Monday 13th August; Banbury to Chisnell Lift Bridge
Let’s leave early, we said, as we wanted to use the facilities block before going south. Boats started passing before 7, and when we left soon after 8 we only just beat the boat moored opposite – we were passing them as they began to untie, so I held the lift bridge for them. By the time we were in the lock a boat had already stopped for water, so Dave pulled over to the left. This was of course the lock mooring, so we quickly whizzed over with the cassettes and rubbish and recycling. We knew the boat coming out didn’t need water so any boat approaching could go straight in tot he empty lock. We decided against waiting for water, and off we went. The Banbury blimp goes up at 8.30 – we saw it rising and Meg really took exception to it, barking her furry little head off.
After a while we recognised a boat getting closer behind us – it was the little cruiser Sick Note, who we had met the day we came through Cropredy. We let him pass us of course, though we caught up with him at Grant’s Lock where he had to wait. It’s a very individual little boat. The wooden top slides forward over the cockpit when required.
There used to be a broad field outside Banbury sloping up to a housing estate. There was once a sign announcing a new marina would be constructed, but the whole area now seems to be a building site with no indication of what is going up there. Doesn’t look much like a marina.
The M40 crosses the canal twice along this stretch. Soon after the first crossing we passed NB Spirit, which was James and Doug’s boat before they had Chance. I was below making coffee when they passed, so it is a rather distant picture. It was not looking as well-cared for or as shiny as Doug and James kept Chance, though the owners seemed happy enough.
With the M40 roaring distantly along to the west of us, we came through the long pound between Grant’s and King’s Sutton locks. Every now and then we could feel the bottom, even in the middle of the channel, and this sign greeted us at Twyford Wharf.
Clearly it is not much fun for boats with their permanent mooring online along here. Even a little tilt causes problems.
At the second M40 crossing we thought, do any of those drivers ever see the canal they are crossing? Do they care? and if they see a boat, do they think ‘Lucky b*stards’ or do they think we are mad? I have a friend who thinks we are rather odd in our choice of leisure activity, but then she likes Center Parcs, which is not our cup of tea at all.
We did feel a bit sorry for them.
It was conveniently approaching lunchtime as we arrived at the Pig Place before Nell Bridge, and there was a free mooring on their pontoon. We bought ourselves some bacon and a box of eggs. Their hens come from a commercial egg producer which replaces its hens after only a year – we were told they have at least another year of good laying and often two. Their pigs are free range Oxford Sandy and Blacks, here enjoying the sun as they bask in the dust.
At Nell Bridge lock we waited for NB Blenheim to go down, and were rather surprised when they said they would wait to share Aynho lock with us. If the lock is not already open you have to moor a long way back, as the Cherwell crosses the canal above the lock and the towpath is raised to cross it. The river seemed to be running at its normal level after the recent rain, but not strongly enough to cause any problem. Blenheim had experimented with friends in a 60’ boat and knew what they were doing, so we could creep gently in beside them. We are a mere 55’ but it was quite tight.
Inevitably there was a little contact made as the shape is so odd. This I think is to allow for variations in the level of the river, as there are other diamond-shaped locks in similar situations, such as further on nearer Thrupp.
We hovered while a boat left the wharf at Aynho so we could tie up for diesel and a gas bottle, and water too. It was very hot and they had a large number of Magnums in their freezer so we thought we would help them out by buying a couple. There is a family of swallows nesting under the eaves above the canal – rather difficult to photograph as there is nowhere to stand underneath! The parent’s head is just visible to the right and below the baby’s beak.
Hungry baby.
We carried on with our ice-creams in the sunshine. We would have liked to moor at Somerton Meadows but had no idea how busy the Deep Lock or the meadows would be, so we moored at a favourite spot north of Chisnell Lift Bridge. It’s quiet, with open views across fields, and has a good edge. On a beautiful evening like today’s it is wonderful. One boat joined us later, mooring a good boat’s length away.
7½ miles, 5 locks, 1 lift bridge we had to operate – Banbury, easy – and 10 which are left open.
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