The stretch to Fenny Compton

Sorry that this wasn't published yesterday - Alan dropped the dongle in the cut - we had to wait for it to dry out.

Monday 6th April 2009

So far I haven’t been disturbed by the dawn chorus – until today – when a blackbird positioned itself in the bush just next to our bedroom, and proceeded to shout very loudly about the sun rising.

We headed through Braunston tunnel, and then down toward the town At lock 3 by the Admiral Nelson (where workmen were replacing doors – presumably as part of the re-opening), a family turned a full lock ahead of us, although I was walking down towards them. I’m too much of a wimp to challenge people about this, I’m afraid they’ll tell me to *%$# off. Turning locks because you happen to be the first person there seems to be a rising trend – at Stoke Hammond a boat turned a lock ahead of us although we were approaching – we saw them look back to us, and then turn it anyway – I could take that, it was the fact that the steerer then said, “sorry, about the lock, we didn’t see you coming”. Perhaps there is a lot of water about at the moment, but that isn’t always the case. I can’t see why you can’t wait a few minutes, to me it’s just good manners.

We got the centre line loop welded at Braunston Boat Services, while I went shopping for a few essential supplies in Braunston. Then we carried on through Braunston Puddle Banks. Under one of the bridges a team of workmen were repairing the bridge – which included power washing it. They didn’t seem to think it was necessary to turn the power wash off, or let us know that it was safe for us to continue – eventually we continued on under the bridge, through the gritty spray. At Wigram’s turn we carried on towards Oxford, past the gnarled old pollarded willows. I haven’t been down this section of canal for 40 years – it seems incredibly rural, with sheep and gambolling lambs grazing in the old strip farmed fields – a relic from medieval farming methods.

Napton Windmill

We worked up the Napton Flight, although we, and several other boats, were delayed by a team of workmen who were transferring stones from one boat to another with a grab. I used the time to wash the brick dust off the boat.




In fields by one of the locks there were felled pylons.
Dead pylon












Further up the flight we passed Vesta coming down - beautiful. It was built in 1935 with its original National engine.










After the flight we were on the long summit – Alan hates lock free sections, so I wrapped up warm against the now biting wind, and steered while he went off for a shower. The Southern Oxford is a contour canal, hugging the same level around the hillsides, making it extremely winding. At times you can be facing due East, and a short while later South West.



We got as far as Fenny Compton, and moored as near as possible to the bank given the shallow edges to the canal – and then went to the Wharf Inn, where this interesting wooden object adorns the wall. We guessed what it is - any takers?

Miles: 19.7 Locks: 15
Total distance:75.5 . Total locks: 54 locks.