1 August 2011 - Moored at Banbury

Having done all the business in Fleet, drove back to the Marina at 1.30pm to be met by James to transport me to the station (Thanks Chris & James).  Aided by a swift train I was back on the boat by 3pm.... a clean and sparkly boat as Annie had been busy cleaning and washing whilst I had been away! After a purchase of essential ships stores of a liquid nature we turned the boat and headed back out of town, finding a nice spot for the night about a mile north of town.

Away from civilization - yipee!

31 July 2011 - Moored in Banbury

Weather is warming up - mid 20s.  After watching the Hungarian GP (poor signal meant the picture froze at only 2 points - the start and the finish!) I caught the train to Reading to be met by Chris & Mum (thanks Chris) for a lift back to the marina.  Collected the car and then back to Fleet.  Poor Annie had to sit it out in the boat and had rather a creepy night with all the noises of a busy town centre outside.

There is a cartoon strip based on this boat....

30 July 2011 - Cropredy back to Banbury

Annie cycled ahead to buy bread and milk in Cropredy and was waiting at the lock by the time I arrived with the boat.  Arrived uneventfully back in Banbury but had difficulty getting a decent TV signal, even with the satellite kit. Walked into Banbury which is quite pleasant and partook of the local brew, before returning via Morrisons for a major purchase of ships stores.

Bit of a squeeze getting back into Banbury....

29 July 2011 - Little Bourton to Cropredy

Decided not to move far as Ken needs to be back in Fleet on Monday and best route is to get train from Banbury.  We therefore dont want to go too far.  Nice spot we picked last night - lets stay here all day!  7:58am decision made.  8am all hell breaks loose just the other side of the hedge with diggers, D8s and other heavy earth moving equipment.  Seems the Environment Agency are trying to dig a hole to the centre of the earth for flood alleviation or somesuch - either way it was very noisy.  We held out to mid afternoon when decision#2 was formulated to move a few locks further north to get some peace & quiet.  Only a few hundred yards we thought so we'll just put the bikes on the roof, not bother putting them back on the bike rack at the back of the boat.  Annie cast off while I fired up the laptop and its canal mapping.  30 seconds later a squeal from Annie and I shot up, just in time to see my bike disappearing over the side with a splash.  It floated tantalizingly for a few seconds before slipping out of sight.  A boat had come round the corner as Annie was setting off, requiring her to take avoiding action..... which meant clipping some trees which caught the bike. I took a fix on a fast disappearing trail of bubbles and fortunately we were able to maneuver alongside and recover the bike with the boat hook - phew!
Our 'couple of locks' became extended to five as we encountered long lines of moored boats getting ready for the Cropredy Festival . Eventually we passed them all (you have to pass moored craft slowly on tickover) and turned Ceilidh round at a winding hole north of Cropredy and moored for the night.

28 July 2011 - Somerton to north of Banbury

Opened the door to fog! This quickly dispersed to a blue sky and a hot day.  Plodded on today for nearly 11 miles.  Annie managed to do the washing (we hadnt tackled this before on the boat) using the bath with everything put in the cratch to dry.  Seemed odd arriving back in built up civilization.  Stopped at a farm shop called the Pig Place and bought some eggs.

Imposing tythe barn alongside the canal

Banbury has some nice grotty bits alongside the canal.  I looked forward to seeing Tooleys Yard made famous by L T C Rolt  but was disappointed to see a single brick shed surrounded by a modern shopping mall - such is progress.  We filled up with water before moving on out of Banbury.

27 July 2011 - Kirtlington to Somerton

We were determined to make an early start and make an impression on our outstanding journey distance.  Managed to start early enough..... then straight away disaster.  Whilst still in sight of our overnight mooring I moved over to let another boat passed the other way (we keep right on the canals).  Now negative G is something you usually hear in terms of aerial acrobatics or formula 1 - not narrowboating!  Well you experience quite a lot of negative G as you run aground and with 10 tons that's a lot of force.  The boat tips and rises up out of the water and you realise this is going to be a bit of a bugger to get off!
We managed to move the bows free and get a line onto the opposite bank, then with the help of a nearby moored boater, and lots of engine revs she came free.  Lots of thanks to said boater and we were on our way again all the benefit of our early start lost.

Stopping for a lock

Exhausted by the early start and our grounding we treated ourselves to an early finish, finding a lovely spot just south of the village of Somerton.  Taking the bikes off the boat, we cycled into the village - about a mile - with Lady jogging behind.  The map said there was a post office, but we went right through the village and out the other side.  It was on our way back through we spotted a house bearing the name 'The Old Post Office'.  Obviously a victim of the current economic climate. Our own climate was pretty warm too.

Overnight stop 27th July south of Somerton

26 July 2011 - Oxford to Kirtlington

Walked into Jericho and bought rolls for breakfast and a paper so it wasn't until 11am when we cast off. Straight away we found that the bikes mounted on the back of the boat (on a bike rack) are a liability.  It is easy to catch them when reversing or squeezing into narrow locks.  They have had so many knocks I reckon they will ride like clowns bikes by the time we get on them.

The Oxford is for the most part very beautiful and every turning can present a new surprise.  One such surprise occurred with Annie piloting as we turned a sharp bend in Thrupp.  With moored boats on either side, coming towards us down the narrow centre channel at some speed *backwards* was a narrowboat.... with nobody at the tiller!  A chap was stationed at the bow steering by using a pole.  Skillful stuff no doubt, but with two 10 ton boats at rapid closing speed, I was not admiring his skill.....  Annie slammed Ceilidh into reverse with the wick turned right up and we slowly stopped and changed direction.  Pilot of reversing boat made his way aft just as I made my way forward.  The gap closed, fenders just kissed each other, then the gap grew again as we gathered speed backwards.  No problem says he! You want to practice going backwards, it comes in useful.  As we tried to then guide our rearwards hurtling boat avoiding nearby boats and pontoons, he continued on his way allowing us to read his boat name.  nb. Milly M.  This boat is owned by Maffi who regularly features in august columns of the 'Canal Boat' mag.  He is known to operate his boat backwards more often than forwards.
Moored up opposite a golf course - very quiet.

Mooring for 26th July opposite golf course