Well we made it back down the Oxford Canal and onto the Grand Union almost without incident.  We moored at the same places on the way back as we did going up, creatures of habit.  We did have one slight incident at a bridge 'ole though.  As we approached the bridge, lulled into a false sense of security by the seeming quietness of the day, a boat approached from the other side.  Much reversing ensued with us eventually going forward and the other boat waiting.  All went well until we were almost clear, when I dropped my walking boot, which was on the top of the boat, into the water.  Can't believe it didn't just sink, but it bobbed about on the top and we had to reverse back to retrieve it.  Apologies/explanations to the other boaters who looked a bit bemused as we reversed back into the bridge 'ole that they were waiting to go through.

Napton Locks

Graham had seen Sunday lunch advertised on the website for the Bridge at Napton, £4.95 for Sunday carvery.  This seemed like a good deal so we stopped for lunch.  Turns out though that the website was out of date and the pub had changed hands recently.  Still had lunch though.  Nice food (not carvery) but the beer was a bit strange, real ale but icy cold!  Just plain wrong, I was forced to drink wine instead, Graham managed a couple of pints though.  Back to the boat for a bit of a nap, due to alcohol, and then onward to Napton Junction and back onto the Grand Union.

Napton Junction

Monday was a long day as we wanted to get up Braunston flight and through the tunnel.  Stopped for some shopping at Braunston as Graham wanted faggots from the butcher.  Not my favourite food, however when we ate them they wern't too bad, better than Brains faggots anyway!  Shared locks through Braunston with a boat called Blue Mist, who were heading to Welton Hythe to moor up for the winter.  Sad times summer is almost over.

Braunston Junction

Braunston Marina

As we came round Norton Junction onto the Leicester section of the Grand Union, someone told us that Watford Locks were shut for emergency repairs.  Moored up for the evening and next morning Graham took the dogs for a walk to check it out.  When he got there the locks/pounds were being de-watered and loads of C&RT workers were trying to rescue the fish that were stranded.  There was a queue of about 12 boats waiting to go up and several at the top waiting to go down.  They re-opened about 4:00ish but we decided to stay put on the mooring and let the queue disperse.

Chatting to the lock keeper at Watford flight

Continued onward on Wednesday and went up Watford flight without delay.  This is unusual as often there is a long wait.  Think we had timed it just right though as we were instructed by the lock keeper to follow the boat in front through.  Stopped at Crick and Graham went to the Co-op for supplies.  Went past the new marina at Yelvertoft, which I hadn't seen since it opened.  Moored up for the evening in a good spot for the dogs.  Not a single person walked past the boat all evening.  Cold evening but we had a free fire as Graham found someone's discarded coal in the hedge and I broke the wooden broom, which burned quite well.

Today (Thursday) was a day of reminiscence as we spent a lot of time on this part of the canal with our previous boat.  Went through the boat yard where we used to moor and spotted boats we recognised from when we moored there but also lots of changes.  Plan for today is to get through Foxton flight and moor up somewhere at the bottom.  Saw Ben and Primrose Time moored at the top of Foxton and arranged to see him later this evening.

Foxton from the middle pound

Working our way down Foxton flight

Market Harborough tomorrow and then on Saturday Andrew is picking us up to go to Jacob's 2nd birthday party, the first one where he will hear us all singing Happy Birthday to him!!

This evening we are moored up at Fenny Compton on the Oxford Canal, following a slight error of judgement on our part.  Not moaning though as the Oxford Canal is very rural and quiet, apart from all the boats whizzing around, they are mostly moored here for the evening I think.

On Tuesday morning we left the mooring at Long Itchington to go up the 10 locks between there and Birdingbury Wharf.  As we set off, Laughing Dog, a boat moored in front of us also pulled out and we shared the first few locks together.  Then caught up with a boat called Red Dwarf and continued up with them.

Sharing a lock with Laughing Dog

And Red Dwarf

Red Dwarf and Jedanie Deans crossing one of the pounds together

The locks were quite busy and we met several boats coming down the flight.  Always good as it makes lighter work for everyone!

Waiting in the pound for us to exit the lock!

