2nd - 11th June

We have passed a much quieter week than the previous two, if only because Jean‘s voice took a while to recover from the wretched cold we’ve both suffered…. Both fully restored to health now, however.

Jill and Shadow prepare to cast off

 As we were thankfully mooring up on the Oxford Canal after our adventures on the river, we were astounded to meet Jill and her dog Shadow, just back from Australia ( Jill, not Shadow!) who had come for a couple of days on Knot-So-Fast, which was moored just two boats away from us. A happy coincidence – if we’d arrived an hour later, she’d have moved on.

We spent a lazy couple of days near Oxford, recovering from our exertions, and taking advantage of a welcome sunny break to catch up on some washing, before moving on to Thrupp,

Thrupp

and then to Lower Heyford. A lovely mellow sandstone village, it also has the benefit of a railway station right next to the canal, enabling us to retrieve the car, which for various reasons (mainly involving the cat) we have kept near us as we travelled to and from London. We are abandoning it this week though, and will return to being water gypsies. Jean went up to York to see Lizzie and James at the weekend, 

Joseph, Samuel and Richard open a lock gate

and on Sunday we welcomed Jenny, Richard, Joseph and Samuel, plus Rich’s mum Edna, who joined us for a short trip between Heyford and Somerton.

The Oxford canal seems incredibly narrow, especially the bridges, after the grandeur of the Thames,  but it has been very relaxing to potter along gently, enjoying the beautiful countryside, and some lovely weather as a bonus.

Squeezing through a narrow bridge hole

We're also much less worried about Benny falling in - on the river he could easily have been swept away by the current, whereas on the canal he would be wet and cross,  but much more easily retrieved!

We're not the only cat owners
 on the canal

Benny enjoying some freedom

After successfully negotiating Somerton Deep Lock (12ft deep, with a massively tall bottom gate) 

Somerton Deep Lock

we continued to Banbury, where we’ve had a few days enjoying the bustle of town life, and stocking up with essentials at the local shops. A lock beyond Banbury has been closed for repair, but now we’re poised to move on. 

We meet all sorts of boaters

  Next week should see us reach the Leicester Section of the Grand Union, and from there we shall once again be doing some river cruising, first on the Soar, then the Trent, as we head north towards Leeds and the Pennines, our goal for this summer.