Retirement with No Problem

Banbury to Cropredy, Oxford Canal, 4.5 miles 3 locks

Oh it has been a long day today.. seemingly.  We pulled the pins on Banbury this morning in convoy.  Moore2Life leading the way, with Vic next with NP1 and then me at the back with NP, much to the amusement of the moored boats that were close to us.  One boat was just about to move when he saw us coming, and didn’t pull out in front, just making a comment to me under his breath about “Just my luck to be going just as you lot were”!..

Heh, we let him pass us all at the first lock.. well we were not in a hurry.  Oh and here is the reason why we can’t get in to moor for the Tesco store…

You can see it is sooooooo overgrown.  We used to be able to moor here and walk along a path from the mooring, through a gate onto the road right opposite Tesco.. Not now though, Grrrrrrrrrr

Not long after taking this photo, I tried to take another of a goat no less, I missed that, as one does with digital cameras, and went another 100 yards before I realised my camera case was missing..  I must have knocked overboard my camera case.. I was devistated, I loved that case.. decision made, I called to Annie who was walking and asked her to catch a rope while I went back to try and grab it from the canal.. the boater who got stuck behind us in Banbury confirmed that “Yes we saw a camera case, and Yes it is still floating”..  We moored the boat and went back together along with my fishing landing net and a boat pole.

Got it I did.. had to go over a rickerty bridge and through a flock of geese, but I got it, and it wasn’t long till we caught up with the convoy to do the first lock…

Onward to the next, Bourton Lock.  I got there first.. somehow I jumped the two boats in front locking through and moored up alone.  I went up to get the lock ready for one of them and saw one coming south.. the lock was all but full so filled it up and opened the gate for them.. While waiting for them to lock through I noticed on the far side of the lock some raspberries.. the lock cottage was now empty.. I wondered what happened to the older lady that used to live there, for sure she was not there now with closed curtains in the windows, it was abandoned.  Her garden was always beautiful, but now it was overgrown badly, all the fruit and herbs on the far side of the lock was growing wild.. I picked away at the raspberries, blackcurrents and various herbs including some bay leaves which I will dry out..

I managed to pick enough fruit for a small pie, but in a weeks time there will be an abundance of fruit.. so if you are passing look out for that lot..

Spent about an hour at the lock getting the three boats through.. it was busy, and there were a lot of narrowboats coming south today.

Called in at ‘the services’ at Cropredy, and met an American couple who read the blog over in the States.  They come over here twice a year for a month or so on our canals.. “We get our daily fix from you when in the States”.. Lovely people they were.  Then the heavens opened with a thunderstom right over the top.. we all ran for cover…

Just about to leave when Vic heard his name called “See you tomorrow Vic”.. from a car passing on the bridge.. Must have been Alex!.. For sure we don’t know anyone else in Cropredy!.. See you tomorrow Alex, looking forward to it then!

Just on our way through the lock at Cropredy when Tesco called.. “Just coming now” Says he.. So took the delivery while in the lock!..

Well that was a bit different, and it drew the attention of all the moorers at Cropredy.. I think they were just facinated how we can just moor in a lock and take a Tesco delivery.. magic stuff I bet they thought!

All the curtains are now up, so another job done, although I will need to do a bit of TLC on them later… I need to make them look a bit better.. they are OK for now..

Vic washed NP1 before bringing her up the locks to moor up close to No Problem.. she looks a bit better now.. Jeeeeez what a state she got into under those trees in Banbury.. ha with all the rain today to be honest it wasn’t too long ‘till Vic got her spick and span again.  This weekend I will probably spend some time inside NP1 making her ready for the new owner to take her over.. he has been on holiday in Spain.. should be due back soon I guess, and ready to take his new boat Tara (NP1) onward.