Oxford Canal

We cruised home from the IWA National Festival at Beale Park along the River Thames and north along the Oxford Canal. It was a lovely cruise and we took lots of photos as we went. At long last I've sorted through the photos and the information and added these to our website. You can now see these here: > Route Information > Photo Gallery Follow the arrows in the right margin of the photos for a virtual cruise along the Oxford Canal, or the other canals featured in the photo galleries.

Posted on Monday, 13 December 2010 at 14:28        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Northern Oxford , Oxford , Southern Oxford

Waiting for Sunshine

We’re heading back to Birmingham, filming the Oxford Canal as we head northwards, when the weather permits. Sunshine is forecast for tomorrow so we are hoping to make it to Banbury where we can exchange crews at the station. Andrew and Megan can head back north and Susan can join us for the next leg of the cruise. And we can visit the shops for more supplies.

Posted on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 at 22:08        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Oxford

Meeting Bloggers

Getting ready to leave this morning we were passed by bloggers Chas and Anne on Moore2Life as they headed into Banbury. I walked into Banbury and was rewarded with the opportunity to meet Bones, aboard her boat Bones. It was great to meet another blogger and have the opportunity to chat, however briefly.
We’re heading into Thrupp tomorrow, then onto the Thames on Sunday as we head to Beale Park where we have a stand at the IWA exhibition for the bank holiday weekend.

Posted on Friday, 20 August 2010 at 21:39        Comments (2) 
Category(s): Bloggers , Oxford

Oxford Canal’s new Bridge 189

Bridge 189 on the Oxford Canal has been missing for several years, awaiting repairs. The abutments have recently been repaired and today was the day for lifting the new bridge into place. The crowds gathered from the waiting boats - note the pampered pooch sitting on its owners chair. The crane arrived and lifted the deck into place first and the fit was checked. It was lifted out again for minor adjustment, then replaced.
Aligning the teeth at the pivot was a little tricky but lots of hands soon made light work of the task and the platform was in place and correctly aligned. The first of the balance beams was lifted into place and large bolts used to fasten it there. The workboat was used as a working platform to access the bolts underneath to make sure they were tight. Suddenly it was starting to look like a proper bridge.
Then the second was lifted into place and bolted into position and it was time to test the balance. The beams had deliberately been manufactured a little too long and the chainsaw was used to make the final adjustments. The press were getting bored by then so two proud craftsmen who had made the bridge stood for photos and answered their questions. They fitted the handrails and finished their work after a short lunch break.
We talk about "hanging" lock gates but what’s the correct term for fitting a bridge? Any suggestions?

Posted on Thursday, 19 August 2010 at 22:02        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Oxford

Sunrise

Travelling south along the Oxford Canal this morning we reached Hardwick Lock as we approached Banbury. A lady, from Sunrise queuing below the lock had come up to help and recognised our boat as she was a blog reader. She introduced herself as Carol, from Norfolk, with Mark holding the boat below. She had found our blog from reading Sue’s No Problem Blog.
Thanks for introducing yourself, it’s always nice to meet blog readers in person, however briefly.

Posted on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 at 21:47        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Blog Readers , Oxford

Hawkesbury Junction

Continuing northwards along the Oxford Canal we were watching for anything interesting to film for our DVD as it’s difficult to make the great countryside look interesting in our DVDs. The sunshine helps make everything look good, particularly as we are filming northwards so it keeps the sun generally behind the camera. We reached Hawkesbury Junction and, after passing through the stop lock, took our boat half way under the bridge, to complete a chapter in the DVD, then reversed back through the stop lock.
That caused a little confusion, particularly with one boater who didn’t believe you could do locks backwards so tried to ignore us. We were soon back on the visitor moorings around the curve on the Oxford Canal. Tomorrow we’ll be heading through the stop lock again, then north to Marston Junction before heading along the Ashby Canal to see how far we get towards the current limit of navigation before the restoration work starts.

