Below the bridge, not above like last time

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Below the bridge, not above like last time

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 17:58

It was time to move on up the South Oxford Canal. Leaving our quiet mooring at Kidlington Green, we made for the lock just above. It took me a while to get off the mooring as surprisingly we were aground at the stern. The lock was set, as a narrowboat had come down the day before, so John had to be patient at the lock!

Frosty morning at Kidlington

We have had one very cold night on the South Oxford Canal, I wonder if the colder weather forecast will surprise us all? .....

Looking back it looked very pretty

The housing estate above Yarnton Bridge comes right down to the canal and it was through this estate that John threaded his way to Sainsbury's. The road from Yarnton Bridge is the most direct route.

Yarnton Bridge is very low so off came the chimney and satellite dish

There was still some colour around on the trees and despite the housing estate it is a very peaceful stretch.

Bullers Bridge ahead

In some places the house owners have made the canal part of their garden. I liked the snowman - at least it was not real, yet!

Snowman over the fence

Roundham Lock was next - a cautious approach, as when we were here before it was shallow at the bottom on the off side. It is not an easy lock to get into because of this and coupled with the brick "bulges" at gunnel (or is it gunwale?) level, it is a scratchathon waiting to happen. But clever me - I managed it without touching!

I kept back rather than have Epiphany slam into the gate as the water rose over the babbie (the wooden bar below the top gate). A good bit of reverse throttle would stop the forward motion - but I was trying not to do that.

Water enters over the babbie

In full Roundham Lock

Ahead of us a little further on were the Langford Lane narrowboat permit only moorings. They begin amongst light industry and end with some lovely canal cottages. We stopped here for water just on the bend by the bridge. By now it was very gusty and John rescued a friend's chinese hat that was bowling along the towpath.

Langford Lane moorings

Canal cottages

Under Langford Lane Bridge and around the corner are more moorings. A mix of permit and 48H visitor moorings before Sparrowgap Bridge. This was oh so familiar territory now.

Beyond the bridge

We hoped to moor somewhere from here on - we tried just above Gunpowder Wharf as we had moored there back in January. However, we could not get Epiphany in enough this time, so moved on up to just below Sparrowgap Bridge.