Passing pubs

Friday, 01 October 2010 20:03

Passing pubs, marinas, boats and locks

Well, there was the Two Boats and Cuttle Inn at Long Itchington to start with:

To be frank, it was quite easy passing the pubs - they were both closed. After all we were leaving at 9 am. The first three of the Stockton Locks are each about a quarter of a mile apart, and the first two went swimmingly. However, then Carolyn came back with bad news. There was a narrowboat in the next lock - no problem with that - but they had been told by some British Waterways operatives that they would have to wait at least half an hour (40 minutes actually) because they had to refill 4 pounds that had been emptied overnight. After about half an hour they moved to the next lock, but we waited until the flight was ready. Here we both are, with the view up the flight.

BW's Health and Safety had specified that there should be 3 bollards installed in every lock - it would be helpful if there were bollards on the lock landing too, for waiting boats. But there are six bollards in each lock (3 each side) so why do they need chains as well. BW have been complaining in their latest Boaters Update that boaters have been dropping paddles and slamming gates which causes expensive damage at a time when they are short of cash. Well, BW, these chains cause expensive damage to our paintwork and we are short of cash. There seems no need for them; please don't tell us to use fenders - that's a sure way to lose them or become a heath and safety issue. Please remove them!

Finally, we came to Stockton Top Lock. The wet weather we had been promised had not come to much thankfully, so Geoff and Gill's fears of a Noah-like deluge were not realised.

No, Geoff isn't having a Brain Storm. Usually we both went out through one gate - this time Geoff was getting on, so it made sense for him to close Epiphany's gate, cross to the other side, open the gate for Petroc, close the gate and step on the stern. Easy!

Before long there was another pub - with barrels on the roof. Now there's an idea! Not Two Boats but One this time:

 We passed lots of boats, but none quite like this camouflaged one:

And another beautifully flower-bedecked pub, The Blue Lias:

Finally, more boats. There must be more boats in the marinas in this square mile than on any other on the rest of the system. At least most of them were in the 3 marinas; it must be a nightmare when they all come out at once (as if!).

The three marinas are Ventnor, Calcutt and Wigram Turns, respectively. Calcutt Marina's bridge is rather fine, don't you think?

Oh - there were more locks too - the Calcutt flight of 3. Just in case there are any idiotsnovices around, there is a reminder about paddles:

I must say a BIG THANK YOU to Geoff and Carolyn for all their hard work on the locks - and to Petroc and Gill: it was great sharing. Thanks again!

When we thought about where to moor, we needed somewhere near a road bridge and as Petroc was planning to go to Braunston, Nimrod Bridge seemed the ideal choice. Is it on the Grand Union or the Oxford Canal? Yes! Originally built as part of the Grand Junction Canal, it was owned by the Oxford Canal, but our Nicholson says it is the Grand Union Canal. I wonder if that's right!

But if you're on the South Oxford Canal and thought you had missed us, well you're only half right. I'll explain tomorrow.

Grand Union Canal: Long Itchington to Nimrod Bridge

4hours 41 minutes, 4.85 miles, 13 locks