30 August 2011 - Fenny Compton to Little Bourton

Set off about 9.30 with it taking well over an hour to get to the top of the Claydon flight (lock 17).  By the time we arrived the lock was open and any queue had long since disappeared.  We met boats coming the other way through the flight, but apart from these we saw very very few boats moving all day.  It appears as though BW's warnings and the restrictions have frightened most boats away.  This was weird compared to our voyage through here a few weeks ago when boats were wall to wall for the Cropredy Festival.
At Cropredy we parked up and walked into the village to get bread and milk and a few other essential supplies ;-) Whilst in the village we sought out the Church.  This is a beautiful 12th & 13th century church.  Took photos of gargoyles on the aisle roofline.

St Mary The Virgin, Cropredy

Gargoyles & Grotesques taken 30.8.2011

1. Negroid figure

2. Cat

3. Monkey

4. Man with beard

5. Hooded man (monk?)

6. Disfigured man (my favourite)

7. Figure wearing cat mask

8. Proper gargoyles are connected with water-spouts

9. Curly haired face

As we could not get any internet connection we decided to move south from Cropredy for the night, ending up only a few hundred yards north of where we dropped one of the bikes in the canal on the way up.

29 August 2011 - Napton to Fenny Compton

Lock 15 was opened early by BW so we had no delay going through 15 and 16.  After 16 we filled up with water and Annie started some washing.  Arrived at Fenny Compton at lunchtime to find the shower head had been running and the bath was brim full.  Pumped bath out and cleaned up bathroom of some overspill, then headed off to The Wharf Inn for lunch.  Sat reading in the pub for part of the afternoon.  Locks 17 to 21 padlocked at 4pm and still an hour and a half away so we stayed here the night.

28 August 2011 - Remained at Napton lock 14

Weather was rather iffy with heavy showers sweeping over at regular intervals.  Also - its the Belgian Grand Prix so we decided to remain moored here for the day.  A most excellent race watched on TV meant that the batteries were run flat and we had to run the engine for a couple of hours to recharge them. In the evening we walked down to the Folly Inn at the bottom of the locks - which the book said was closed.  For a closed pub it was very lively and serves a great pint of Old Hooky.  On our way back we came across a couple of boaters flapping about because the water level in the pound they were in had dropped over the previous 2 hours.  One was a young family worried that low levels might sink the boat.  The other was a nasty piece of work threatening to sue BW if his boat was damaged.  They were being assisted by a helpful nearby resident boater who had contacted BW.  BW had advised (sensibly) for them to just move out of the pound.  Annie and I took over from the helpful boater (so he could return to the Folly and go back to his pint).  We took the family up a few locks, leaving them in a safe none-leaking pound.

Prefabricated block house from WW2.  The slit will take a rifle
not a machine gun.  Thank heavens the Germans never invaded!

27 August 2011 - Braunston to Napton

Sunny first thing and we managed to get all the wet kit dry on the roof in no time at all.  Kim & Bob packed up and we walked them over to the car at 11am to say goodbye.  We set off soon afterwards to make for Napton. Napton locks 15 to 21 have severe restrictions on to save water and we will probably have to queue.  This section of canal is like the M1 with moored boats all over the place too.  Braunston junction marks the completion of the Leicester Ring as it is known.
Stopped at 1pm to watch the Grand Prix practice.  Moments after we stopped we were hit by a big thunderstorm and heavy rain - nice timing!
Once on the North Oxford all the boats spookily disappeared. We went up the first few locks without seeing another moving boat. Moored up below lock 14 with yet another drop dead view out of the window.

60 seconds from this......

........to this!

26 August 2011 - Crick to Braunston

Our guest-crew

The day started with light rain - which got steadily heavier throughout the day.  Just what you want when you have visitors aboard.Set off after a cooked breakfast - straight into the Crick Tunnel.  At least the first part of the day was dry then....  Once out of the tunnel  we passed the back of Watford Gap services so temporarily moored the boat while Kim & Bob climbed over the fence to return with lunch for all from McDonalds. Moving off the next obstacle is the Watford flight - a reasonably sized staircase.  There were 1/2 dozen boats coming up and a couple in front going down so we had about 40 minutes to wait.  Fortunately our place in the queue had us directly beneath the M1 overbridge, so we were nice and dry.  However we proceeded to get drenched during the rest of the trip to Braunston - though it was a big help having Bob helping us through the locks.   Moored up, changed and dry, Bob and I got a taxi back to Crick to collect the car, while Annie and Kim did tea and ladies hairdressing.We just got back before the heavens opened again so we decided not to venture out the short walk to the pub, but played scrabble until midnight.

Ceilidh at the bottom of  Watford staircase

25 August 2011 - Remained moored at Crick

Kim phoned to say they would be with us early afternoon.  I emptied the rubbish and walked into the shops  whilst Annie baked Kim a birthday cake. We walked up to the road to meet them and direct car parking opposite the post office.  After unpacking the kids we all walked up to "The Moorings" for a drink then back to watch 'Torchwood'.  Is it just me or isnt this series as good as the old ones?

Lady found a rabbit during her morning walk with Annie
She was trying to 'round it up' and bring it back to the boat.

24 August 2011 - Yelvertoft to Crick

Kim texted to say she & Bob were safely back from Egypt and would join us tomorrow and stay over till Saturday.  Looking at the map it looked like the run from Crick to Braunston would be fun to do with them. We therefore decided to move the boat up Crick to meet them there. Set off late as it only took an hour to get there - no locks. Moored up and walked into the village to find the shops, having a swift dram on the way at "The Moorings".  Walked Lady up 'Cracks Hill' - not terribly high but a great view and very dramatic.