Posted on Wednesday, 16 June 2010 at 19:43        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Coventry , Northern Oxford , Oxford

We had a swan for tea

Heading south this morning we reached Braunston Turn where we kept to the left towards Norton Junction. After winding in the marina entrance we filled up with water before heading slowly back north as we filmed. The forecasted sunshine didn’t come, but at least it remained dry for the whole day, if a little chilly in the shady sections.
We descended the paired locks at Hillmorton as we headed into Rugby. Moored near the shops we were able to top up our supplies easily. Tomorrow we will be heading to Hawkesbury Junction, and possibly a little further. While moored for tea we had a visitor who came surprisingly far inside the kitchen while Susan fed it with bread.

Posted on Tuesday, 15 June 2010 at 20:40        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford

Warwickshire Ring DVDs released

Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Warwickshire Ring, clockwise from Braunston Turn. A short, lock-free section takes us from Braunston Turn to Napton Junction where we turn right onto the Grand Union Canal. We descend through 23 broad locks to the lowest pound of our journey through Leamington Spa and Warwick before climbing through two more to reach the Saltisford Arm. Our climb continues with the mighty Hatton Flight and the Knowle Locks to reach the highest pound of our journey. We pass around the centre of Birmingham and along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal to Fazeley Junction with the Coventry Canal which we follow all the way into Coventry.

The Oxford Canal, with the paired locks at Hillmorton, completes our circuit of the Warwickshire Ring. These are 1 hour DVDs retailing at £12.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £7.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun). There’s also a Combined version at £19.90, with both Popular and Bowcam in one box saving £1 on the separate prices (and at least 75p postage). They are in stock now, just waiting for you to order them, or any from our great range of canal DVDs.

Posted on Thursday, 3 June 2010 at 21:09        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Birmingham Section , Coventry , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Saltisford Arm , Warwickshire Ring

Warwickshire Ring DVD

Our Warwickshire Ring DVDs are ready and we’ll have them on sale at Crick. They are available in our usual Popular (£12.95), Bowcam (£7.95) and Combined (£19.90) formats. The DVD follows a cruise clockwise around the ring from Braunston Turn, including visits to the Saltisford Arm and to Coventry. They will be available mail order as soon as I get a quiet moment to add them to our website. In the meantime we look forward to meeting our customers and friends at the Crick Boat show over the Bank Holiday weekend. Come and see us in the Kingfisher Marquee, stand KF127.

Posted on Thursday, 27 May 2010 at 21:48        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Birmingham Section , Coventry , Festivals and Shows , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Saltisford Arm , Warwickshire Ring

Bloggers Surprise

We continued south today, climbing the three paired locks at Hillmorton.  The locks were numbered from 2 to 7 which surprised me at first, until I remembered the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction which must be number 1.

Then onwards again to reach Braunston Turn where we meet the Grand Union Canal from London to join the combined stretch to Napton Junction.  Are we travelling South on the Oxford Canal or North on the Grand Union Canal?

There were lots of boats on the combined stretch and I was inside checking the maps to see how far we were going to get today when I glanced out of the front.

Passing us already was Derwent6, crewed by bloggers Del and Al. Not remembers their names on the spur of the moment I stuck my head quickly out of the front of the boat and shouted "Hello, fellow bloggers".  Del looked very surprised for a moment but quickly checked the name of our boat and greeted us too.

He grabbed his camera and took a shot of us disappearing in the distance.  I did likewise, and was able to retrieve one from our Bowcam showing them approaching.

I hope we get to exchange more than a few words next time we meet.

We’re moored at Napton Junction, hoping to get down most of the broad locks on the Grand Union tomorrow, then up Hatton on Saturday.  Any visitors to help with the broad locks will be most welcome to share the work.

Posted on Thursday, 4 June 2009 at 21:36        Comments (2) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Bloggers , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Warwickshire Ring

We've been to Coventry

There was no blog yesterday as there was no mobile signal worth having – so a double issue today.