Having completed the 10 locks there was a bit of a gap before what should have been the last three locks of the day at Calcutt.  Time for a coffee.  Approaching Calcutt Locks we spotted two boats coming out of the bottom lock and hoped they had left the gates open.  When we arrived there was a boat already in there waiting for us.  This was a good omen and all the remaining locks had a boat exiting as we arrived.  A nice easy trip through all three locks.  Stopped for water and then set off for Napton Junction where the plan was to turn left to Braunston.  Quick change of plan however and we went right to Napton intending to empty the toilet at the bottom of Napton Flight and mayber moor up for the evening before turning round and heading for Braunston.  However there was no mooring available and the canal was too narrow to easily allow us to reverse back to the turning point.  So having emptied the toilet we continued up Napton flight, eventually mooring up in the pound between locks three and four.  A long day (6 hours).  Had a pint in the Folly, which seems to have changed hands since we were last there.  The landlord was a bit eccentric looking with a luxurious mustache with twirly ends.

Napton Junction where we should have turned left!

Bottom Lock at Napton

Tuesday evening's mooring

On Wednesday morning we walked into Napton to post a birthday card to Jacob who will be 2 a week on Saturday (I like to be in plenty of time).  Coming back the locks looked very busy with boats queuing at the bottom to go up.  So we had a cup of coffee before joining the fray.

Mist rising off the canal on Wednesday morning

 Carried on to the top of the flight at Marston Doles and found a mooring spot near Prior's Hardwick.  There was a good field with no sheep where we took the dogs and played ball with them as they haven't had a good run for a while.  Jake then found a filthy muddy puddle to lie down in and drink from, love him!  A very quiet and peaceful evening with no one passing on the tow path and no traffic noise.  A shame that the proposed path of the high speed rail link runs through this rural idyll.  Personally I hope it doesn't happen but that is just my opinion.

This morning we left this peaceful place and carried on to Fenny Compton.  This is probably a very short journey by road.  However the Oxford Canal is notoriously twisty and winding and this is a lengthy journey of 9 miles, taking about 3 hours.  Fenny Compton is a popular spot and the mooring is quite tight.  Not as quiet and peaceful as last nights mooring, but the combine harvester which was working in the field opposite has now finished for the evening.  Had a tasty meal at the Wharf.

The socks are coming on well just got the foot left to do on the first one!

Today has been a lazy day.  We are moored at Long Itchington where we arrived yesterday afternoon.  I walked the dogs this morning while Graham did some painting jobs on the boat.  The dogs predictably decided to go for a swim and got very muddy.  I had just about got them dry and clean when in they went again.  I give up!  A very hot day so this afternoon did very little although I have cooked tomorrow's dinner and got this evening's salad ready.  I am still sock knitting!

Friday morning we set out fairly early as we had Hatton Flight to descend.  Graham reversed into lock 19 on the Lapworth flight and we went up and onto the Grand Union Canal.

These barrel roofed cottages are a unique feature of the Stratford Canal .

Made good time to the top of Hatton locks, a  flight of 21 double locks, all with big heavy gates top and bottom.  The best way to tackle Hatton is with another boat as there is room for two in each chamber.  As there were no boats waiting to go down we filled up with water while we waited for someone to turn up.  Several boats turned up and we paired up with a boat called Dragonfly to go down the flight together.  Brilliant crew of three plus me so two were able to go ahead and get the next lock ready while the other two dealt with seeing the boats through.  Made such good time that we eventually caught up with the boats in front and had to slow down a bit.  Two of the Dragonfly's crew were teenage girls, who worked hard but were getting worn out and fed up by the end of the flight, mind you they had done about 10 locks before they got there so they were doing well.  Not many photo's of Hatton Locks as we were all working too hard for snapping.  I will try and do better in future!

Top of Hatton Flight

On Friday evening we moored up between Cape Locks and as we had worked hard all day went for a beer at the Cape of Good Hope.  There was limited seating as there was a space set up for the live music later in the evening.  A couple suggested that we share there table and it turned out that they had come down the locks in front of us.  We had a great evening talking boats etc and also met their son and his partner.  Enjoyed our fish and chips.

