We made it!

 

Hunters Moon turning onto the Ashby Canal

After several false starts thanks to our problems with the generator and the solar panels and contemplating returning to Fenny we are now on the Ashby Canal. The past couple of days have started bitterly cold but by the afternoon the temperature has risen to a very pleasant 18°. Today the wind has dropped and we have had a glorious cruise. We have made our usual stop at Spinney Bank Farm Shop where we got the usual warm welcome and some great home-made provisions as well as some tasty looking lamb chops for Sunday dinner.

Peaceful mooring on the Ashby

Just fuelled up from the fuel barge and bought some much needed coal. We came away with some but with the evenings being so cold we have lit the stove every evening - not what we expected. Still it is still only April,

Bluebells along the towpath

Moored tonight at an absolutely beautiful spot just outside Stoke Golding.

Boating is a funny old pastime!

Sid at the helm.

After much indecision with the  generator working and not working, heading north then back to south Sid felt confident enough to resume our original objective, the Ashby Canal. We therefore set off again on a very cool morning with a cold easterly blowing, both wrapped up well but our spirits were high having made the decision to continue our cruise. However, the cold wind increased as we travelled along the North Oxford Canal, so much so that not only were we both freezing, despite the clear blue skies and glorious sunshine, but it was becoming dangerous to continue. An early stop on a lovely, open mooring was made, the fire was lit and we got warm and cosy while the wind raged outside. We were convinced we saw 'white horses' on the water during the afternoon!

Unexpected sight along the cut.

The next day the wind had abated a little and the sun was once again shining. A pleasant trip took us to Hilmorton Locks, which although busy, we proceeded through quite quickly. And so to Rugby to refresh provisions, and in Sid's case, clear the prop of a large, heavy duty, plastic bin liner, which had made a good job of entwining itself around the prop. This didn't do his back much good so we decided to stay out for the night. After days and days of peaceful moorings it is strange to hear the noises of a busy town.

We are certainly enjoying the glorious spring sunshine and both look and feel a little healthier than when we left Chichester.

Now you see me!

Now you don't!

Had to be quick to catch this speedy hare.

That's boating for you!

 Are we heading north or returning south? That is the question!

Everything was going so well until Sid says, " I think there is a problem with the generator." It had stopped working, therefore we can only rely on the 12 volt system. We should be able to manage. Then he notices that the solar panels are no longer producing any amps, therefore not topping up the batteries. But more of a problem since we have a fridge and small freezer to run. Normally, Sid has a think and a tinker and voila! all fixed. Not so this time. He spent hours trying to get the solar working but no luck so we decided the best thing to do was to head back to base and get someone to sort out our problem. Rather dejected we started heading south, which was the right decision. We didn't want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere if the batteries failed.

Sid winding Hunters Moon to head south!

We moored overnight and woke to a beautiful sunny, if a bit chilly morning. Sid decided to have one more go at getting the solar panels working. He hates to be beaten AND after much tweaking of connections voila they started producing some power. But, the generator was still a problem so continuing back to Fenny seemed the wise solution. Sid started the engine and Jenny was preparing to release the bow line when Sid shouted for her to come and look at something. Low and behold the generator was now working! All to do with battery levels.

So, now we were all ship shape again we journeyed to the nearest place to turn Hunters Moon round and proceed north again. 

Sid winding Hunters Moon to head north!

It took two days out of our schedule but thanks to Sid's perseverance we can continue on our travels.

Bluebells

Blossom

Butterflies

2026 Season: Here we go.

Well here we are at last on the water again after our thwarted season last year with low water levels resulting in closed locks. From July onwards Hunters Moon was confined to the marina. We were able to continue using her as our floating cottage but could not go anywhere.

Still looking good.

21 years old

So, we are hoping for a better boating season this year. Hence our early start.

For us to venture out of the marina so early in April is unheard of.

First lock of the season

Marston Doles

We are heading off to the Ashby Canal for our shakedown cruise. This journey only involves 13 locks out and the same back so after last years marathon on the Thames Ring this should be a doddle.

