Banbury to Braunston

Mon 9th Oct   Banbury Spiceball Park to Slat Mill Bridge

We reversed to moor outside the social club, where it was closer to the shops and the sanitary station.

We walked into the town to do some stocking up for the rural section ahead.  We found a very nice Asian shop where we bought some green curry paste and some other bits.  We went to the butchers for some decent sausages, and then on to Morrisons for the rest.

On our return we called in at the canalside Social Club for lunch – very good value.

We emptied a cassette and disposed of rubbish before we left heading north past the old course of the canal near Tesco.

Tom Rolt Bridge

The old canal course, now used for moorings

Hardwick Lock was the first of the day, just before the M40, followed by a very satisfactory brick bridge, number 159.

Under the M40

Bridge 159

Threatening cloud

Bourton Lock is next, where the empty lock cottage is awaiting restoration by Caroline and her husband who bought it a few years ago. 

Bourton Lock and cottage

Hugo enjoying the sun

The final lock of the day was Slat Mill Lock, and we moored soon after Slat Mill Bridge, opposite Peewit Farm.  It was here that we had seen curlews in the field last time, but there were none today.

We were surprised to hear the trains from here, but the wind was carrying the noise.  Later we had some canoes racing past, but not as many as last time.

Evening sky at Peewit Farm

3 locks, 4 miles

Tue 10th Oct   Slat Mill Bridge to Claydon Bottom Lock

Moored near Peewit Farm

There are a few boats permanently moored on the left before Cropredy. One of them, an old wooden boat, had a statue – like dummy standing up in the stern. When we drew level there must have been a motion sensor, because a pump switched on with amusing effect.

Dummy

Dummy responding

We needed water, so we stopped at the facilities in Cropredy.  We had to turn the boat to make it easier for the hose to reach without going in the water.  Just like the tap in Banbury, the quayside by the tap was muddy and wet.

Turn round for the tap

Mucky area by the tap

Cropredy Lock was against us but these locks don’t take long to empty

Cropredy Lock

Autumn colours in Cropredy

There was a boat coming down at Broadmoor Lock. It was their last lock having travelled from Great Haywood to Cropredy Marina. Varneys and Elkingtons Locks were both in our favour as a result.

There was no sign of Caroline as we passed her boat Scyeffe moored at Forge Farm, and moved on past the traditional boats at Clattercote Wharf.

Passing Scyeffe

Clattercote Wharf

We moored in the straight before Claydon Bottom Lock, where it was quiet.

James went for a short walk, and found lots of reminders that autumn is with us.

Autumn field

Red berries

Seed head

Apples

Autumn leaf

Bulrushes

Sunset at Claydon

Moored below Claydon Locks

Bridge 147

While James was taking these photos, a man appeared and asked for the CRT emergency number as they had had a problem with the last lock. It turned out that he was David, from Black Velvet, and we had met at PG Point on the Thames at Dorney at the end of July, and we had given him a BCF leaflet.  He was now helping a friend move a boat called Tickety Boo.  We never found out if the problem at the lock had been resolved.

3 locks, 4 miles

Wed 11th Oct   Claydon Bottom Lock to Fenny Compton

Our mooring below Claydon Locks

Hazel was unwell in the night. She couldn’t keep anything down and was running a fever. We had no phone signal, and were a long way from anywhere.

While she stayed down below, James navigated on his own up through the five Claydon Locks. It wasn’t helped by well meaning hire boaters not being helpful. There was a boat coming down in Lock 20, while Gabriel was waiting for them below lock 21.  Despite James waving a windlass around, they shut the gates. “We didn’t know what you were waving your arms for.”

 

Claydon Bottom Lock

Then when their boat was going down in lock 21, James said he would open his gate and then step across for the other one.  “No, I can open it,” she said, opening the gate.  Oh, but that means James now has to walk round the lock instead of stepping across!

Working locks without someone at the tiller needs a different technique. James decided to leave the engine in forward tickover going up in the locks, and this seemed to work quite well.

Claydon Top Lock

There was a further three miles to go after the locks, passing Wormleighton Reservoir, and Fenny Compton Tunnel.

Feeder Bridge from the reservoir

Boundary Lift Bridge, the last lift bridge going north.

A project for someone

Through the railway

Fenny Compton “Tunnel”

A water feature

Turnover Bridge

Fenny Compton Wharf

We moored just beyond the main road A423 at Fenny Compton, hoping there would be a bus to somewhere useful.

Hazel was still unwell, so we rang 111.  We were advised to go to the Urgent Care Clinic at Rugby Hospital. There were no buses except for one on Saturday.  Thankfully we had a phone signal, so we decided to call a taxi.  We phoned several different taxi companies. Some were unable to take us, others had a two hour wait, and yet others had presumably gone bust.  Eventually we tried Cherwell Taxis who were able to collect us.  They charged £40 but were very efficient and helpful.  

On arrival at the hospital, Hazel was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics. It transpired that there were no doctors there, so we were transferred by ambulance to Coventry.

In Coventry we were delivered to A&E, and joined a number of trolleys in the corridor, awaiting treatment. There were all sorts of checks to be done – blood pressure, temperature, etc.

Hazel in hospital

After a long afternoon, with no opportunity for lunch, James went to the main entrance to buy some sandwiches from the M&S Foods outlet. On the way back, in light drizzle in the car park, he slipped and fell at the top of some stairs, and grazed his fingers. There was blood everywhere. Not helpful.

