Oldies On Tour

Sunday 9th October 2016

Up very early, we have decided to go for it today. We have Pat, Marian Martin and Russell arriving in Northampton on Saturday, we are not sure if we can make it or not! We have 49 miles to do, which doesn’t seem a lot, but we only average about 8 miles a,day.

Today I woke at 7am, and decided that we should get up, move boat and fill up with water, and then have breakfast whilst we are doing it, again we set the washing machine, so that we could get maximum water.

We left the water hole at 8.30am, and faced our first lock and lifting bridge, these locks have two doors at the beginning, but the far gate has only one, so harder work, as you have to walk further, and the gate at the end, is usually harder to open.

As we were travelling along, we noticed we did not have the extendible ladder, we know we had it yesterday, which means someone must have stolen it whilst we were in Banbury yesterday, very annoying as it was secured to the roof, what are people like! Geoff used stronger language.

It’s a beautiful day, blue skies, and plenty of sunshine, but it has started to get colder now. The trees are gradually turning golden, and there are so many red berries around at present. The birds will not starve this year.

We didn’t stop for lunch we kept going, so no pub today, we climbed the Claydon flight of locks, only five this time, and we were lucky with a couple of them, as other boats were coming out, enabling us just to go in, without having to do anything. Today we did alternate locks, as Geoff wanted to do some, I actually prefer to do the locks than drive, but have to be fair!

Altogether today we did fifteen miles, fifteen locks, and two lifting bridges, the

canal was very twisty, so we had lots of bends in the river,
and apart from the last half an hour, when it started raining, it was another lovely day. We stopped as soon as we could find a suitable mooring place, in the middle of nowhere, watched Strictly and Poldark.

Saturday 8th October 2016

We decided to walk into town, do a “rekey” before Martin and Marian arrived but en-route realised we could bring the boat nearer, in fact adjacent to the railway station car park where they were heading to.  So back we walked, collected Foggy’s Notion and brought her to the spot just outside the car park and only a couple of minutes from the town’s central bus station, very handy.

Once secured we were off again, wandered up one of the main streets and noted a number of Morris Dancers wandering about and realised they were probably part of the Folk Festival that was on this weekend but had no idea what or where things were happening.

We walked up to Banbury Cross, the one in the nursery rhyme, did the touristy bit and walked back, wandering through a number of small ally ways with the usual gift shops etc.  By this time we had built up a thirst and dived into the first pub we came across.  Christine did turn her nose up at the pub as it was crowded, no garden and noisy, still they had Hook Norton Ale and that was good enough for me!  Anyway after ordering we noticed a sort of rag tag and bobtail band in the corner and after a few minutes they started playing an assortment of music, some jazz, some country, some folk, but they were very entertaining so we stayed and had another drink.  We knew M & M were due around lunchtime or just after but were going to ring so stayed until they left.   It turned out there was a big parade starting at 1400hrs and they were leading it. So we followed them to the top of the town and wow, and what a site; Morris dancers, people in all sorts of weird costumes, several had costumes that simulated them being on horse back, many had blacked out faces and there were even some belly dancers, though well passed their sell buy date!!!!!

When the parade started we were well positioned to watch, right outside the pub we had visited earlier, so naturally had to pop back in!!!!  The whole experience was very entertaining and we had a great time and still we hadn’t heard from M and M but we

sussed out a couple of Indian Restaurants, Christine fancied “Indian” tonight, she only hoped M and M did as well!!!

The pub we were in, the first one we came across was called the “Ye Old Reine Deer Inn” and it turns out this pub has a history.  Carved in the original stonework is the date 1570, was this when t was built I wonder!!!  Anyway, this was also a haunt of Oliver Cromwell, he used this hostelry during the civil war and it is thought it was here, in the Globe Room at the Rein Deer pub, that he planned the battle of Edgehill, 1642, the first pitched battle of the civil war. He was also here during the siege of Banbury Castle 1644/1645.

Martin and Marian finally arrived around 1530hrs so they came aboard and we sat and chatted, had a couple of Gin and Tonics and the girls enjoyed a bottle of wine until it was time to go out to eat.  Fortunately they were also up for an “Indian” and after searching the Internet we booked a table.  When we found the restaurant, it turned out to be the one we had looked at in the afternoon!

We had an excellent meal though the service was not too quick the company, and the ambience more than compensated for it.  Because of the Folk Festival, the town and restaurant were all busy.

We wandered back to the boat around 2230hrs said our goodbyes, arranged to meet again for lunch in Northampton next Saturday then went to bed after a thoroughly enjoyable day in Banbury.

Thursday 6th October 2016

Woke up to blue skies again, how lucky we have been with the weather, and how enjoyable can this journey be, I can’t believe how much fun we are having. I love it!

We left Kidlington not very early we had showers, I did some ironing, cleaned the boat, sorted the washing and off we went.

Five very tiny locks, they are so different, a lot easier to work, but the Oxford Canal is so tiny, in places we had to stop so that someone coming the other way could pass. A lot of long term moorings all along the canal , such a pretty area, and everyone is so friendly and helpful. My highlight today, was a kingfisher, who kept flying along with us, darting in the weeds, and out in the open again. Fantastic sight.