Our first few days out have been mainly overcast, not too cold but very windy. When the sun does break through it is glorious just not enough of it. Fortunately, we haven't got wet, yet!

Passing the water buffalo 

on the Napton Flight

Tonight we are moored at a favourite,  peaceful spot just outside Braunston.

Hunters Moon moored 

for lunch in Braunston 

Our neighbour tonight

One sad note however, the butchers in Braunston has gone ☹️. We used to get great pies, meat, fruit and veg from it. A sad loss.

HS2 works

HS2 bridge across the Oxford Canal

Look closely and you can see the original 

brick bridge 127 in the background 

Approaching Braunston

The Ring completed

Well, here we are back in Fenny Marina where we started just 30 days ago. It has been an interesting, challenging, eyeopening and sometimes disappointing trip.  The changes we noticed along stretches of the Grand Union and Oxford Canals were definitely not for the better.  Too many deserted, sunk, abandoned and generally neglected boats beginning to clog up the waterways.  The biggest problem on the Oxford Canal is too many narrowboats travelling both up and down the canal bringing about low levels of water on some lock flights.  There is also the problem of leaky locks draining pounds.  We were held up for 24 hours due to a pound emptying and CRT having to let water down from the summit so boats can continue on their way.  The consequence of that , of course, is that the summit becomes a problem to navigate due to low water.

What we really need is some meaningful rain otherwise the summer may be difficult for boaters as well as the farmers!!

However, we had a great trip.  We met some lovely people, enjoyed travelling through our beautiful country side and were lucky enough to have fantastic weather.  There were  lots of very cold evenings and nights which meant we lit the fire on many occasions  but daytime temperature rose to the mid 20's in the early weeks of our time on board. The wind was the thorn in the side.  A nagging northerly airflow hung around us for the entire time, which pegged temperatures BUT we had no rain, which is bizzarre because we treated ourselves to new waterproofs in the sales in January and they are still hanging, complete with tags, unused!!

To bore you with a few statistics, we travelled 245 miles, passed through 176 locks, 141 of these being manual (the Thames locks are all automatic even when they are self service) and clocked up 132 engine hours.  We drank plenty of wine, enjoyed some tasty meals on board and some most enjoyable meals and beers in cosy pubs and even managed a couple of bbq's.

All in all the 30 days that we were travelling was great fun but it is unlikely we will attempt the Thames ring again.  Water permitting we will travel northward later in the year and explore the Ashby Canal again.

Hunters Moon coming out of the last lock on her cruise

Phew!

Back on the Oxford Canal

 We left Abingdon on a chilly, overcast Thursday morning hoping it would warm up a bit later. However, the cold north wind that has plagued us for so much of our journey was still with us with an even keener chill to it.  The sun wouldn't make an appearance and so we continued upstream with the wind coming straight at us wrapped in our winter garb again, hats and gloves, through all four (self service) locks that carried us up to Oxford.  The plan was to moor at our favourite East Street moorings then have a walk (a bike ride in Sid's case) to Aldens fish market and meat market then have a pint in the Punters after.  But the best laid plans, and all that, were thwarted.  On arriving at Osney Lock there was a rather tatty sign saying there was no mooring between the lock and Osney bridge i.e. the East Street moorings.  We passed through the lock to discover that this may not be a temporary stopping of mooring because all the bollards had been removed. It was fairly late in the afternoon so didn't really want to continue on the Thames past Port Meadow, through Godstow Lock and hopefully find a mooring at Kings Lock.  If nothing was available there it would mean carrying on to Eynsham, which we really didn't want to do.  So with sadness we left the Thames and went through Isis Lock which brought us back on to the Oxford Canal. We were not surprised to find the moorings full since these are now the only moorings in Oxford.  Another alternative mooring is just upstream from Iffley Lock but that is a lengthy walk into the town. In fact there was the normal shanty town of boats moored, sunk or disowned all the way from Folly bridge back to Iffley lock!!

