Kings Sutton to Banbury

Sun 29^th August  Kings Sutton to Banbury

Blackberries season

It was cooler this morning, so we put on the central heating for a short while.

As we cast off from the mooring, a boat came round the corner from behind, and another boat further ahead pulled out as well. So there were three boats in a row, resulting in the inevitable lock queue at the first lock, which was Grant’s Lock. As we arrived, we counted three boats in front and the one behind.  There were no bollards except for the first boat, so James had to hang on to the centre line until we were up near the lock. The boat in front was Whisper, which has a hospital silencer, and soundproofed engine compartment. We were surprised to see that the lock cottage there was derelict and had had a fire.

Lock queue for Grant’s Lock

The derelict lock cottage

Two sets of steps: one at deck, the other at roof height

The man in the hire boat behind had found a phone on the ground, with a debit card, but we couldn’t work out who it belonged to.

We went under the M40 again, and under several open lift bridges. We passed the moorings for Morrison without stopping, and when we arrived at the facilities, we had to wait for a hire boat in front, who had used the facilities bollards as the lock bollards, and they were waiting for the lock.

Under the M40

When we finally managed to get in there, we scraped the gunwale at the front, as the edges were concrete and just the wrong height. We emptied two cassettes and disposed of rubbish. We didn’t need water.

Concrete and paintwork don't mix.

We went up through the lock as a boat came out, and we raised the lift bridge, and moored on the right in the first space, just past the museum.

Lift bridge in Banbury

We went into the town later and had a hot and spicy “banquet meal” at an Indian restaurant called Jool. We only managed half of it, so we took some back with us. We noticed a large number of Goths in the town, wearing black clothes, with body piercings and chains. Perhaps there was some event going on.

We returned via the new Premier Inn, hoping to cross the footbridge, but found it was a new one, not yet open. We had to walk round via Spiceball Park.

2 locks, 3 miles, 1 lift bridge. Dep 1020, arr 1250

Mon 30^th August  Banbury

Moored in Banbury

Narrowboat restoration projects were going on at Tooley’s. There was the last wooden boat built at Nursers in Braunston, and a rusty looking working boat that is destined to become a theatre boat.

Wooden boat Hardy

We visited the brand new Lidl, which is just behind the Social Club, and very handy, and then Hazel went into Castle Quay Shopping Centre to collect her prescription from Boots, and to nose around the shops. She returned in time for reheated curry from last night, which was very nice.

We went out again later into the town where we bought a new pair of secateurs, which all seem to be called pruners now. This replaces the pair that fell in the canal a few days ago. We also bought a Bluetooth mouse for James’ laptop. He is getting some RSI pains in his left hand. Hazel saw a hairdressers and made an appointment for tomorrow.

We returned via a garden centre and bought some more plants for the roof.

No boating today.

Tue 31^st August  Banbury

We went to Waitrose for some things, although they didn’t have Hazel’s wholemeal bagels. James took the shopping back to the boat, while Hazel went for her hair appointment. When she returned, she potted out the plants we had bought.

Hazel gardening

Later we went to Peter and Fran’s for a Chinese meal. It was good to catch up with them and Alex. After the meal, we had some entertainment when a mouse ran across the room. We were all on our knees, armed with plastic ice cream tubs, trying to catch it, but it was too quick for us, and ended up hiding somewhere.

No boating today

Next: Leaving Banbury and heading for Cropredy, to meet Graham and Sandra on Friday.