05-18 Wormleighton South Oxford Canal

Saturday 16th May: A rather frustrating day. Started well enough as we moored by the only working tap (of two) at the junction and watched several boats making a mess of winding or turning onto the junction while our tank filled (rather slowly after being moored up for a few days).  Moving onto the South Oxford ourselves we found it to be very busy with lots of boats moored up and out for the weekend. Then our oil light came on and buzzer started sounding at low revs (almost continually given the number of moored boats).  Decided to call RCR and arranged for an engineer to come and check problem out before we caused any further damage.  After a very long wait of over three hours engineer arrived and reckoned we have a problem with the oil pressure sender.  He said it was loose and he had tightened it but once on the move problem recurred. During all this we met up with friends John and Anthea and arranged to meet at Napton finally mooring at The Bridge Inn for a drink, meal and chat.

Sunday 17th May: We made a reasonably early (for us) start from our mooring by the winding hole at the Bridge Inn.  We had a sunny start to the day but the cloud slowly built up with a cool breeze.  We were into the first lock at the bottom of Napton flight about 9:30 with assistance from a CRT chap and for the first few locks we passed a descending boat at each one so made swift progress. Then we caught up with a Napton hire boat ahead of us, who kept leaving the top gates open behind them, even though there were now no boats descending, making Bridie's work in preparing the locks harder. We joined up with them at the seventh lock and advised them of their error and helped them through this the top lock of the Napton flight. Then arriving at the bottom of the two Marston Doles locks we found ourselves about fifth in a queue for the lock.  It turned out a Kate hire boat descending was causing a blockage at the top lock!  The middle pound was about two foot down in level as a result and they arrived at the bottom lock as we were preparing to exit and managed to steer into the offside vegetation and ground themselves! We exited the lock with some difficulty and squeezed passed while a boater behind helped 'advise' them into the lock.  It was some time before we managed to clear the top lock and the Napton boat crew decided to tie up and have lunch in the middle of the queue. We watered up and moved on through the winding bends of the Oxford Canal and slowly caught up with the Napton boat in the distance at which point two Black Prince boats unmoored and set off literally just in front of us.   It was not until the first bend that either crew looked behind them to see they had company.  Our problem with the oil pressure sender now kicked in volubly as we had to use tickover and reverse to follow these two boats for the next two or three miles as they made contact with the towpath and offside vegetation, went aground and generally progressed at a snail's pace.

However we arrived at bridge 129 to find  a favoured mooring spot empty and moored with a grand view of the rolling countryside yellow with oil seed rape. This is very close to where HS2 is going to desecrate English countryside if our business friendly politicians have their way.  The rural peace of Wormleighton will certainly be shattered.

Monday 18th May:  It rained overnight and was raining, grey, cool and breezy all morning, first priority was to relight the fire!  We contacted Fenny Marina or at least after going on the internet found a phone number for Mitchell Narrowboats who seem to operate at what was Fenny Services.  Arranged for him to get a spare oil pressure sender unit and for us to be at Fenny tomorrow for when Beta Marine delivery occurrs. So staying where we are for today and keeping dry if we can.   There was a lull in the rain around dinner time and a brief burst of sunshine

so a quick dog walk ensued.  When we last moored here about three years ago we wrote a letter that was published in the Waterways World magazine complaining about the state of the vegetation along the Oxford towpaths.  This stretch had trees 12 feet or more high between towpath and waters edge.  Well we have to say that things are much improved and on my dog walk last night I could only find very limited evidence of any tree growth although the towpath was showing signs of being in need of a grass cutting team.  They arrived this morning in the pouring rain, a team of six with  mowers, strimmers and a blower (which they used on the boat to try and remove the grass debris but being wet that did not work!)  We can not complain, but we are slightly suspicious that our boats progress has been monitored and CRT arranged for the team to arrive while we are moored here just to prove a point!  Now all we want to see are a similar team dealing with the offside vegetation!  
Had some fantastic rainbow effects this evening with heavy rain and sunshine together.