Rogue boats left in the way in Napton locks

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 16:49

Nimrod Bridge to Marston Doles on the South Oxford

It was really misty this morning but began to clear around 10am. Nothing daunted, we set off in the mizzle and it soon dried up, with only the occasional bit of light rain.

We passed NB Silver Enigma, last seen queuing alongside us at Osney lock and then moored briefly by Jericho in Oxford. We exchanged greetings: they go North for Christmas!

We watered up at Napton bottom lock. I wandered to the shop but it was closed. The BW works that were going on when we came down were finished and only the odd clue that they had been there: mud, DEFRA rash (the orange stuff), and muddy towpaths! John stayed on the boat and I lock wheeled, with him opening and closing the top gates after the boat! It was good to get the exercise, both for my legs and also to get my sluggish lungs going after my cold!

The works in the pound between locks 9 and 10 were also finished. The locks were set and we met two boats coming down and at lock 14 a BW work boat. The BW Manager had walked up to meet them and I had a bit of a chat with him. They only opened Marston Doles lock (top lock) on Friday. He was saying that there was a lot of water in the canal. We had noticed, as water came over the top gates in most of the locks!

Apparently there is a problem with a new estate in Banbury (above the lock) at which there is a lot of "runoff" coming into the canal. I said where we were going - he said we should be OK providing there was no more heavy rain to make the River Cherwell flood at Cropredy again. Again, if the rain does not fall we should be OK to go down to Banbury at New Year. So we just hope - the long range forecast is only for light rain on occasions, so we may be lucky!

Above lock 14, by the Old Engine House Arm moorings, we exchanged hellos with Brian from Nb Harnser, one of John's contacts via Cutweb. He was changing his batteries. There is a long pound between 14 and 15 so I hitched a lift on Epiphany!

The lock landing at lock 15 was nearly taken up by a BW hopper boat - Mr. Robin Evans, your staff are still doing it!

Also a BW tug boat was moored on a corner and opposite some trees very near Marston Doles, Napton Top lock, making it awkward to pass. I was also disappointed to see lots of the red and white tape just discarded at both locks, waiting to get blown into the canal and dragged around props.



To finish off the rogue boat saga, there was a noddy boat moored in the apex of the Winding hole just above the lock. It is only a 50 foot winding hole but anything longer than a 40 footer would have found it hard to turn with this boat there.


We went on a little and then moored in a quiet spot for the night.



Peace - no roads or railway.

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