Last Day to Aynho

We finished this year's summer expedition at Aynho.

Total distance is 9 miles, 2¾ furlongs and 5 locks
Moored at Aynho Bridge.

Kirtlington

Here is the sign at Thrupp telling passers by on the busy road adjacent that this is the Oxford canal. A pity the hedge has grown since it was put here.

We bought ice creams from Annie's Tea Room at Thrupp then passed on through Shipton Wier lock

There's room for about three boats where we stopped at Kirtlington quarry. Although the edge is rather broken concrete the setting is very quiet.

Total distance is 6 miles, 1¼ furlongs and 4 locks
Moored at Kirtlington quarry.

Kidlington

Much of the crew spent a lot of today dealing with chores on land (fetching GCSE exam results, delivering Hannah back home), so we moved only a short distance.

Total distance is 3 miles, 7½ furlongs and 3 locks
Moored at Kidlington

Aristotle Bridge

Another really full day. We to set off promptly today as we needed to be in Oxford this evening to pick up the car and collect exam results. On-board systems failure made for a change of plan. The toilet clogged just after setting off. After about 20 minutes poking and banging the pipes, I decided we needed a new pipe.

This is the pipe originally installed in 2008.
I took the bike back to Tadpole Bridge, picked the car up and after telephone enquiries with Tooleys boatyard in Banbury made my way to Lee San in Fenny Crompton where I purchased a new length of pipe. Problem solved, not a moment too soon for the crew.
We took the Duke's Cut to rejoin the Oxford canal.

I found a mooring at Aristotle Bridge.

Total distance is 19 miles, ¾ furlongs and 6 locks
Moored at Aristotle Bridge, Oxford canal.

Leaving Letchlade

Having made it all this way we turned around this morning after buying supplies in town and headed downstream.

 Letchlade church in the morning

We stopped again for the night at Tadpole Bridge, for access to the car which we had left here one our way up the Thames.

Total distance is 10 miles and 5 locks.
Moored at Tadpole Bridge.

Letchlade

A somewhat easier day to near the head of navigation of the Thames for powered craft (you can actually get about a mile further to the junction of the former Cotswold canal). Lots of pillboxes to be seen as the Thames was one of the WWII 'stop lines' for defence in case of invasion. We passed about dozen swimmers going the other way. Reading the sign on the accompanying boat, they were apparently on holiday. We were joined aboard by Hannah.
Fish and chip supper for all from Marion's Plaice in town.

Total distance is 10 miles and 5 locks
Moored at Letchlade

Tadpole Bridge

After a reasonably early start, we headed North on the Thames, passing Port Meadow as we left Oxford. We found a wild mooring after failing to find a suitable spot near the bridge, now tied to a tree by a steep river bank. We passed many beautifully kept Thames locks which i completely forgot to photograph.

Total distance is 20 miles, 7¼ furlongs and 7 locks.

Summer Holiday

We joined the boat at Oxford, near the Plough at Wolvercote, it having been moved there by my sister and her other half on their trip from Banbury. We motored down the Oxford canal, past the bottoms of the gardens of North Oxford and Jericho.

Once on the river we turned downstream, through Osney lock, encountering pirates in canoes, one of whom immediately capsized in front of us and narrowly avoided being crushed between Syncopation and another moored narrowboat as the wind carried us toward the bank.

Finding a mooring opposite Christ Church meadow we settled in for the night.

Total distance is 3 miles, 5¼ furlongs and 2 locks

Driverless

Seen today. The TRL are still trialling driverless vehicles at North Greenwich.

This one emerged from the Continental Hotel compound, pursued by two minders on bicycles.