Michael Tyler

Another full day of boating through the unspoilt Oxfordshire countryside. This time, on the River Cherwell to Thrupp, where I was going to visit the deserted village; Hampton Gay.

After looking on Googlemaps satellite, it became clear, it was only 3 empty farmhouses and a dis-used church and really wasn’t worth getting the bike out for. I stopped in Thrupp for lunch, then moved on.

The canal is virtually deserted. During the course of a 10 hour day, I encounter possibly 5 boats.

It would have been impossible to make it from Claydon to Oxford in one day, even two is pushing it.

At Thrupp, the canal joins the River Cherwell. The draft and width of the canal becomes such for easy navigation, and it’s an hour of relative speed and relaxation.

Some times it’s raining. It’s fairly cold. I’ve caught a cold. Continue reading “Day 40 – Aynho to Oxford”

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”