Thursday 15th
August 2019
Today was a nice day with fine open views. There was a succession of
well-spaced locks, but most of the characteristic, wooden lift bridges along
this section are left open, which is just as well, there are so many of them
and have been so many more that have now been removed but the bridge narrows
remain in place.
Manor Farm, at Upper Heyford, was situated just next to the canal. It
still retains a working tithe barn within the farm buildings.
All the locks were busy but luckily, in the opposite direction. There
was a large party of Australians belonging to various cricket clubs doing a
tour of Britain taking part in an over-60’s tournament. 72 people in total on
board 11 Oxfordshire Narrowboats. At Somerton Deep Lock, 12’ deep, there were 8
boats all in a queue to descend, while we were the only boat ascending. Six of
these boats belonged to the Aussies and a woman off a boat caught in the middle
of them was complaining about them, all over the canal and not understanding
the locks. When they went to lift the paddles with us in the lock she told
them, in absolutely no uncertain terms, that the boat in the lock was in charge
and they should not open anything until told. Some people should maybe just
pull over and have a cup of tea!!
Somerton Deep Lock
The railway and the River Cherwell had been closely following the
canal. At Aynho there is a rail junction with two sets of tracks joining each
other but crossing over each other in turn, making for a complex piece of
track. Aynho Weir Lock is another odd shaped lock with a rise of just 12”,
where the river crosses over the canal. The narrow Nell’s Bridge now forms a
part of a newer road bridge but is retained within the road bridge and is said
to be one of the oldest bridges on the canal.
After passing under the M40 we stopped at a canal-side farm shop.
Opened as a smallholding 12 years ago, it is now a thriving business including
a camping and caravan site. There now followed a stretch that included canal,
river, railway and motorway, all within a small distance of each other.
Although the motorway largely passes in deep cuttings, there was still a steady
drone of noise.
At Kings Sutton Lock there is a pretty lock cottage on one side and on
the other, a set of stable buildings. These look as though they were in the
process of being renovated and will make an enviable residence when completed.
Stables at Kings Sutton Lock
We moored before Banbury, far enough away from the motorway for it not
to intrude. A nice rural mooring with a large field opposite, very popular with
dog walkers out from Banbury and the surrounding villages.
Weather: Warm and sunny.
Day Total: 7 locks; 11 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 1 Lift
Bridge; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 6.5
Overall Total: 683 locks; 1199 miles; 49 tunnels; 57 Swing Bridges; 10
Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 756.9hrs
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