Saturday was a short day, Came down the remaining lock and moored up outside Tesco, about half an hour away, as we were running low on food.  Had lunch and then moved and moored up before Radford Bottom Lock.  On the way through Leamington we saw a wedding party, bride, groom and guests walking along the towpath, presumably to one of the nearby pubs for a party.  We congratulated the happy couple!  Later I took the dogs for a walk and saw a couple with a Maine Coon cat on a lead.  I had seen it earlier at the moorings at Tesco.  A lovely looking cat but I couldn't have a proper introduction to it because I had the mad collies with me!

On Sunday we got ready and left shortly after the boat moored in front.  The plan for today is to ascend the next 10 locks before finding a suitable mooring.  When we arrived at the bottom lock a hire boat was waiting to pair up with another boat.  We all set off together and it turned out that this is the first time they had been on a canal or operated locks.  Not a young couple either, Colin informed us he was 73 but I didn't ask Fran her age.  As Fran is not yet confident steering she was in charge of locks.  By the time we had completed the ten, including Bascote staircase, she had got the hang of it.  I don't think it will be long before she is steering though as she struck me as a very determined lady.  Fran and Colin went on a bit further than us before they moored up for the day.

Plan to move on tomorrow but haven't finally decided which way to turn at Napton Junction.

Sorry folks no blog for a few days.  My only excuse is a touch of lethargy and internet failure yesterday when I had almost completed but not saved my post.  Not a happy bunny!

Well to try and catch up:

The weather forecast for Saturday was a bit grim so we decided to have a short day and moved from the mooring and up Stoke Locks, a flight of six.  This took us about an hour and a half and we moored up at the bottom of Tardebigge Flight ready to go up on Sunday, weather permitting.  Took the dogs for a walk up the locks and watched several boats going through. It was still dry but we could hear a lot of thunder rumbling around and by the time we got back to the boat the first drops were beginning to fall.  It threw it down for the rest of the afternoon and all evening.

Row of cottages at Stoke Locks

Sunday morning it had stopped raining so after walking the dog we set out to tackle the fearsome Tardebigge Flight.  A good day, although we met no boats coming down the flight most of the locks were empty which meant we could open the gates and go straight in.  Did 29 locks in less than four hours and then stopped for lunch before completing the top lock, where we stopped for water.  Then carried on and moored up for the evening in Hopwood.  Went to the Hopwood House Inn for a meal, very enjoyable.

Tardebigge Flight

The forecast for Monday was not good but as it wasn't raining we decided to set out and see how it went.  Stayed mainly fine with a few drops of rain but not enough to stop play.  A nice easy day with no locks, but three lift bridges once we had turned onto the Stratford Canal at King's Norton Junction.  The first of these at Shirley is electronically operated and when we arrived a boat was coming through in the opposite direction.  When I got to the control panel the guy there was struggling to remove his key.  Although he had lowered the bridge he hadn't completed the operation and the barriers were still down.  He was so concerned with getting his key out that he hadn't noticed all the irate car drivers still waiting to cross the bridge.  Moored for the evening at the top of Lapworth Locks.

Toll House at Kings Norton Junction

Guillotine stop lock at Kings Norton Junction (not operational now)

 Tuesday morning overslept and so had a late start.  No point rushing though as loads of boats going down the flight so likely to be a long day.  Took 41/2 hours to descend 20 locks.  Although we are eventually going to join the Grand Union Canal here at Kingswood Junction, we have come down a couple of extra locks and moored on the Stratford Canal and will go back up when we are ready to move.  Tomorrow is going to be a day spent moored up and taking it easy.

There are some lovely properties around here!

The bridges on this part of the Stratford Canal are split to allow the towing rope to pass through

Plenty of boats around on Lapworth Flight

Wednesday spent walking the dogs and doing some jobs.  Also sorted out the yarn and needles at last and am now sock knitting.  Also stayed still on Thursday as we had visitors.  Good to catch up with Colin and Jill and Emily and have a lovely lunch at the Navigation together!

Thursday morning and a change of plan.  Having come up four lock on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal on Wednesday evening, on Thursday morning we decided to go back down onto the River Severn and go up to the junction with the newly (last year) opened Droitwich Canals.  It took us nearly two hours to descend the four lock, including the two large Diglis Canal Locks.  Having got back onto the Severn Graham attempted tp pick me up on the lock landing, which proved a bit difficult as a Black Prince Boat was moored there unloading a film crew, who had been making a short educational programme for Children's BBC.  Eventually managed to get back on the boat and whizzed along to the Droitwich Canal Junction.