We didn’t know whether Hazel would be going home or kept in. It was getting late, but James didn’t want to get a taxi back to the boat and then be told that Hazel also needed to go back.  We didn’t see a doctor until about 10pm. We were told that Hazel would need to have an ultrasound scan to check for kidney stones. She would need to stay in for a few nights.  James left to get some cash out of the ATM, but it was out of order. There was a sign saying there another ATM in WH Smith, but the store was closed.  He rang a taxi firm hoping to pay by credit card. The firm couldn’t do that but they agreed to take him, and stop at a cash point on the way.  The price was £50.

When he arrived back at Fenny Compton he found that Sonflower was there. Peter and Fran were not aboard.  Hugo was very pleased to see James.

It was very windy in the night.

5 locks, 4 miles

Thu 12th Oct   Fenny Compton to Napton

Moored at Fenny Compton

Sonflower at Fenny Compton

We had decided that James would take the boat on to Napton, which is a bit closer to Coventry. Hiring a car was a possibility if Hazel was going to be in for a while.

Three boats went past in Napton direction. James set off 30 minutes after.  Very few boats were moving around, and he had the canal to himself.

Wormleighton old village

Autumn colours

Approaching the Wedding Bridge

The Wedding Bridge

Bridge and Sheep

There are some pillboxes on this section, and they seem to be “cheap” ones in comparison to the solid looking affairs in the Thames.  There is also the guy who has made a hole in a field where he lives on his boat.

Pill Box

The smallest marina ever

James went past a moored boat, which he recognised as the last boat to have gone past this morning.  Then at bridge 122 spotted the first two a few hundred yards ahead. He decided therefore to moor up for lunch before going down the Napton Locks, as the locks would all be against him.

30 minutes later, John and Gill Speight arrived on their new boat, and moored up for lunch.  James went for a cuppa and a chat on board.  They were moving on to Fenny Compton.

John and Gill

Stormy skies

We both departed, just as two boats crossed over near us, so we both had a boat to follow.

The one James was following was a single lady, who only went down two locks, as she moors on the engine arm.

Marston Doles Top Lock

Leaving the Top Lock

Twenty Acre Bridge 118 is marked as 117 in Nicholson

Lock 10 with another pill box

All the locks were against him.  As the boat was now going down, James had to climb on the roof to get back on board in each lock. He tied a loop at the stern to throw over a bollard when he went back to shut the gates, or forward to set a lock. This meant that the bows swung around a bit, but there was nothing coming the other way.

Swinging on a bollard

He went down 8 locks and had hoped to moor just before the final lock, but the moorings were all full, so he went down through the ninth lock.  He paused at the sanitary station to empty a cassette, before moving on to moor just round the corner.  It had taken 3 hours for the flight of nine locks, over a distance of 1 mile.

Napton Bottom Lock

Napton Sanitary Station

He phoned Hazel from the top of the bridge where there was a signal. She still had not had her scan!  She had been told she might be out tomorrow, or may be in for a few days, but she was feeling a little better.

James had a meal at the Folly Inn.  They said their steak and cheddar pie was their signature dish, so James tried it. It was tasty, but not a proper pie. It didn’t have a bottom or sides – just a puff pastry top.  They redeemed themselves with a decent cider.

Sunset at Napton

9 locks, 9 miles

Fri 13th Oct   Napton to Braunston

James stayed put waiting for news from Hazel.  We had a conversation at around midday, and she had been told she may be in over the weekend.  Therefore a hire car would be useful. Therefore it would be best to get to Braunston before hiring the car.  James booked a car with Enterprise online before setting off.  He was away by 1215. 

Modern house and old windmill

Napton Narrowboats

Wigrams Turn

The Grand Union heads north

As he passed Wigrams Turn there was a notable difference in speed between the Oxford Canal and the wider and deeper Grand Union.  He soon caught up with another boat who kindly let Gabriel pass.

There were lovely views, with kestrels and ravens around.

Scenic views

Some more wooden boat projects

Arrived in Braunston and moored just past the Marina entrance on a 48H mooring.

Braunston Turn

Thankfully the Stop House is open on Fridays, so he went to ask about parking a car, and overstaying on the 48H mooring. They were very helpful, allowing him to park in the CRT car park. They spoke to George, who said the moorings were OK up to 14 days, on the winter system.

He had to walk halfway up the hill to get a phone signal to contact Enterprise, who came to collect him from the Marina.  As he was sitting in the driver’s seat, being shown the controls, Hazel rang to say that she had had her scan, and there was no sign of kidney stones. She may be out this evening or tomorrow.

He drove from Daventry back to Braunston, going to the top of the hill to phone Hazel. We made a plan for James to visit later, or collect her if she was discharged.

Then it was back to the boat to rustle up a meal, feed Hugo, study some maps online, and set off for Coventry.

The hire car

All Saints Church Braunston

He took three wrong turnings, but got to the hospital eventually.  Hazel was ready to go, so we said farewells and left.  Paying the car park machine was a challenge, as it repeatedly rejected the coins. It accepted them on the second or third try.

We drove back to Braunston without mishap.  We considered visiting Canons Ashby the following day before getting the car back by 4pm, but then we discovered that Enterprise were only open until 1200 so we decided to return the car in the morning.

0 locks, 7 miles

Sat 14th Oct   Braunston

Dawn in Braunston

 Our Braunston Mooring

James took the car up to the butchers and the shop in Braunston, and bought a pasty and some milk, before driving to Daventry to return the car. The car hire bill came to £19.98, which is very good compared with the taxi fares. He was driven back to Braunston.

He was dropped off by the marina shop, and then discovered that the walkway past the dry dock was closed for maintenance, so he had to walk up to the main road to get back down towards the Gongoozlers Rest.

There were boats continually going past in both directions almost all day. 

No boating today

Next: Church in Braunston tomorrow, then onwards towards Weedon, Stoke Bruerne and Milton Keynes