Country: England
Distance travelled:
Weather: Overcast all morning but getting clearer in the afternoon

This morning can only be described as a very slow start. By the time we were all out of bed and ready to get moving, several other boats had docked at both the water access points so we had to wait. Not that we were in a rush and we certainly weren’t going to try for any fancy maneuvering to get to the front tap so we waited patiently until we could pull the boat into place and hook up our hose. With Mark, Allister and myself all on ropes and Marion minding the tiller it was surprisingly easy to pull Conquerer the 20 meters or so required.

Marion decided today that she would have a go at steering. It seemed like a good time to attempt it as there was no locks for quite a distance. We have reached what is referred to as the summit of the Oxford Canal, a stretch of about 11 miles or nearly 18km of water, so there are no locks until we start heading down again. Unfortunately what we didn’t realize is that this part is incredibly serpentine with the canal often looping back upon itself in sharp hook turns. Apparently the designer, James Brindley, preferred not to put in a lock if he could avoid it which made the Oxford Canal almost redundant as soon as the straighter, and therefore faster, Grand Union Canal was built some 15 or 20 years later.

After lunch, Marion surrendered the tiller to Allister, and with Mark advising as he had been doing for Marion, we set off again. I kept throwing an extra bit of complexity into the mix as this part of the canal abounds with geocache sites so I was on and off Conquerer regularly. Not a difficult thing to do if Mark steers close to the bank. My enthusiasm damped a bit when I put my hand on a stinging nettle whilst searching and then the boat got too far ahead for me to easily catch up. I still managed to bag a few caches though and I know there is one very nearby where we are moored which I’ll try to find in the morning.

We are moored up at a settlement called Marston Doles. The first of the nine Napton Locks is just around the corner ready for our morning exercise and there is a water tap so we can fill up before we go. We are told it is advisable to fill the fresh water tank whenever you get a chance, advice Mark and I have already found useful when in the van. You never know where the next tap is going to be.

I must sit down with the various canal maps we have and try to work out which way we will head next. We need to buy some food in case we don’t make it to a pub tonight and when we reach Braunston Junction we need to decide whether to stick with the Oxford Canal or travel on up the Grand Union. We will also need a turning point which can take a 60′ boat some time on Wednesday so we can start heading back south to Twyford Wharf.