Eerie skies over Oxfordshire

The light turned a strange orange colour as we moored in Banbury thanks to storm Ophelia  passing close by. Although the wind had built during the morning they were nowhere near as strong as some parts of the country were experiencing.

We had spent a couple of nights at a very busy mooring in Thrupp. Whilst we were there we discovered water in the boats bilges.  Much investigation took place as to how this water got into the boat.  We pumped and mopped out as much as possible which reduced the volume dramatically and then decided to get back to Fenny as quickly as possible so further investigation could take place. The water level was checked regularly to make sure it was not rising which reassured Jenny ( a bit).

We left Thrupp on a rather overcast, damp  Sunday morning and made good progress northward as the skies began to clear and eventually  the day turned into warm, cloudless blue sky afternoon.  By mid afternoon we had got caught behind an hotel boat and butty, which slowed our   progress a little since the butty had to be man hauled into the lock after the lead boat had gone through. Some of the locks on this stretch are very deep and take quite a while to fill and empty.  They were a very pleasant group of folk and it was fun sharing stories whilst waiting in the warm sunshine with beautiful views all around.
Our mooring for the night was idyllic with just sheep munching the grass keeping us company. 

We set off early to try to get ahead if the hotel pair, their overnight mooring was due to be in Aynho,  a little further on from where we had stopped. We succeeded in this and having stopped at the chandlery at Aynho Wharf to purchase a couple of water pumps,  one for the shower pumpout and one for the water system, both of which decided to pack up at the same time, we continued on our way in pleasant sunshine but with the wind getting stronger and stronger. Our destination was due to be Cropredy but decided to keep safe and remain in Banbury.  Did then spent the afternoon fitting both pumps, which saved him having to do this on our return to the marina.

The ingress of water still needs to be solved.  At least we now know it is not anything to do with the malfunctioning pumps.

Just heard the eerie skies were bought about by Ophelia picking up Sahara sand mixed with he ash from the fires on the Iberian  Penninsula.