Banbury

It was an eerily misty morning but never very cold. Gloves on for the first stretch but it was surprisingly fresh and pleasant - despite the mist.

Chisnell Lift bridge has been fitted over the winter with one of the new locks specially designed for the southern oxford Canal. We have not heard any explanation for the fitting of these but they do make operation easier and possible by single-handed operators. (They are over-weighted so that they open - and stay open - once the lock has been released. But the balance is not so far out and it is possible to close the bridge from the towpath side)

 

Still on very familiar territory, we saw many familiar landmarks. The sign, announcing the name of the canal is placed so that it can be seen by passengers in trains which run just a few metres from the canal bank. It must just be a flash and one wonders just how many actually notice it?

Grants Lock had proved a problem for the engineers fitting a new top gate in the winter stoppage. They found that the slot for the stop planks - the photo is of the one we presume gave the problem - which meant a delayed and later stoppage which was completed only last Friday.

Spring wild flowers are beginning to make a show - this rather splendid patch of violets was close to a lock.

Shortly after this lock we stopped for a belated lunch but not for too long as we wanted to do some shopping in Banbury. First stop was at Samuelsons Bridge which is only a minute away from Morrisons. We returned with six carrier bags and a rucksack full of supplies - this should keep us going for a while (apart from milk and papers). There is no major shopping opportunity for some while ahead of us.

Half a mile further on we paused at the sani station below Banbury Lock for all the usual services and then again above the lock so that we could go into Castle Quay shopping centre. Christine wanted to visit the Body Shop. Also, the battery in our camera ran flat during the morning at which point we discovered that the charger was missing from the accessories box! Since a replacement from Jessops - a cumbersome all-purpose item - was rather expensive, we opted instead for a replacement, albeit simpler camera. At least this one runs on AA batteries which we can more readily charge or replace. Julian Graves had set out the shop for a promotiional day tomorrow so we decided not to stock up - perhaps an early trip to buy a paper and some goodies tomorrow morning?

By now it was rather too late to look further afield for a mooring but the spot where we were could not receive a satellite signal so we moved a short distance to Sovereign Wharf where we were fortunate to have a spot which was just being vacated by a boat pressing a little further.