Bridge 100 to Bridge 78, Oxford Canal

SOC of 45 at 9 a.m. was really annoying. Are the batteries going? So ran the engine for a couple of hours before setting out.

Pulled in at Braunston Midland Chandlers for a 12 mm mooring line and a bottle of Blue, and bought a bag of Supertherm as well. Hope not to regret not buying kindling.

Rejected the risk of finding that the moorings above the Hillmorton flight were full, and tied up at what WaterwaysRoutes says are the last decent moorings before then, between Bridges 79 and 78.

Counter: 481.5

4.7 miles, 0 locks, 4.3 engine hours

Napton, Bridge 109 to Bridge 100, Oxford Canal

Went up to the Calcutt locks for water. Winded, and turned left at Napton Junction. Weather dull, getting a bit sunnier.

Ran two wash-loads. Tied up just before Bridge 100, and put the washing out on the towpath, until it began to rain in the afternoon. Some quite heavy squalls

SOC had been only 48 at 8 a.m., so started the engine then, well before travelling.

Counter: 477.2

5 miles, 0 locks, 4.1 engine hours

Napton, Bridge 109

At 8 a.m. the SmartGauge said SOC was 49%, so ran engine for a couple of hours. Very sunny, so risked not running it in the evening when SOC was said to be 86.

Took the bus into Southam for a prescription and an Amazon package. Got a haircut.

Arranged with Rose Narrowboats to do the engine service on Tuesday (at least, I think they said they would!)

Counter: 473.1

0 miles, 2 engine hours

Napton Locks to Napton, Bridge 109

Another scorching day – glad we had just one lock to do, with some help from a volockie and another boater. Tied up before Bridge 109, in preparation for the bus trip to Southam tomorrow.

Still getting hit by the passing traffic. Sun was sufficient to push up the SmartGauge to 86, though I suspect in reality it's less, and will probably be just 55 in the morning.

Counter: 471.1

1.8 miles, 1 lock, 1.1 engine hours

Marston Doles to Napton Locks

Very warm and sunny. Took on water at Marston Doles Top Lock. Tied up on the 48 hour moorings above Napton Bottom Lock, where we were coming up.

Counter: 470.0

2.4 miles, 8 locks, 3.1 engine hours 

Fenny Wharf to Marston Doles

Reversed to the winding hole at Fenny Wharf, and poled the bows across to wind. Took on water – good tap.

Retraced yesterday's journey in reverse. Much warmer day. Close encounters with a couple of hirers in trouble in the shallow water. Tied up in the same spot, on the armco about a Km short of the Marston Doles locks. Very quiet, except for the Spitfire (?) flight that flew across.

Ran a wash-load.

Counter 466.9

7.1 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Marston Doles to Fenny Wharf

Fine day, with some sunny spells. Very winding canal. Tied up on the 48 hour moorings just past the wharf – fortunate to get the space as there are lots of boats here.

James and Hazel Bell came by on NB Gabriel, and passed across the song books for the Fazeley weekend.

Counter: 463.4

7.1 miles, 0 locks, 3.0 engine hours 

Marston Doles

Took a quiet day off, in a very quiet spot. Evening engine.

Counter: 460.4

0 miles, 1.2 engine hours

Napton Locks to Marston Doles

Timing worked out pretty well for going up the Napton locks. Four lockies on the Bottom lock weren't at all interested in helping us up the flight, but others we met were helpful. Noted that lock 16 listed as Marston Doles Top Lock by Waterways Routes and CanalPlan is called Napton Top Lock in Nicholsons. Lock 14 is called Napton Adkins lock by WR and Nicholsons, Greens Lock by CanalPlan.

Water @ Marston Doles Top Lock.

Tied up on the first Armco we came to after the Marston Doles locks. Seems very isolated

Counter: 459.2

2.4 miles, 8 locks, 2.9 engine hours

Napton to Napton Locks

Slightly later start. Grey, chilly day. Tied up on the 48 hour mooring before Napton Bottom Lock, and walked round to the services to drop off a big rubbish bag, and prospect the mooring above the lock. Brought the boat round, by which time a boat was coming down through the second lock, so we waited for them. Tied up before lunch on the 48 mooring above the bottom lock. Good view up to the village on the hill.

