Back to Marston Doles and the paint pot comes out again

Fenny Compton to Marston Doles, Oxford Canal, 7 miles 0 locks

We had to go to Fenny to wind (turn) as there were no other winding holes so we could end up at the very top of Napton Locks so Jenny and the family could work their way down them at the weekend.

I did think about perhaps meeting them at Fenny, giving them a longer run, but the weather forecast for Sunday says it may be cold with snow, hail and freezing rain…. what a shame for the two days they will be here. Never mind.. Anyway after Mr T dropped off a bit of shopping we pulled the pins.. Oh here is the winding hole with the narrowboat moored in it..

That boat has a permanent mooring by the way.  We were coming from the other direction, and you can see what I mean about trying to turn.  I needed to have the bow of the boat right in the corner by the end of the house, but no chance the bow went alongside the boat!

Took two and half hours to reach Marston Doles, this time with no mishap thank goodness, and we tied up at the top of the locks on a nice bit of hard edge on the 14 day mooring.  The dredger was working hard at the top of the lock…

That barge once full will show just a foot out of the water!  In fact the driver who was using the dredger told me that yesterday he filled it too much and it got stuck on the bottom as it went down the locks to the big field where they are dumping the silt!  I had to smile “But you have dredged that bit!”… he just smiled!

I asked one of the contractors how they knew how far down to dredge.. they dip the depth with sticks “But the driver has the feel of a midwife”… Apparently it’s like riding a horse he said, you just get a feel for it with your hands how far down to go..

The sun came out in the afternoon and so did the paint pot..

Hey look, I even have my very own sign with my cuppa on the top.. but Lucy and Meg are watching my progress as I put on the black bitumen below the rubbing strip.. hoping I would finish quickly I think.. heh, I wonder why!!..

Sorry to hear that I missed seeing Lisa and Pete yesterday when they were in Napton with NB Pickles.. catch you probably in the autumn now you two, and also sorry to miss my good friend Alexander of Cropredy and of Ratchet Windlass fame.. apparently Alex first tried Fenny Compton today, then guessing we might be at Marston Doles came here..

Alex spoke to one of the contractors who said that we had passed through yesterday going to Napton.. Alex either came before we arrived here or didn’t see us tucked round the corner at the top of the locks.. Anyway, silly contractor, yeah sure he saw us yesterday, but we were going in the other direction AWAY from Napton!!!