Susan joined us at Fazeley Junction where we filled up with water, or at least we put a little into the tank as is was a slow tap with not much flow and we gave up waiting.

We had two attempts to head under the bridge onto the Coventry Canal as a boat appeared the first time we tried.

The first two locks on the Coventry Canal were at Glascote and, like all those on the Coventry, they are quick enough to empty but take ages to fill.

Then on to the 11 locks at Atherstone and it felt like we were waiting all day for them to fill.  A brief pause in one of the longer pounds gave us time for shopping and filming in the town.

We eventually stopped a little south of Atherstone for a quiet night, then headed on, passing Hartshill first thing this morning.

With no locks this morning it was comparatively lazy.  We just followed the twists and turns of the canal to Hawkesbury Junction, then continued straight on to reach Coventry Basin.

We like to make sure that our DVDs cover the branches so we needed to cruise to Coventry Basin.  With the Bowcam DVDs we can’t just cheat and visit Coventry later by car to film the basin separately, but we need to cruise there ourselves.

Then a quick cruise back to Hawkesbury Junction to move onto the Oxford Canal.  There’s a stop lock there, where the canals are just a few inches different in levels.  Some say this was to stop the later canal stealing water from the earlier one, while others say it was simply a miscalculation and the canals were intended to be at the same level.

We’re moored at Ansty, hoping to pass Braunston tomorrow and be well north on the Grand Union towards Birmingham on Friday.

Posted on Wednesday, 3 June 2009 at 21:28        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Coventry , Oxford , Warwickshire Ring

Taylors of Fenny

Our boat was built by Ian Taylor at Fenny Marina and we started our maiden voyage to Oxford on Good Friday 2007.

Ian did most of the work himself, with help from Ron and Barry.

The good news is that from tomorrow, 1st July, Ian takes over the business at Fenny Compton and will be trading as Taylors of Fenny bringing over 25 years experience to the business.

Ian will be offering a comprehensive range of services for narrowboats including, electrical service and repairs, gas service and repairs, plumbing, repainting, engine servicing, heater servicing and much, much more.

He can also supply Epifanes paints and varnishes, Vetus marine diesels and equipment, Webasto diesel heating and Kuranda marine equipment.

I’m sure he will be very successful.

Posted on Monday, 30 June 2008 at 21:54        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Build our Boat , Southern Oxford

Ships that pass in the day

I was happily in the middle of my daydream when the helmsman of a boat coming the other way through the bridge signalled to slow down.

My first reaction was that this was a helpful signal indicating there was, perhaps, another boat following.

Then the voice, that seemed rather familiar, saying “it’s Paul, isn’t it?”

“Yes” I said, “It’s Chris isn’t it” as I realised who was coming the other way.

Chris is the man behind Video Active, the other organisation making Canal DVDs and I’ve heard his voice on sound-tracks of their DVDs.

He was cruising with Angela on their boat, Morgan Le Fey, having been filming for one of their DVDs.

We stopped for a quick chat and photo of the boats together, and of Chris trying to get the best photo of them together.  I hope we have time for a proper chat next time we meet.

Posted on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 at 20:22        Comments (1) 
Category(s): Northern Oxford

Northwards through Napton

We’re on the move again, heading north along the Oxford Canal.  Tonight we’re moored just north of Braunston.

We went to collect the boat yesterday morning, knowing there was still a little work to complete before we could leave – and that the fitting of the final bank of batteries would be left to a later date as the batteries were still on order.

During the morning we heard that the batteries had just arrived at Stevenage to a quick dash there and back enabled us to start this final work around 17:00 and by 22:00 we were completely finished – in all ways.

This morning we had a leisurely start and headed northwards past the windmill at Napton – half visible in the photograph – then past Napton and Braunston Junctions to the Northern Oxford Canal where we are moored for the night.

