Month: October 2016

A long day, starting at 8.45. Finishing at around 17:45.

Taking me through Banbury, the Oxford canal weaved through the site of Europe’s largest folk festival, Cropredy down the Claydon locks, through King’s Sutton and ending up just past Aynho.

It was a long day.

I expected to be in Oxford, more or less, but the state of the canal just didn’t allow it.

Low speed

Taking all the different factors into account, locks, stoppages bridges, boat traffic, the whole lot. I can put my slow progress down to one factor; the shallow draught of the canal.

The Oxford canal after Claydon becomes, in my judgement, through the boat’s handing, very wide and shallow.

This was the main contributing factor of having put in almost 9 hours and done only 15 miles.

Just to put that in perspective: If I had spent 9 hours on my bike, I would have done 108 miles. Continue reading “Day 39 – Claydon to Aynho”

So here I am at the second large flight of locks on the Oxford/Coventry canal.

It’s a place called Claydon, where the TV reception ain’t so good and there’s lots of sheep around.

There was a dead sheep in the canal. I was behind this novice boater swerving around and I looked down and saw a dead sheep floating in the canal!

Crazy.

There were sheep escaped at Napton.

I guess they have a roving sheep problem in these area. I know it’s a wool production area.

Very pretty

The countryside around here is very pretty.

I take my camera out a number of times, but the shots with a compact don’t do it justice.

Still, it gives you some idea.

Napton locks is series of 9 or so locks to the backdrop of the village of Napton-on-the-hill.

As I chat to the CRT volunteer, of which there is only one, she tells me 15 boats have come past today. I think this is a lie, as she also told me it takes about 1 hour to get through the locks when it took about 2.5.

Still, at 10am. 5 Boats have already come past me either way, it’s still not 15.

I tell her I also feel it’s going to be a busy day. Continue reading “Day 38 – Flecknoe to Claydon”

Beautiful day of sailing.

Moved on from the Coventry, on the Oxford.

Started my trip in earnest this morning, after having visited the Aldi in Coventry, not far from Ansty, where I was staying.

Was only a quick trip over the M6 on my bike.

Took me about 40minutes as I went the wrong way initially. Didn’t sleep very well, was listening to the US presidential debate.

Here’s a morning shot of Bonnie.

Admire her sleek lines.

The Oxford canal

Is vaguely similar to the Bridgewater.

Wide, deep, long. Continue reading “Day 37 – Ansty to Flecknoe”

Long day.

Didn’t even stop for lunch.

Atherstone locks

A series of 11 locks, taking you from an altitude of around 230ft to 310ft, (above sea level) through the Warwickshire countryside.

Each lock has a water-pound alongside, these used to be used to keep the locks topped up in times gone by. Now they are all redundant, some with the sluice gate operational, most not. Just weedy duck ponds by the sides of the locks.

The locks are quite pretty still.

They are busy also. The lock-keeper at the top of the locks keeps a tally of the number of boats. It’s in double figures by the time I finish.

I start the locks at 11:30am and finish at 3pm.

The volunteers here are fairly helpful. Continue reading “Day 36 – Alvecote to Ansty”

Did get a full day in. Pretty much.

Had to stop at Streethay Marina in Lichfield. Also empty some rubbish in Tamworth.

Otherwise, it was a straight day. 9am to 6pm.

Fradley locks volunteers

Even though there were volunteers, he decided to let me go through the top lock on my own. Just sort of watched, set the next lock and opened the next gate down. Left me to do the paddles and gates. Just watched and ate his butties.

Nice.

After I got down, he made his excuses about not wanting to move because his gear was at that lock. I looked around. I didn’t see any gear. Besides, a CRT would never be stupid enough to leave anything anywhere where the public can get it. It was pretty clear he just couldn’t be arsed.

What’s the point in working as a CRT volunteer if you’re just going to watch the boaters and sit there and eat?

If you want evidence, he’s on the timelapse video at the end of the story.

You can see him open the paddle and just walk off.

Continue reading “Day 35 – Kings Bromley to Alvecote”