We wander back up the Oxford Canal towards Braunston

Nr Kirklington to Lower Heyford, Oxford Canal, 3 miles 2 locks

It rained all morning, and I really thought we would not be on the move today, but by late lunch time the pattering stopped on the roof and the sun poked it’s head out from behind the clouds, so we pulled the pins on this delightful spot overlooking the cherwell in the most peaceful surroundings imaginable.

A couple of locks to do today.. the second one gave us a bit of grief.. the bottom gates wouldn't shut completely, so we opened the top paddles and sure enough it pushed the gate shut.  Something was jammed in there though, it was leaking quite badly as the lock was filling.  It is always in this situation you wonder if you should empty the lock and free whatever is stuck in the gate or continue filling it up hoping that more water is coming in from the top than is leaking from the bottom if you see what I mean.  Well only just, and No Problem was out.  Moore2Life was behind us, so we emptied the lock again hoping that whatever was stuck around the bottom gate would be flushed away.  Yep, Chas and Ann’s narrowboat entered the lock and we had no trouble this time shutting the bottom gate.  Here exiting the lock….

Ann and I duly dropped off the Canal Traveller bug in the cache close by to one of the locks.. I explained about this in yesterdays blog if you don’t know what I am talking about, and then it was onward to a mooring close to tons of wood that had been felled near the railway.. it’s good for us that trains are late when there are leaves on the track!  ‘Tis a shame though to see so many good trees felled and just dumped on the ground

So the roof is full again of quality logs.  Should keep us nice and warm all the way back to Braunston and further if those locks are open when we get there.  March 17th they are suppose to be open I think, but some say it will be later.  We will phone ahead to friends in Braunston Marina for an update.

I saw this morning that British Waterways are wanting 50 new marinas to provide 11,000 moorings an interesting read that from the Financial Times.  It’s scary really to think that all these moorings are needed..