Lower Heyford, Kidlington and now Oxford

Internet has not been good so another delay in updating the blog. We have had some beautiful weather after a heavy storm on leaving Banbury. It's been really warm. Lower Heyford was very peaceful and we were surrounded by fields. Kidlington somewhat disappointing, a big development of new properties but lacking atmosphere and soul. There was a few shops and nothing of great interest. The railway line we had to cross was scary. High speed trains and just a gate to stop you entering the tracks. Cross when the light is green and proceed quickly is the advice given. Hearing children playing nearby added to the fear of what if ! Having crossed many railway lines in Bangkok this felt so different. The trains in Bangkok travel much much slower. Having just googled the speed on these tracks, it's quite frightening to think that you are crossing where trains travel at over 100 miles a hour.

We moored just below the railway bridge and this did not feel too good either! We had been travelling for 4 hrs and it was time to moor up for the night. It was the first place we found that we could secure the boat well.

It was nice to leave here and arrive in Oxford this afternoon. The weather is still good. The scenery on route great. I love peeping into the back gardens of the houses that back onto the canal. They vary from the very opulent mansion like houses to small two up two downs. All having the same wonderful view over the canal.

On arriving in Oxford we struggled to secure Bluemoon. Many of the mooring rings were missing on the canal bank. Les had to hammer in some mooring pins but these did not want to stay in place due to the ground being so soft. Whilst tackling this task the boat that was moored behind us broke loose from its mooring. The ropes broke free and the mooring pins that were attached still ended up in the canal ! Luckily we managed to pull the boat back in. Les jumped aboard and threw a rope to me to pull it back. We managed to secure it and hoped it would still be there when the owners returned ! How disastrous this could have been if it had made its way along the canal banging into moored boats on route.

There has been at least 5 locks each day and many lifting bridges. These are quite a challenge. They are pulled up and down on a chain !

This afternoon we had a lovely time sightseeing around the city. Making the most of the sunshine whilst it lasts. Loved looking at the wonderful buildings.

The sun has arrived and everything is looking good now.

With the arrival of the sun has also come the new fresh leaves on the trees. We have seen many more animals now on our travels. There are rabbits and hares, a water vole, grouse, pheasant and so many baby ducklings.

The sun has made quite a difference to how we feel too. The cold weather was really hard to cope with.

It's been nice to have all the windows and doors open and not have to wear so many layers of clothing.

I have included some photos of the interior of Bluemoon , I'm sure you will appreciate how nice it is for us to be able to have the extra space of the bow and stern on the now warmer days. We are pleased with the interior, and manage well in a small space.

Banbury

Here we are now in Banbury. We have moored right outside the large shopping mall called Castle Quay.

We could not be closer to the centre if we had come here by car. There is a wide choice of shops old and new. There are modern buildings alongside the beautiful old buildings. Perfect time as tomorrow there is the monthly farmers market. A ideal opportunity for us to stock up on fruit and veg for the week.

We have already walked to the outskirts of the town to Morrisons to be essential items that are needed. A £4 taxi ride back t the canal was a good idea.

Before we arrived in Banbury we have travelled along the Oxford canal passing through Napton on the Hill and Cropredy, where we stayed last night. 9 locks yesterday and 5 today.

A day of locks and meeting new people

We started the day with the flight of locks at Buckby. Here we teamed up with a really nice couple who have a share in a boat. It was really nice to have someone to chat with and help with the locks. Carol and I hit it off really well, we seemed to have quite a lot in common. Les enjoyed talking to Joe whilst they were in the locks together. I very much hope that we will be able to meet up with them again sometime.

After a short stop for lunch we then entered the Braunston tunnel. Today it was clear inside , with no other boats also it was much drier than the Blissworth tunnel. Then onto our next set of locks.

I have just worked out up to date we have completed 46 locks and trialled just 86 miles , not far in 3 weeks. 4 miles a hour on average.

We have moored tonight outside the Boatman Inn. It's been a little warmer today, 9c. Forecast for next week is looking promising, so hope that its correct.

The locks gates are very heavy 1430 kilos ! They are also very old. Many from the 19th century. So now we both need a good nights sleep after a long strenuous day.

Just checking in !

No recent blog reports as we have been without Internet. We are both ok, just very cold. The wind is strong and there has been a frost the last 2 nights. We are now at the bottom of the Buckby locks. This is near to Daventry.

I welcomed the help from a group of school children at our last lock. Yesterday we stopped at bridge 18 and walked up the lane to the Heart of the Shires. This is an old farm that has been converted into a retail outlet. Very up market. One of the shops was full of items that are the same as the ones in Dunelm ! The prices were doubled or trebled. A cream coloured mug with pastel spots , £9.

Well the sun is now out and hopefully we are going into a brighter spell now. Watch this space.......

An about turn

We are now heading back up the Grand Union Canal in the direction that we came from ! Unfortunately my joints are not liking the cool weather and I am finding the locks very difficult. The locks are much harder to do than last summer. This maybe due to the fact that they are not used as often as they would be in the warmer months.

So London will now be a day trip from a train station ! It is a little disappointing but never say never, we will make it one day. There are over 100 locks on the route to London and that would be 100 on the way back too.

We will now probably do a left turn onto the Oxford canal , we have heard that the locks there are much easier. The canal itself has some very pretty village we can stop at.

Yesterday the weather was amazing , spring had well and truly shown itself. Tonight we have gone back to winter. It's cold and wet.

Here's hoping tomorrow will bring a nice dry day. We have 7 locks ahead of us and the long tunnel. We will certainly make sure we have the waterproofs on to avoid getting soaked again.

Our journey tomorrow will take us hopefully back as far as Bugbrooke where we will call by and see how James is doing after his op. Debbie and James on narrowboat Lois Jane have become very good friends.

Milton Keynes

We stopped last night just a short distance from Milton Keynes. It's many years since we went there and I remember there being lots of great shops. Today I have to say I was disappointed. I am not sure if its because shopping centres have got larger elsewhere now. Once Milton Keynes was probably one of the biggest shopping centres around. It was really quiet there too. How the shops survive I can not imagine.

I was looking for cushions and thought it would be easy to find some. Marks and Spencer's home ware section was shameful very small and nothing interesting. Same with Debenhams.

Overall it was not as exciting as I thought it might be. We took the train there and the walk from the station must have been about a mile. It was lovely and sunny though and it was great to feel some warmth at last.

We are moored between 2 sets of very modern blocks of apartments. It all looks very nice but its quite noisy from the virgin trains that are speeding by ever 2 minutes . We much prefer the quiet of the countryside at night.