Beauty and the Beast and Michelin Man

Puzzled? Let me explain ......

The Beauty was a Kingfisher, only one sadly and typically camera shy. The Beast,  a mink (also camera shy) below Somerton Deep Lock and the Michelin Man? That was me - all wrapped up in 6 layers against the cold and the sneaky, chilly wind.

The above paragraph points to the fact that we moved yesterday on a dull and cold day. We called in at Aynho Wharf for water but refused to use the £2/cassette elsan facility. Then we were on new territory for this year.

Aynho Wharf BridgeLooking back at Aynho Bridge (the wharf is beyond it)

We encountered our first closed lift bridge and John went to puzzle out the new way of unlocking the bridge. Thankfully we had been warned by fellow narrowboater Maffi, who put complete instructions on his blog a while ago!

Ahead of us was Somerton Deep Lock, one of the deepest on the system. As we approached, I was remembering Bath Deep Lock (19 feet 5 inches on the Kennet and Avon) and Tuel Lane Lock (Rochdale Canal lock 1) . The latter is now king of the deep locks at just 19 feet 8 inches! Somerton is just a "baby" in comparison, measuring a mere 12 feet.

Somerton Deep Lock

This section of the Oxford Canal is absolutely fabulous. The countryside is beautiful, even on a dull day. It is so quiet; we encountered just three moving narrowboats. Approaching Heyford Common Lock we saw multiple beasts who found us fascinating and raced to beat us to the lock. John had a chat with them and they like him so much they escorted us through the attractive bridge and saw us off their territory!

cattle at Somerton

Our final lock of the day was very awkward to exit. Another narrowboat arrived as we left and you can see the angle he had to take to enter Allen's Lock as I took this.

Allen's Lock

The churches around here were all built on hillocks and Upper Heyford church was visible through the trees just after the lock. It is beside a lovely old tithe barn. The horses were very unobliging - they moved from the foreground to the top of the hill as I started taking shots!

Upper Heyford

One more closed lift bridge and we approached Lower Heyford. We stopped here as there is a train station alongside the Wharf Bridge (206). We had a date in Oxford to get to in the evening. It was really great to be greeted by Chris and Joy from our neighbouring narrowboat, friends of a friend. Thanks for the cuppa and a chat!

Moored at Lower Heyford - do you like our posh mooring chimney?

moored

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