We eventually moored up in Jericho at not the best of places but fortuanately, very close to The Old Bookbinders Ale House, a very pleasant hostelry, which we have visited on several occasions, most notably with our good friends Pete and Sara. To make up for the disappointment of missing out on our last night on the Thames we decided a pint and a meal would be very good consolation reward.  Great food and delicious ale went down a little too well . Hic!

And so we start our homeward leg of the Thames Ring travelling up the Oxford Canal back to Fenny. The stretch of canal that takes you north out of Jericho towards Thrupp was very busy with lots of hire boats coming out of Oxford Cruisers. In front of us were a couple of hire boats travelling together as a stag do. Immediately in front of us eight lads were coming to terms with steering and manoeuvring their 60 foot narrowboat. Jenny had decided to walk from Oxford to Dukes Cut and because of the slow progress of the boats got to Dukes Cut lock in time to help another hire boat, with a novice couple on board through the lock.  Whilst doing this she noticed the stag boat drifting around below the lock with none of the lads making any effort to come ashore to work the lock.  Once the old couple were through the lock Jenny started to empty it for the stag lads thinking at least one of them would join her. But no! They just laughed a joked among themselves as the lock emptied. When Jenny opened the gate she called down to them, "I charge you know for working the lock for you".  They looked aghast and made their way into the lock.  "That'll cost you a beer." she said, "there's 8 of you and only one of me!" Jenny was duly rewarded with a nice cold lager and she proceeded to coach them through operating a lock.  I expect they thought 'daft old bat'!

Thrupp was heaving when we arrived there but managed to get on, one of the TCCC moorings at a small fee. After weeks of seeing very few boats on the GU and The Thames it has come as a bit of a shock to see so many boats on the water, bought our by the lovely sunny weather we are experiencing.  But that wind is still cold!!!!

Leaving Abingdon

Technical Instructions at Abingdon Lock

Wrapped up against the cold

University Boathouses Approaching Oxford

The Head of the River

(Where thoughts of our narrowboat adventures began)

Kidlington Lock fully open.  

We have passed through this lock many 

times over our 13 years of boating and this is the

 first time it fully opened.  

Thank you CRT for your speedy repair!!

Proud mum

Cruising in the sun

Poorly towpath beneath a bridge

Stranded high and dry.

We suspect after the floods we got caught in last autumn!

Colouful washing!  Polo shirts with matching socks!!!!

Interesting growth on bridge 204 at Allens Lock

Arrived in Abingdon

 After a fairly uneventful couple of days we are now in Abingdon.  The river has been very quiet, only seeing three or four boats travelling downstream all day.  We were amazed when we arrived in Wallingford yesterday evening to find just two other boats moored, both La Boats (hire boats) one of which left shortly after we arrived.  The other motored off early in the morning which left us on our own 'billy no mates'.  in conversation with one lock keeper Sid discovered that the usual flow of boats through the lock on the early May Bank holiday weekend was around a hundred.  This year it was just thirty.

The Abingdon moorings were a little busier but far from overcrowded. We always have fond memories of our Norwegian friends, Bente and Erik when visiting this delightful town.  Back in 2018 they had a mishap whilst mooring their boat and fortunately we were on hand to help.  We then crossed paths on several occasions and have kept in Facebook contact since.

An observation we have made during our journey has been the increased number of wide beam boats on the lower end of the Grand Union Canal and on the Thames since we last cruised these waters. Obviously an indication of the housing problem.  

It is amazing that we have been blessed by such beautiful weather during our cruise of the Thames Ring. WE have had some chilly evenings and mornings with a cool north or northeasterly wind blowing but by mid day under blue skies it warms up very nicely. The sun is due to shine for the rest of our days on the water, which is great for us but not so great for the farmers.

Next stop Oxford.

Moored for lunch at Pangbourne

Tranquil Waters

Surely parents don't need reminding to look after their children!