3 September 2011 - Lower Heyford to Shipton-on-Cherwell

Best laid plans of mice and men.....  Kathryn and Brian arrived just before 11 and went to look for us the wrong way down the canal (well it was a 50/50 chance). I in the meantime walked up to the pub where I thought we were meeting and - we missed each other.  Still it filled in an hour.....
All reunited we had a cup of (now obligitory) tea and set off south.  They only had a short time with us so I had planned a run down to the next village - Takely from where they could catch the train back to Lower Heyford and the car.  A pleasant but too short trip saw us through 2 locks and moored up in about an hour.  As time was tight they decided to get a taxi rather than rush to get the train.  As we set off after lunch (and birthday cake - thanks K&B!!) I realised with horror that the bridge carrying the footpath back to Takely could not be reached from the towpath.  We had no option but to hike all the way back to Lower Heyford..... Ah well.
With Kathryn and Brian safely on their way we delayed long enough at the Bell in the village to re-hydrate then hiked back to the boat and set off once more.  An approaching boat warned us of a tree down ahead, but we managed to squeeze by without trouble.  We got a fair way before it started getting dark dark so we moored up at Bakers Lock just north of Shipton-on-Cherwell. Yet another lovely spot - a clear star lit night disturbed only by the odd meteor and the hooting of owls in the woods next to us.

Guest crew 

Tree down