

Wednesday was washing day so before we left Banbury the first order of the day was to fill the tanks just to be emptied again by the washing machine. We moved off our mooring, went under the lift bridge and moored up at the water point fifty metres from where our overnight mooring had been.

Since Banbury, the number of lift bridges over the canal has increased significantly. Until now most the bridges have been up with only one in a village lowered into place. Additionally, up until now we have arrived at locks and virtually gone straight in, no queuing whatsoever. Since Banbury things have changed considerably as the queues grow at the locks to four and five boats at one time.

The last lock of the day was new for us, a diamond shaped lock where the canal meets the River Cherwell. Plenty of room to bob around in but not rough, however much longer to fill.

We arrived in good time at our mooring on Wednesday, just outside Aynho Wharf, so there was plenty of time to do a bit of maintenance on Serafina. In this case tightening the stern gland, the fixed bracket containing greased rope that the propeller shaft passes through. The stern glands main job is keep out the water.

The field on the off-side of the canal was absolutely chock full of rabbits, a quick count and we were quickly over thirty rabbits with not a care in the world.

A thirty minute trip into Aynho Wharf and a stop for fuel (70p base price) and gas. Not quite down to quarter of a tank, 110 litres later and we were full to the brim with diesel. Progress continued to be slow as long queues formed particularly at the deeper locks. We did stop for lunch today, something that we don't usually do since there has been plenty of time to make and eat lunch at the locks recently. We were hoping that the boats would spread out a little and alleviate the queuing a little. Today there was the important occasion as well, Rachael's birthday. I had prearranged with Kevin and Carol to hold on to her cake and candles and a gift on their boat, she suspected nothing!

Additional obstacles today included a tree across the canal, the clearing of which made for entertainment as we waited our turn to go down the lock. The CRT were quite prompt getting a team out to remove it within a few hours. An hour later and the canal was clear again.

We moored for the night at Lower Heyford and made our way into town for a birthday dinner at The Bell Inn in town.

Up and on our way to Thrupp, it was another slow day. We passed an old cement works where a grey haze seemed to have settled over the canal right where we moved on to the River Cherwell to cruise for a mile or so, finishing at another diamond stop lock.

The Cherwell meets the Oxford at this grey dust covered bridge.

Finishing off a long day at Thrupp, we filled with water at Thrupp Services then tried to find a mooring. Thrupp is a busy little canal village. We grabbed what seemed the last moorings remotely close to town. We met Michael and Sylvie from NB Chartwell on a cruise down to find a mooring, they were on their way back from Oxford.

After Dinner we all met at The Jolly Boatman for a drink and a chat. We watched a purple party boat cruise by and stop right in front of our boat in the designated 'No mooring' area tying up to our mooring pin and a tree with a rope across the tow path. I asked how long they planned to be there to which they replied 'probably all night'. I pointed out that our mooring pin wouldn't hold two boats and they may hurt someone with their bow rope tied across the towpath. Very cooperative young lads, they were happy to move on after they had taken the stripper on board. I noticed as we cruised today that they had moved their boat down to a different 'No mooring' area for the evening. It turned out to be a nice quiet place for us to moor after all!