Tripping to Thrupp

Sunday, 21 November 2010 19:09

Despite the dull day a great cruise

We left Heyford pretty late in the morning. Yesterday was a busy day with a trip to Wolverhampton for the NABO AGM. Wolverhampton Boat Club put on a great spread for lunch (one of the reasons NABO returned there!) and Simon Salem (BW Marketing Manager) had some interesting points about the "New Waterways Trust" that we will all be hearing more about in the next couple of years!

Simon Salem addressing NABO AGM

Some highlights of our trip today included Pigeon Lock. John remarked that the balance beam must have been made for pigeons - it was so low. It is pretty lock with Flight's Mill hiding behind the towpath hedge.

Passing slowly through the moored narrowboats at Enslow Mill, the home of Kingsground, we came to Baker's Lock (40). A passing boater recommended the Rock of Gilbraltar pub - we wondered if he was the owner, he seemed so enthusiastic! Looking back we could see the dishes near the canal and the water level  navigation sign. We were about to enter the River Cherwell; the canal and the river share the navigation here.

The lock and the river below had a lot of diesel floating on the surface. It was a bit smelly as we descended and entered the Cherwell which comes in under Horse Bridge after the lock landing. The level indicator was on amber but the flow was fairly sedate. It was good to open up the throttle, albeit briefly, as we negotiated the Brindley-like bends of the river!

The River Cherwell continues at Shipton Weir Lock, which leads off to the right and back onto the canal. There was a handily-moored narrowboat just before the lock landing and I was grateful that the river was so benign otherwise it could have been fun "hanging around".

Shipton on Cherwell is an isolated, pretty village. The bridge has a stop lock and the church beyond rises above the canal overlooking moorings. We had a lovely weekend here travelling up the South Oxford in October 2008 at the beginning of our continuous cruising lifestyle.

So we came to Thrupp, passing our BSC Examiner Mark on his narrowboat

Thanks Mark!

We hoped to moor for the BW services just by the now electrified lift bridge, but another narrowboat was there and the occupants were showering/bathing as they filled up with water. We pulled up on the opposite side for John to walk across to the elsan. As I waited a narrowboat arrived without a BW key to open the bridge - how many signs did he pass telling him about the new arrangement? I yelled at him to ask John to open the bridge on his way back. This John did letting them through and I took the opportunity to slip through too!

Picking John up we continued, passing Wrens Nest from Heyford and Harnser who were moored on the moorings outside the cottages. Brian suggested we moor outside the Jolly Boatman as all the moorings before the permit moorings were taken. You can just see his hand appearing at the bow doors as he came out to greet us!

We are now moored outside the JB, planning an evening with friends at the Highwayman further down the cut.

South Oxford Canal, Heyford to Bridge 223

4 hours 19 minutes, 7,72 miles, 5 locks