On our way back up the canal now

Our journey back up the canal from Oxford was not so nice as the journey there. What a difference the sun can make. Everything looked dull and not so interesting as before.

It would have been nice to have stayed in Oxford an extra day, the mooring is limited to 48 hrs and no return for 28 days.

Our journey took us back up to Lower Heyford where we stayed overnight. We arrived in good time and it gave us the opportunity to go and visit a stately home that was nearby. Well the guide books said it was nearby and just a short walk. It took about 30 minutes each way. It was well worth the walk. What a beautiful place Rousham house is. The gardens were spectacular. On arrival we were surprised to see a machine to get your entry ticket to the gardens. There was nobody around, it seemed very strange. Entry was £5 each. Lucky the machine took a ten pound note !

We really enjoyed the stroll around and the sun was lovely , I think we must have spent around 2 hours here. Such a shame there was no teashop. A nice cup on tea on the terrace would have been most welcome. We were unable to go inside the house. Bookings for a tour of the house had to be made in advance and the minimum number of people they would accept was a group of ten. The interior looked somewhat neglected , curtain linings were in shreds, lots of visible cobwebs ! Not that we looked inside the windows........

Last night we moored up opposite a lovely little farm. The pigs were delightful, Lots of piglets that ran around like a lot of crazy puppies, wanting to play. We were glad to have arrived at a decent place for mooring , both soaked through after the heavy downpour at Somerton deep lock. The lock is 12 foot deep. One of the paddles ( this is the heavy metal thing you have to wind up and down to let water in and out of the lock ) was broken. The other one was really hard to shift. Not what you need when there is hailstones coming down and the lock is going to take twice as long to empty now ! A really hard day of heavy locks and heavy rain!

This morning we woke up to sunshine , whoopee. It was great to feel a little warmth again. After a visit to the farm shop to buy some free range eggs it was time to set off before the threatened rain arrived. The forecast said it would be dry until 2pm. How right they were , just before we arrived at Banbury bottom lock the heavens opened ! So on through the lock as quick as we could and then the lifting bridge before mooring outside Ann Summers ! After securing Bluemoon we found we could not get a satellite signal, so had to untie the ropes and move over to the other side of the canal where eventually the signal was found. We do not watch a great deal of TV, but however it is a nice way to relax after a hard day !

A full day in Oxford

After lots of rain during the night the day was not so bad. We enjoyed a walk through the grounds of Christchurch College and along the meadows that edge the Thames. Oxford has a lovely feel to it, so many interesting buildings. So many tourists from all over the world.

It has rained again this evening so we hope,that it will be ok for tomorrow when we have to leave our 48 hr mooring. We were surprised that there is not the opportunity to stay longer. It was a long journey here for such a short time ! Next time when we take this route along the south Oxford canal we will continue onto the Thames. The weather is not really good enough to venture out there now. Far too windy !

Our journey tomorrow will take us back along the same route that we have already travelled. We have some places that we intend to stop at on the way back. Places that we decided we would not look at on the way down to Oxford.

My blog may not be so frequent due to repeating myself ! We also know that the Internet was not available all the time. Please keep checking up on us as we will have more to tell I am sure !

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.