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  Turns out though that the website was out of date and the pub had changed hands recently.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.