Our ABC of the last couple of days on the South Oxford Canal

Monday, 19 December 2011 15:52

Goodness me, I excelled myself! We had to set off cruising at an early hour to get from Heyford to Aynho on the South Oxford Canal in time to catch Aynho Wharf open for diesel. Narrowboat Epiphany excelled herself as she ploughed her way onwards and I was compos mentis, just!

Near Somerton

It promised to be a glorious day for cruising ......

Some Narrowboaters we know happily set off at 6 am (in the summer!) but 8.30 am is a really early start for us! Allen's Lock was our first job and above was the BW work boat with an old lock gate as cargo - presumably the one from Northbrook Lock. 

BW work boat with cargo

For the first tim,e I spotted a strange object on the horizon. What on earth - it does look a little outer-spaceish. It is actually a folly, built for the owners of of Rousham Park House in  the C18th. The house was built by Sir Robert Dormer,  the extensive gardens were designed by William Kent and much remains of the original design. The gardens are open all year and the house by prior arrangement. It is somewhere I must visit one day; it sounds fascinating with names such as "Venus Vale", and "Temple of the Mill"  and of course the "Eyecatcher"

Our view of the Eyecatcher

Heyford Common is another very isolated lock and here we encountered a repeat problem. Allen's Lock bottom gate had been hard to close - a combination of ice underfoot and a backwards leaning gate. John had worked out a way to open it and we repeated this at Heyford Common. Our mooring hooks (for use when mooring against piling) are kept fore and aft with ropes coiled ready to use and now have a new use! By hooking the hook on the gate handle and looping the rope around his waist, John could walk backwards on the grass instead of the lethal, icy quadrant. I am sure that the old boatmen may have used similar methods, they certainly closed gates with a rope if single handing using the "strapping post". Read all about it on Jim Shead's website

John closing bottom gate with hook and rope

Extended outer gate post with strapping post at Duke's Lock

We encountered ice before and after Heyford Common - it was not thick but enough to make being below a little noisy as we cut through it. 

Ice at the side near Somerton

Above Somerton Bridge we looked out for the old canal sign - signs like this were once more prevalent. But look .....

Painted over sign

It once said, British Waterways with the logo, and "Oxford Canal". (see our old photo). Now why has this been done - it is "historic". Is it because BW is to become CRT, with a new logo? Dare I say it - the word "whitewash" comes to mind!

(I have run out of alphabet now - too much effort!) (You could have used "John" - ed.)

Phew - it was only 11.55 and we had reached Aynho - I had had an early mooring that I didn't have to have. We had half an hour to spare!

Aynho permit moorings before Aynho Wharf Bridge

We filled up at the wharf - what a nice welcome from the owners! So diesel and coal now topped up we were ready for more of our marathon journey as we had decided to make for Banbury .....

South Oxford Canal, above Upper Mill Bridge to Aynho Wharf
3 hours 12 minutes, 5.43 miles, 3 locks