Through the June sunshine to Banbury

Since the last blog Lower Heyford to Banbury, Oxford Canal, 11 miles 7 locks

I had a busy week, at the end of last week I travelled ‘dan saff’ for a couple of days for meetings, then no longer had I stepped off the train and back, the new owner of Tara arrived to spend a weekend aboard with his friend and move her on up the canal a bit.. so three in convoy for a while, NB Moore2Life travelling with us.  Here we all are passing through Somerton Deep Lock, ah its that classic photo again!…

But of course, the first pic of No Problem passing through it and in the ‘classic pic’!

But before all this, the result of the cooker/gas problems.. all fixed but at a hefty price.. but at least we get to keep our cooker.  I had these awful thoughts that the new cooker would have to be returned to Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, and the logistics as to how to do that were the last thing I wanted to think about.  It was the regulator and the flanges that had become faulty, they were destroyed by the sand blasting that had taken place preceding the painting of No Problem.  The sand blast material had totally penetrated the tails that go to the two cylinders.. when inspected they were full of ‘shot’.

So we are back cooking again, and I must commend Richard of Oxfordshire Narrowboats…

His professional work was very high quality.  I would certainly use him again.  I do admire their narrowboat hire fleet too, the boats are freshly painted and look quality inside.  In fact, while we were there there was not one hireboat in the yard.. all of them were hired out.. now then, that sounds to me like a successful business!.

And, Oh boy, it certainly is nice to do a brew on one’s own boat instead of having to run up and down the towpath with boiled kettles!

On then to Aynho, and some new owners for the wharf part at least.. and what a difference that has made.  Instead of a wharf full of hocus pocus boats moored everywhere, we found a neat and tidy mooring area for gas, diesel and water.. very nice, much much better… On then to the first lock after that, Aynho Weir Lock, another of these triangular type locks.. just enough room for Tara and No Problem side by side.. but only just!..

Tara is being a bully, pushing No Problem over.. she is still being very domineering to her new arrival! ..

Nells bridge next.. I love this one.  We travel on the river between Aynho Weir Lock and Nell Bridge Lock, it’s only about half a mile, but if the river is high then you can’t get under this bridge to get into the lock…

As you can see today, there is no problem!  Ho Hum!

We pushed the pins in short of Banbury by the woodyard this evening.. lots to get here.. need some wood for my bookcases, and for some cupboards.. oh I need a spice rack.. and a bread box.  Could do with a small bathroom cupboard.. oh and some hooks to keep the ladder for the bunk beds from slipping.. better make a list I think before raiding Banbury town!