Posted on Saturday, 5 May 2007 at 20:20        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Southern Oxford

Going Slowly

We’re beginning to relax and move out of what Sue on No Problem calls “Motorway Mode”.

Susan and I are heading northwards after dropping Christine, Andrew and Megan at Oxford to catch trains to Nailsea and Manchester.

We’re moored between Lower Heyford and Upper Heyford and it quiet and peaceful.  Just the other side of the towpath is the River Cherwell which shares its course with the canal from time to time.

Tomorrow were off to Banbury to pick up Christine from the station.

Posted on Tuesday, 10 April 2007 at 15:27        Comments (1) 
Category(s): Southern Oxford

Easter Sunday Geocaching

Yesterday, Susan wanted to see if we could find any of the geocaches positioned along the canal. You can find these on the internet with clues, often including an OS Grid Reference and then you have to search out the container which is hidden so those not in the know can’t find it.

Inside there is often something interesting and a list you can add your name to.

Here’s Andrew, Susan and Christine adding their name to the list in the one we found yesterday.

 

Then, this morning, Easter Sunday, we saw a father on the towpath giving his son instructions on using a hand held GPS receiver.  They didn’t look like they were going far and this was rather too early on a Sunday morning to be going for a walk.

A quick shout from his Dad hinted at what was going on.

Then we look at the foot of the next tree. It’s hardly visible in the photograph but there was an object wrapped in silver foil and looking just like an Easter Egg.

Does hunting for Easter Eggs with a GPS count as Geocaching?

Then we continued on through Pigeon Lock where we chatted to several people and a very nice family, leaving someone clutching a business card and keen to check the blog when they got home.  I do hope they leave their names in a comment.
 

On towards Oxford.  Progress is very slow as there seem to be miles and miles of moored boats to slow down for.

Posted on Sunday, 8 April 2007 at 14:35        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Southern Oxford

South to Upper Heyford

A leisurely start today, then on through Banbury to Upper Heyford.

I was lovely to cruise slowly past the line of moored boats in Banbury in silent electric mode and watch all the heads turn.

Then at the lock in Banbury a lady waiting to bring a boat up the lock looked familiar.  I was only as we were leaving I though it must be something to do with the Cotswold Canals Trust and I asked her.

Yes, she said, and she had not only seen the Cotswold Canals DVD but had sold several.  Then I pointed to the name panel on the boat and she spotted it was the same as on the DVDs.  I still can’t remember her name – so if you are reading this then please leave me a comment or send me an email.

A few little niggles are starting to appear with the boat, but nothing to worry about.  The central heating has stopped working which is probably related to the fact that the header tank needed topping up with 2 pints of water every 5 minutes and then we found water dripping down the back of the electric cupboard at the stern.  We’ve stopped adding water and we can manage without central heating for a few days.

South to Oxford tomorrow.

Posted on Saturday, 7 April 2007 at 20:08        Comments (2) 
Category(s): Southern Oxford

Maiden Voyage

We finally made it to our maiden voyage.  Christine, Susan and I were off to Fenny Compton again.

First was an end to end tour of the boat to check everything was alright and for Ian to demonstrate how things worked. Then we loaded everything on board and starting stowing things away in the cupboards.

I made a quick trip to Banbury to collect Andrew and Megan from the station and returned to the boat.

Then the maiden voyage.  A cruise northwards to the winding hole at the Wharf Inn with Andy and Ian showed the diesel was still working.

Then we headed back south under electric power to drop Andy and Ian off at the marina and continue on our own.

We are trying with diesel power on the longer stretches to propel the boat and charge the batteries, then electric power in and around the locks.

Everyone commented on how new the boat looked and most were puzzled by the lack of engine noise.

We started to relax and took a few pictures, including the classic one at Cropredy where our hull was first put onto the water on 2 October 2006.

Posted on Friday, 6 April 2007 at 21:04        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Build our Boat , Southern Oxford