Counter: 456.3

1.8 miles, 1 lock, 2.2 engine hours

Napton to Calcutt and back

Simon took me into Southam for a Tesco shop. Then we headed up to the Calcutt locks and filled the water tank.

Went down the locks with the Irish family and their 3-month old boat Grá. Winded and stopped for lunch. Back up in the afternoon, and turned right at the junction, tying up at Bridge 109, in the same spot as before. Simon & Co left after tea to return to London.

Counter: 454.1

2 miles, 6 locks, 2.9 engine hours

Napton Junction

Came up to Bridge 109 to wait for Simon, Sarah and the boys. Then, with them on board, went back towards Braunston, winded at Bridge 107, came back and tied up on the private mooring outside their B&B at Napton Junction. Late afternoon we all walked up to the Calcutt locks.

Counter: 451.2

3 miles, 0 locks, 2.4 engine hours

Bridge 98, Oxford Canal to Napton

Got going about 9.30. Ran into Mark, Cheryl and Amelia Gibson – they'd come down hoping to meet us. They came on board and we ticked over back to their parking spot. 

Early sun turned to cloud. Passed Napton Junction and winded at Bridge 111. Not much mooring at Bridge 109, so tied up on the rings at 111.

Counter: 448.8

5.2 miles, 0 locks, 2.9 engine hours

Clifton upon Dunsmore to Bridge 98, Oxford Canal

Early start (8.30) to avoid traffic at Hillmorton Locks. Two volunteers at the middle of the three. Beautifully balanced beams on the top lock. As day progressed, traffic got very heavy. Cloud and sun, sometimes quite hot.

Pump-out (£18) @ Barby Moorings to make sure, although the warning light was not yet on, in view of the next few days travel and events.

Turned right at Braunston – new territory. Decided against possible stake mooring in the run out from Braunston. No armco until Bridge 98.

Counter: 445.9

9.4 miles, 3 locks, 5 hours engine.

Stretton Stop to Clifton upon Dunsmore

Wayne the electrician came and together we resolved the wiring. All done and paid up: Pump + 1.5 hours + a £1 box of firelighters: £221.59

Water @ Stretton Stop before leaving. Quicker than expected to Newbold Tunnel. Came through to Rugby and stopped after Bridge 58 for a Tesco shop. Dodgy for an overnight mooring, so came on to Clifton upon Dunsmore, between bridges 66 and 68 – the numbering of the bridges on this stretch is bizarre, with a couple of aqueducts on the approach to Rugby numbered as bridges, and some numbers missing all together.

Counter: 440.9

7.3 miles, 0 locks, 1 swing bridge, 3.7 Engine hours

Stretton Stop

Pump came late afternoon. Jamie ran into problems working out the electrics, and had to leave it for someone else in the morning.

Ran engine after inverter was left on overnight: SOC 54%.

Counter 437.2

0 miles, 1.2 engine hours 

Stretton Stop

Jamie determined that the shower pump's motor is the problem. New one ordered.

Getting cold, so lit the stove around midday. Ran engine at 6.

Counter: 436.0

0 miles, 1.4 engine hours 

Bridge 4, Oxford Canal to Stretton Stop

Shower pump failed again last night, so 8.30 start, intending to get to Rose Narrowboats quite early, for them to look at it. Phone call at 9.15 elicited that they had insufficient personnel to look at it today, but would do so in the morning.

Dull day, and generally dull countryside, with occasional horseflies.

Tied up at Stretton Stop after filling the water tank. Needed a spring because of the quality of the mooring.

Counter: 434.6

6 miles, 0 locks, 2.8 engine hours

Coventry to Bridge 4, Oxford Canal

Up to Hawkesbury Junction and turned right on to the Oxford Canal. Increasing sun, though our mooring spot is a bit too much in the shade for good solar. On round the corners from Bridge 4 (Tusses Bridge).

Water at Coventry Basin as we left. Ran a wash load while travelling. Tightened the Jubilee clip on the shower outlet, to avoid having to remove the hose to replace the clip.

Counter: 431.8

6.5 miles, 1 lock, 3.5 engine hours.

Coventry Basin

Rakshabandhan festival in the basin – lively and noisy. Lunch was Sunday roast at the café. Afternoon we went to choral evensong at the cathedral

Latter part of the day saw a fair bit of sunshine, so we didn't run the engine.

0 miles, 0 engine hours