Being overtaken by the trip boat on the R Severn

Went through the two wide Hawford Locks onto the Droitwich Canal and cruised along to the next lock.  The water is very green with algae and the sides are full of reeds.  Saw a boat going through ahead of us but not close enough for them to spot us and wait to share locks.  Eventually caught up enough for them to see us at the third lock and they waited in the fourth.  We then shared the rest of the eight lock the Netherwich Basin where we moored for the evening.  Lovely moorings at Netherwich Basin.  All pontoons in a locked enclosure, but just outside is Vines Park, which was a good place to walk the dogs and seems to be well used by the people of Droitwich.  There was a bit of a community feeling going on at the moorings as there is really nowhere else to m oor at present.  Therefore everyone was gathered at the same place.  Met a lovely group of people on a fibreglass cruiser, Bill and Reg and their wives who set of from Saul Junction on Wednesday for a three week holiday.

Came round a very sharp bend to be faced straight away with this bridge.  The boat in front got it wrong and had to reverse, which gave Graham a bit of a clue and we manged it without incident!

It's very reedy so limited places to moor!

Day two on the Droitwich Canal and the map we have is not accurate as the course of the canal was changed during the restoration due to parts of it having been built on.  There are several more locks than the original canal many of them newly built.  We followed Bill and Reg this morning sharing the barge lock, which is the last wide lock and then following them through.  They got a bit stuck in the first lock because of their fenders and also lost one so had to stop and fish it out.  Made for slow progress but we all got through eventually.

 Locks 1-3 up to Hanbury Junction are the only locks on this section that are original.

Hanbury Junction and back onto the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

We are now back on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal moored above Astwood Locks.  Tomorrow weather permitting we have Stoke Locks, flight of six and possibly Tardebigge flight (30 locks).

This evening we are moored up in Worcester on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal after a very long days boating (8.5 hours) travelling up the River Severn from Gloucester.  We did stop to get water  so the dogs got to stretch their legs etc after 6 hours on the boat.  They were very good!

We left Sharpness on Monday morning after a very relaxing couple of days just walking, watching boats and sitting looking at the sea.  On Monday evening we moored up at Frampton on Severn and took the dogs for a walk through the village.  It was a bit posh there, with some lovely old houses and a village green with ponds and trees and seats where you could just sit and watch the world go by.  Tuesday we moored back at Gloucester Docks and this time I went and looked round the very smart quayside shops.  Bought some shorts for me and even managed to get Graham a new pair of shorts.

Permanent moorings at Sharpness

Bridge Keepers cottage

Most of the swing bridges on the Gloucester Sharpness Canal have a cottage where the Bridge Keeper used to live.  I think they have mostly been sold off now though.

A selection of the many varied boats seen on the Gloucester Sharpness Canal!

 Including this rowing boat which according to its flag was part of the Queen's Jubilee Flotilla!

The Church at Frampton on Severn

Yesterday evening we went to watch a ship, the 'Arklow Fortune' leaving Sharpness Docks to begin its journey to Liverpool with a load of scrap metal.  We looked it up on the internet and the ship was scheduled to depart at 7:30, so we had an early(ish) dinner and took a stroll down to the docks.

When we arrived the tide was still fairly low so we were unsure whether we had the right times, but just before 7:30 there was activity round the ship and C&RT people began to appear to open/close lock gates.  At 7:30 she cast off her ropes and made her way to the lock area!  All the water you can see is part of the gigantic sea lock!  We reckon it is as big as a football field (at least).  

Arklow Fortune in the lock

Even a ship has to be secured with a bow and stern line in a lock!

The lock keeper opened the paddles to lower the water in the dock to sea level so that the gates could be opened.  It took almost an hour for the lock to drain and the gates open.

The lock at Sharpness emptying!

Looking across the estuary while waiting for the lock to empty

At about 8:40 (pm) Arklow Fortune cleared the lockand set sail for Liverpool!

Coming through the lock gates

And so off into the sunset!