Banbury

Today's Canal : Oxford

We awoke at 5:30 and 6:30 with bright sunshine streaming in through the gaps between the curtains. At 7:30 there was no going back to sleep but, alas, the sky was not overcast! it was warm all day but with only occasional blue skies.

Alongside our overnight mooring

We have now reserved a space to leave the boat at Cropredy Marina whilst we return home. As a result we are able to take our time and move leisurely! We also decided to go only as far as Banbury today so that Mike can do the car shuffle tomorrow with the convenience of the nearby rail station. The only real difficulty is that there are only two buses a day from Cropredy to Banbury!

Aynho Weir Lock

The first lock was the weir lock that protects the canal from the River Cherwell which flows across the canal on a level at this point. The lock chamber is one of the two unusual lozenge shaped locks, both weir locks, on the Oxford Canal. It is usually thought that the reason was to pass more water down the canal than a normal lock would do with only a foot drop. The next lock is Somerton Deep and, without this feature, the pound would easily be reduced in level as too much water was taken out of it.

Nell Bridge Lock

The next lock at Nell Bridge is also a deep lock and, although the boat ahead of us had difficulties with the heavy bottom gate, it did seem to us to be easier than it has been in the past. Care has to be taken at this lock also because there is no towpath through the bridge which now carries a rather busy road with a stretch of fast traffic.

Coles Lift Bridge

At Coles Lift bridge, just before the M40, two young chaps were sitting passing the time of day - it seems that they were working from their van parked on the bridge - and fortunately moved their legs out of the way just before we brought the boat through. However, when we came to take photos of the bridge they smartly moved away - perhaps they should have been doing something a little more industrious? Hopefully their bosses do not read canal blogs!

A little further and the substantial abutments for a former railway bridge look as if they will last for ever. However, it is interesting to note that the track of the railway line was still indicated on the map used in Nicholsons but our 'proper' OS map does not show it at all. Not sure where it came from , but it joined the main line nearby at Kings Sutton. The adjacent fields showed little sign of its route. Even engineering works like this are gradually reclaimed by the landscape once they are no longer of any use - and are not deemed to be heritage items!

The sign at Kings Sutton Lock is new and suggests an alternative name: Tarver's Lock. Have not yet found out why this has been done - certainly the name of the lock is Kings Sutton in listings going back some time, including the once authoritative Edwards. By the way, it is the lock cottage that is for sale, not the lock itself! On several journeys through here in the past we have been tempted by ice creams from the cottage but there is no indication that they have been doing that recently.

Grant's Lock

Grant's Lock is the last before Banbury and there was a convenient stretch of moorings just above the lock for us to stop and enjoy our lunch.

We continued into Banbury a little later, aiming to find a space at Castle Quays, convenient for shops and station. We had a brief stop below Banbury Lock to use the service point. This lock also marks the point where the locks change from single to double bottom gates.

Banbury Lock

We did indeed find a space to moor although it was a little busier than we had been led to believe, but several Black Prince boats seem to have made this a turn around in their journeys.

We walked into the town centre and enjoyed a leisurely wander around the shops collecting a number of items but leaving some of the shopping until tomorrow so that we can try out the market, especially for fruit and veg. We were also on the hunt for a possibility for eating out tonight. Sadly, one that we had had recommended is now closed but we think we may go to Top Wok. We will report tomorrow if it was successful!

Banbury Cross

Of course, we had to take the obligatory photo of Banbury Cross. Sunday, it seems there is to be a hobby horse festival!

6.2 miles - 5 locks