Here we are again, happy as can be …

Thursday 15^th August; Calcutt Marina to Priors Hardwick, bridge 123

Yes, we’re on the South Oxford again.  There is a good reason for this which we hope will become clear in the next few days.

We had an easy run up and were able to leave Calcutt by 3.  Calcutt locks were either nearly empty or had a boat coming down, so we were quickly at the top.  Meg is a happy dog – she knows exactly where we are round here.

The sun was out most of the time, so it’s still shorts weather, though it was cool when the cloud came across. We had decided to go up Napton locks as the batteries needed a few hours’ charging.  Just as well, as the Napton moorings were rammed.  So I took the obligatory photo

before snapping yet another boat where you wonder how on earth they can see to steer.

And up we went.  There had been a procession of boats coming towards us, and we guessed there might be more – and so it proved.  One boater we met said they had been 10^th in the queue at the top!  We met boats at every lock, right up to number 13, the third from last.  The buffalo were totally uninterested in the activity on the canal.

The wind had been increasing all afternoon, and the temperature was dropping too, so we were glad to stop.  We made it to Priors Hardwick bridge 123 just before 7.  We have lovely neighbours.

And for the first hour we were on our own.  Another boat arrived at 8, and then, in the dark at 9.30, a Napton hire boat came by.  You don’t often see boats cruising in the dark, and we’ve never seen a hire boat at it before.  Bit dangerous, if you ask me.  We think they pulled in behind us, but we couldn't be bothered to open up to have a look.  There was no shouting or engine revving so we guessed everything was under control.

6 miles 12 locks