Rock and Roll

57 mph? That is what they forecast as the wind speed. It certainly felt like it last night. As I lay in bed I could easily imagine I was on the high seas, rounding the Cape, crossing the Atlantic, tossing in a fishing boat on the North Sea!

But no  - this was Banbury, on a narrowboat, surrounded by buildings and fortunately no trees.

Our bow view on a sunnier day, taken way back in 2002!

I see from narrowboatworld this morning that they have had a problem with a tree. A fallen tree on the canal could take a while to clear, it may have a conservation order on it and BW have to get permission to remove it.

Rainy Banbury Canal Day, far less narrowboats today!

So batten down the hatches, remove satellite dishes ( I did, we did not want to lose another one), weight or tie down the things in your attic (i.e. on the roof), check you mooring ropes, check any covers and hoods and most importantly, if you are moored under a tree - move.

P.S. In the above photo is nb Tia. Graham Phillips is a canal trader selling "Environmentally Responsible Products" from Tia. Keep a look out for him on your travels.

What do you think?

Seen today in the Banbury Guardian - "Marina for Cropredy" in the village section of the paper and only a small paragraph. There have been new marinas cropping up regularly in the last two or three years.

Overwater Marina in development on the Shropshire Union Canal below Audlem

For those of you who are not aware, Cropredy is on the South Oxford Canal about 4 miles and 3 locks north of Banbury. For non-boaters and boaters alike the village is known as the home of the Fairport Convention (for regular updates - clickety click or look at their website).

Over the fields to Cropredy from north of the village, not necessarily the location for the new marina

The raison d'etre for this potential marina is "lack of off-line marina moorings, reflected in the huge number of boats moored ....... which impede cruising boats and towpath users". The planning application is for 248 berths and the new website explains the proposed "low impact" site. Compare the size with Wigrams Turn at Napton - 220 berths and Great Heywood on the Trent and Mersey - 200 berths.

Great Heywood Marina

A planning application is due, if not in, and anyone can view the plans, ask questions etc on 19th March at Cropredy Village Hall, 11am to 4pm. Unable to attend? Email: cropredy@mooring.co.uk

As the website address includes Crick Marina (270 berths) I hazard a guess that it is the same company that is making the planning application. With many new marinas still not achieving their potential, boaters coming off the waterways because of rising prices and now a recession is another large marina necessary - discuss!

Don't come looking for us!

You will not find us where we were last night.... we have moved! John turned into a horse and I became the "tail" as we bow hauled Epiphany about 50 yards north, away from the General Foods Club to avoid a noisy Friday night! It can be noisy on Saturdays too and we have lacked sleep in the past when we have been near!

So back to last night which, once again was a late one for me (that's two nights in a row, not conducive to a good mood first thing!). The Folk Club meets in the Mill Arts Centre. It was a brilliant evening and we met up with eeyore there, regulars at the club.
Here are the stars of the evening:

The lady "in the way" was sketching the artists all evening. I wonder what happens to her drawings. Me, I prefer photography ....
Tom Leary in full flow on his fiddle

P J Wright singing his heart out as he accompanies himself on his guitar.

What talent they both have and the encore was so good - you should have been there!

From Shaun the Sheep to Banbury Cross

The Aynho flock have a large field, but this morning they were grazing opposite us. One of them just had to be Shaun the Sheep!

We had company on our cruise today - Dave Parry and his narrowboat - we were all bound for Banbury. As both narrowboats are about the same length we fitted well into Aynho Weir Lock.

Once past the cross flow of the River Cherwell at the weir, I followed Dave along the very straight cut to Nell Bridge and the lock beyond. There was still some ice around, but broken up by a couple of other narrowboats and Dusty who passed us yesterday.

You can just see John walking the towpath to catch Dave up so he could get the lock ready. Apparently the towpath was in very bad condition and "lethal" in some places. By which I assume John means "very slippery".

I followed Dave's advice and stuck my front end against the bottom gate with a little forward throttle whilst John opened the bottom paddles. This gave me a chance to study the old bridge under the new.

BW are getting ready to repair the gate on Grant's Lock - and as we passed their yard at Haddons Lift Bridge we spotted the new gate in a dumb barge. The notice on Grant's Lock says it will be repaired at the "end of February, beginning of March". The date has changed so much, we wait to see ......

Arriving at King's Sutton Lock we saw that it had been left with the bottom paddles up: thanks Dave. Fortunately we did not lose it to the BW workboat that arrived just as we we ready to exit! Grant's Lock too was ready for us.

So, after filling and emptying, we arrived in a very familiar place

Banbury Folk Club is the attraction tonight. PJ Wright and Tom Leary are playing there. It is just a jump and a skip from our mooring, but I shall not be jumping or skipping, more like hopping, as I have injured my foot! One legged boating is not a great idea!

South Oxford Canal. Aynho to Banbury

3 hours 49 minutes, 6.76 miles, 5 locks