South Oxford Canal Festivals

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 16:58

We have moved from one festival site to another

Cropredy is well known for the Fairport Convention Festival in August, but Banbury, just down the cut has its own Folk Festival. As fortune would have it we planned to be in Banbury over this weekend - so, on a beautiful sunny day, we left Cropredy.

I am rather tired after a very busy day yesterday, culminating in a meal in the Red Lion at Cropredy. So after we reversed back to the wharf for the facilities I tried to take it easy!

Epiphany at the wharf (excuse the washing!)

The South Oxford has been busy with narrowboats travelling north for the last couple of days. Are they escaping from Banbury or just getting off the canal before the stoppages? This section down to Banbury has some lovely countryside views and picturesque locks.

Slat Mill Lock (26) was set for us and I had no problem steering Epiphany into the lock despite the sneaky wind that was whipping across the valley. On our walks above the canal from Great Bourton towards Little Bourton, Slat Mill Lock is visible down in the valley across the fields.

Bourton Lock (27) was bathed in sunshine

There was a narrowboat coming up Hardwick Lock (28) and it was here that I realised that my enthusiasm had outlived my strength. I have still a way to recover from my spell in hospital. From here on John was helmsman of the day and single handed through this and the next lock.

Hardwick Lock( 28)

The narrowboat waiting below had a cat aboard. Imagine my surprise when they brought it up to the lock to watch as we were helped down the lock by its owner! The cat is trained to a lead and this was attached to the bench.

Boat cat watches us descend. How blue was the sky, down in the lock!

We were now on the last stretch to Banbury; this section is very familiar from the times we have passed it by car. This is the view from the canal!

Road beside canal

There were the usual narrowboats moored around Holman Bridge which carrries the Banbury by-pass; from here it is a short walk  to Tesco on the roundabout. Some of these narrowboats are "long stayers" and some are "just visiting"!

Passing Grimsbury Wharf, we entered the section beside Spiceball Country Park - again more permanent moorings, and later 48H or 14D moorings (depending on what time of year it is).

We called in at Sovereign Wharf for diesel as "Dusty" (the fuel boat) is further south and we will not meet him for a while. Allegedly, this wharf is rather insistent that it will only pump out waste tanks if chemicals are used in the toilet. Diesel today was 70 pence/litre before propulsion tax.

Sovereign Wharf

The Wharf has off line moorings and just beyond them is Tom Rolt Bridge. This signifies to us that we have reached the centre of Banbury; time to start hoping there is a convenient mooring.

We have things to do here over the next few days. I have a hospital clinic to go to and John has an appointment with Tooley's Boatyard to sort out a few things, but more of this later.

South Oxford Canal, Cropredy to Banbury
2 hours 38 minutes, 4.09 miles, 3 locks