Epiphany arrives in Banbury

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Epiphany arrives in Banbury

Wednesday, 01 October 2008 22:05

11.39 miles, 5hr 49m, locks:7 bridges28, 3.16 lock/mph

We left our lovely mooring just above Mill Lift Bridge, Lower Heyford, with regret but we wanted to push on to Banbury. The weather was sunny again so the incentive to move was there.

Upper Heyford is another typical Oxfordshire village with cottages and thatch. A lovely old Tithe Barn is near the canal and the church peeps over the houses.

Our second lock of the morning - Heyford Common lock (35) has an interesting bridge over the bottom jaws.

The canal bends around towards Somerton and the wharf there with long term moorings.

Somerton Deep lock (34) at 12 foot deep is one of the deepest locks we had been in for a while! The lock cottage there is beautifully looked after as are the gardens surrounding it. It must be a real picture in the spring and summer.

The countryside opens up again and we encountered a section where there is a fair bit of dredging going on, we wondered if we would get through at one point and as it was lunch time there were no workmen around!

Aynho marks the beginning of more virgin territory for us and Epiphany as we have hired from here, traveling down to the Thames - many years ago! We remembered the Wharf, but now it is a private boat yard and small off line mooring business. However the diesel was 78 pence, the cheapest yet but we didn't stop!

Aynho Weir lock is another diamond lock, we "jumped" a boat here as they had prepared the lock and though we could both fit in. They waved us in but it was obvious then that there was no room for them.

The next bit of canal we have been on - the tow path anyway, until Nell Bridge. One of our canal walks when up this way in the past.

John's photo of the Cherwell above the lock was "photo of the month" on Canal World Forum a while ago!

Nell bridge is one of the oldest bridges on the canal and has been left in situ despite the road widening.

The entrance to the lock is very tight and this and the next two locks have very fierce under currents from the bottom paddles, so it pays not to go into the jaws to wait for the lock to empty!

Then follows a series of lift bridges - all up so not a problem. Most were well secured either with padlocks or extra weights.

This one was replaced this year