Continued

Thanks for your comments and Iain, both Sally and I look forward to seeing you somewhere on the canal this year, and how is retirement suiting you, your e-mail would be handy.

Leaving the top of the Napton flight we headed for Claydon, just before the rundown to the famous Village of Cropredy where the Fairpoint Convention folk music festival is held each year. We had a good run as the wind was not too strong along the Oxford top level, except of course in places. As we cruised we saw many Owl Boxes which had been placed to encourage Owls to breed along the canal.

It was along this stretch that we saw two or three young lambs that had fallen into the canal and drowned which was sad to see, but all a part of life I guess. John made a comment about a farmer friend of his who said, (sheep are stupid, and spend all their lives looking to see how they can kill themselves), sad but maybe true. Also now as we had seen some sun and the temperatures starting to rise we noted the primroses, violets and even some daffodils coming into flower (maybe spring is arriving), we also saw our first Swallow which is always a good sign.
It was down here that we spotted many signs against the new HS2 high speed rail planned route, although it caused a titter when we saw this sign alerting us that we were about to pass under the proposed link at the next bridge. "I do hope they are not going to use this one, but who knows, if they run short on money they could use traffic lights".

The sign

The Bridge :)))

 

As we got to the top of the Claydon flight of five locks we pulled over and called the others on the radio to let them know we had arrived. They replied saying that they intended to go down the locks and moor up at the bottom, so we set off again, navigated the locks and finally moored along a nice straight which was sheltered from the wind.

 Through the old Fenny Compton tunnel, now dismantled

A very attractive feeder, for the canal

 

The next day we were off at about 10am bound for Cropredy and its three locks and finally the water point before we moored just outside the village, where we plan to stay for a few days, and here we are. The blog you will be pleased to know is now up to date, and we will take some photo's while we are here for the next posting.

Stop Press; today is the first day since we arrived at the boat that we do not have a fire, five and a half bags of coal later.

 

Only five days to go now Nick and Polly and you will be on your way, looking forward to meeting up.