We travelled to Lower Heyford, where we stopped to fill up with water, one hour later, we had had our dinner, and still the tank was not full, another boat had been waiting for some time, so we decided to give up. We went up passed the boatyard, and found a mooring for tonight.

Later we walked to The Bell. Pub, in the tiny village, it was obvious that everyone knew everyone else, and the local gossip was to be heard, we were made very welcome though.

Friday 7th October 2016

Not quite so bright today, but still dry, we left quite early as we want to go to Banbury, and it’s quite a few miles. Seven locks today, we are taking the locks in turn today, which means I have to master the driving, which I have now done, having been forced to do it, I quite enjoy it really. The locks are very deep, and very narrow,

and very tight to get in, with a bridge just before we enter, a fascinating experience.

We helped other boats, some only having one person on board, and other people helped us through the locks. We stopped at Aynho, we had to double up, as the boatyard was busy, so we could fill up with diesel, it took 120 litres , which is very good as it is only the second time we have filled up.

Along the canal there are a lot of lifting bridges, and just to make a change they are held open in our favour, so the farmer if he wants to cross has to close them, so that was good news.

We finally arrived in Banbury and found a space, we did not arrive until 4.30pm so we set up the tv aerial, had dinner, and then a quiet night watching television, it has just started raining, how about that for timing.

Wednesday 5th October 2016

Today we couldn’t make up our mind, shall we go to Lechlade, the end of the Thames, or just go onto the Oxford Canal, decision made, we will finish of the Thames. For that we will have to buy another license to stay on the Thames. Under a very low bridge,

where we had to mind our heads, we made our way through lovely countryside.

First lock we came to, was self service, well it was supposed to be, but a lady was standing in, temporary, I asked about the Thames being shallow, and she said as long as we kept close to the buoys’ we would be OK, so we started travelling along the Thames, but we soon realised it was going to be hard work, very twisty and shallow, certainly not relaxing. If the boat was not 60ft long we would have continued, but the bends were so tight, Geoff would have found it very hard.

We came to the next lock, spoke to the lock keeper, and made the decision to change direction. We are now heading to the Oxford Canal, tiny locks, low bridges, and lovely countryside. Th canal is really tiny after the Thames and the Kennet and Avon,

probably half the width, when another boat comes towards us, we have to just stop really, especially if boats are moored as well, really really tight.

Arrived at Kidlington, and we stopped for the day, as I need some shopping. We walked along the path and found a pub, where we had a lovely lunch, then onto the shops, where I had my nails done.

Back to the boat, a lovely quiet night.

Monday 3rd 0ctober 2016

What a lovely day, blue skies, sunshine, think we are in Spain, no we are not, it’s really cold, I have my thick fleece on, plus my anorak.

Everything was going well until we reached Culham Lock, we had been overtaken by a pleasure passenger craft, about a mile back, then we realised why, he wanted to get to the lock before us. The lock took 20 minutes to fill up, we waited for one hour and

half to get through, good job we were not in a hurry.

We headed onto Abingdon, and we were only going to stop for water etc., but that same ferry boat was on the pontoon , so we decided to moor up and do everything tomorrow.

We walked into Abingdon, a quaint little 18c market town reminded me of Petersfield,

lovely little shops, a big museum, built in 1678 -1682, with interesting architecture, and the normal modern shops in a modern part of town.

After meandering around the Town we ended up in the Nags Head, situated on the bridge, overlooking the river, it was lovely sitting there watching the boats going past.

Back to the boat I attempted cooking a roast, I burnt the parsnips, but most of it was ok, Geoff enjoyed it anyway, so glad I didn’t attempt to cook for Andrew and Liz yesterday.

Television wouldn’t work last night, so we just did some reading.

Sunday 2nd October 2016

Up early, tidied boat, ready for our visitors, so looking forward to seeing them both, haven’t seen Andrew since July, seems ages.

When Andrew arrived with Liz, we made a move, whilst I was making tea and bacon sandwiches, Geoff was steering up the Thames. The weather was lovely, blue skies, plenty of sunshine, quite chilly, but can’t complain.

First lock was at Mapledurham, Andrew was disappointed that on the Thames, the locks are all done by a push of a button, he was hoping for the old fashioned way, which are

on the canals. We only had three other locks to go through , Liz bought her dog with her, which is a tiny chihuahua, long haired, she was very pretty, every time we came to locks, Andrew took her for a walk, so funny seeing a giant of a man, with such a tiny dog.

We arrived at Wallingford, and couldn’t find anywhere to moor up, I suggested phoning and asking if we can park outside the Boat House Pub, which was marked No Mooring, anyway a quick chat to the landlord and after a struggle to get in, we ended the day

with fish and chips, outside the pub. Andrew caught a taxi back to Reading, then caught the train, we had a lovely day, and it was nice to spend time with Liz. They both look very happy, long may it last.

We had a very quiet nights sleep outside the pub.