Slow Progress

 We've enjoyed a couple of beautiful, September cruising days if very short days. The cut is quite busy but we have had no problem mooring. Our biggest problem appears to be the state of some of the lock gear on various locks along the way. We got caught in a long queue today at Grants Lock - we were the fifth boat in the queue. Yet again only one sluice was working on the top gate, as has been the case on a couple of locks on the Clayden flight and of other locks on our trip. With this being a deep lock it was taken an age to fill. That's just the way it goes sometimes and just over an hour later our turn came to descend and continue on our way.

September Cru8se 2024

 At last we are off on our September Cruise. After arriving at the marina last weekend all ready to get off the weather took a turn for the worse and the strong winds and heavy rain did not appeal to Jenny and Sid as ideal travelling conditions.

So, lots of little jobs have been done together with lots of shopping and also plenty of rest have filled our time very nicely.

The temperatures dropped over the past two days with a nasty northerly airflow bringing near zero temperatures overnight. And yes, the stove has been lit and we have stayed cosy.
After all this very unseasonal weather for September it was so good to set sail at last on a beautiful Friday morning. The canal was not too busy and the locks were in our favour for much of the way as we made our way through the Claydon Flight and the further three locks taking us down to Cropredy.

So for our first night out we are moored on one of our favourite stretches, just above Slat Mill Lock. The evening sun is shining in a vast blue sky.
Sadly, no Internet here so this post will have to wait for another day.

Sunday 14th July continued!

A balmy summer's evening at last!

 Sadly they lost!

We had a very lazy Sunday afternoon enjoying the long awaited sunshine on a solitary mooring surrounded by farmland, inhabited by sheep.

Then in the evening, not being great football fans, we enjoyed some succulent pork ( from The Pig Place), then sat in the bow on this our first balmy evening, finishing our wine, eating ice cream and chatting whilst the sun went down over our beautiful,  tranquil mooring.  Perfick!

Internet connections

Our Internet reception is bizarre on the water. We appear to get better connections when we are moored in the middle of nowhere than we do when surrounded by houses and people. We have spent two days in Thrupp being totally isolated as far as communication is concerned, which seems very strange these days and slightly unnerving.

After a long days travelling yesterday, for us, we have journeyed just a short way today with the highlight being the sun shining and the temperature a lot warmer.

The big question today is, will England win the football tonight?

Our bizarre summer

 We woke to that horrible fine drizzle that soaks right through you so had a lazy breakfast and faff around. Jenny, optimistically, said it was getting brighter in the distance so we ventured off our mooring.  It was a morning of waterproofs on and off but by the time we came across The Pig Place the sun was trying very hard to shine through.  Pork for Sunday purchased and then on our way. 

By lunchtime the warm sun had arrived which put a big smile on Sid and Jenny's faces. But, along with the sun  came an ever increasing and challenging wind. Bearing in mind Sid is supposed to be on light duties it was with some concern that, having approached the bank to let Jenny ashore to prepare Somerton Deep Lock, he really struggled to hold on to Hunters Moon in the strong  cross wind. Obviously,  he managed to bring HM under control. Whilst Sid was battling, Jenny was having her own battle with the huge, heavy bottom gate of this very deep lock. On her arrival at the empty lock she noticed a boat approaching it, so, as is the etiquette on the waterways she tried to open the gate for the approaching boat to enter the empty lock. However, she was being beaten and just couldn't budge it despite having the paddles up, in case the water levels were not the same. By this time the poor chap in the other boat was having similar problems to those Sid had experienced, exacerbated by a strong bywash at the mouth of the lock. To the rescue comes a wonderful, beefy Ozzy, whose hire boat had just moored behind Sid. He managed to open a the bottom gate. The boat entered the lock and  my hero Ozzy was able to close the gate, Jenny wasn't sure she would have been able to do it on her own!

When it was Hunters Moon's turn to enter the lock, to go down, Jenny asked rather cheekily,  if the Ozzy was happy to operate the lock if she went back on board,  rather than Sid having the problem of picking Jenny up on vacating the lock. He agreed and Jenny had the very rare experience of descending a lock on board.  Hence the photos!

The pesky wind was making driving conditions very difficult and rather unpleasant so we found a sheltered mooring and enjoyed the warm sunshine and even enjoyed a bbq in the evening. Perfect! 

Pretty Kings Sutton Lock

Emerging from a bridge under the M40 towards 

another lifting bridge

Aynho Diamond lock

Huge bottom gate of Somerton Deep Lock 

Looking back towards the top gate.

A few leaks!

Emerging from Somerton Deep 

My hero Ozzy in the top right hand corner.

Cruising along the South Oxford Canal

 Here we are chugging along the  South Oxford Canal making our way through numerous locks, under characterful lifting bridges and watching the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside pass by, all under dark skies and too many showers. Where is summer?

We have been amazed at the large number of moored boats in the hot spots and even out in the wilds, which is where we prefer to moor. 

We have made our way to Twyford Wharf today passing through a very busy Banbury and leaving a very busy Cropredy earlier in the day.

It is so good to be travelling despite the inclement weather.

The beautiful Oxfordshire country on a lovely still evening

Repairs to the towpath 

Threatening skies

Chugging along

Lifting bridge no. 176

Independence Day and Election Day - 4 July

 Back on board after a busy time back home. Dentist, GP appointments,  hospital appointments, sports day, dancing displays, grandchildren sleepovers and an operation.  Sid is healing well and felt he wanted to get back on board. On top of all our activities at home we have had a couple of trips out and about viewing Bond Bugs! But that's another story.

On slipping our mooring on Sunday morning the rain started. We are heading south but didn't get very far before finding a convenient bit of shuttering to moor and dry out. It is surprising how wet and cold it can be, in just a short time on the back of a narrowboat! A very lazy lunch and afternoon followed despite the rain easing and the sun coming through from time to time. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.