Napton

Today's canal - Oxford

Another brilliant sunny day.Just as hot as yesterday but for the most of our cruise we also enjoyed a cooling breeze.Just what we needed. Fortunately Christine found a system for attaching her new hat as it was blown off several times and without its tether we would have had to conduct a water rescue.

Ahead of us lay the remainder of the summit pound, about three hours of uninterrupted cruising. Plenty of boats on the move so steerers have to be quite alert around the almost non-stop bends and blind bridges.

Just after one of these we could see a boat in difficulty ahead of us - it had run aground too close to the off side - but as they were poling off a both in the opposite direction insisted on pushing past. It then found itself on the wrong side and, instead of indicating a change of direction headed straight at us. We had to do an emergency stop whilst it sorted itself out. Maybe the steerer had forgotten for a moment which side is for passing!

To round of fthe incident, as she passed us she said loudly, "Just smile!" and not hint that she knew what she had done . . .

Ladder Bridge

Ladder Bridge is a popular overnight stop. In the middle of nowhere but there is a long stretch of bank that has depth and is better maintained, with the grass cut close to the edge. In fact, nb Epiphany moored here last night - they passed us just as Mike was completing his emails before setting off. They were at the head of a three boat convoy so could not stop to chat.

Perhaps this is the time to admit that by morning our overnight stop did not look as elegant as it did last night. It was difficult to find anywhere with depth but we were tied as tight to the bank as we could manage. However, the water levels rose during the night and the extra slack meant that there was more water between us and the bank! No wonder some passing boats this morning looked a little askance at us.

At one o'clock we were not far off Napton top lock so we pulled in for a good lunch stop. With encouragement (?) from Christine, we managed to locate a spot where the bows were int he shade so that it was a very pleasant place to sit.

Just after we had cast off once more we found that the bows were a little stuck and so as we were completing the manoeuvre a boat arrived behind us. He made clear his displeasure - perhaps he had also been told by passing boats that there was still a queue to go down the flight.

As soon as possible we offered him several chances to pass us but each time he failed to make it in the space available either before the next bend or another boat came in the other direction.

So, at the top lock we pulled in on the water point which is just above the lock landing and waved him passed. There was, by now, no queue and a boat was ready to come out of the lock. It seems that we could not get anything right with this boat as they insisted we move along as they actually wanted to stop to fill up with water! Ah well, never a dull moment.

Napton Top Lock House

The back pumps appeared to being working hard, maintaining the level in the summit pound.

Just a sunny day!

Another entry in our unusual boats gallery. Most of the members of this exclusive club are somewhat quirky in a way that often jars on the eye. This one is rather well-balanced and we were not sure whether it was converted from some other use or built to look like it had.

We were looking for the famous buffalo but they were some distance away across the field. After several attempts, we managed to catch them with a camera zoom on full.

 Continuing down the flight was straightforward until Lock 10, which has been a trouble spot for some months. A defective bywash had been marked with with orange fencing for several years, judging by our photos, and in the spring the side wall below the lock collapsed. It seems possible that the bywash fault had allowed water to leach away behind the brickwork.

A temporary repair has been put in place to tide over until the winter when a more extensive stoppage can be planned to make a full reconstruction. Until earlier this week, opening hours for navigation were restricted and all boats had to be supervised through. A volunteer lock keeper was present as we arrived but then went off duty before we descended. Just as well the restriction had been lifted as we would otherwise have been too late for a passage today and would have had to overnight in the pound above.

Coming up the next lock was another unusual boat - or so its owner told Christine! They had just bought it because it was different. Not sure whether it was just on a day trip but there were three generations of at least 8 people including a very tiny baby. What makes it less usual is that it is a fairly short boat (30' perhaps) with a large engine room and a replica traditional engine. The cabin is in three parts each of a different style of boat superstructure! Definitely different!

Services below Napton Flight

We continued on down to the bottom where Mike did the usual servicing whilst Christine popped to the well-known Folly Inn Shop (a separate business from the pub itself, fortunately as the latter seems to close and re-open with alarming regularity). Whilst they did not have the blue top milk we wanted (for Alice when she joins us tomorrow) she did find some delicious Buffalo Milk ice Cream.

Napton Windmill

Once we had completed the disposals and acquisitions we set off again but only until we could find a suitable mooring place. Shade and TV seemed possible but closeness to the ban - not an option. We stopped close to Brickyard Bridge - a reminder of a feature alongside the canal that has now disappeared almost without trace. We were also in sight of the much-photographed Napton Windmill.

9.8 mile - 9 locks