From user@twaldron.softnet.co.ukMon Apr 28 12:34:32 1997 Date: Sat, 19 Apr 1997 16:24:55 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply to: canals@blacksheep.org To: canals@blacksheep.org Subject: TRIP REPORT [The following text is in the "ISO-8859-1" character set] [Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set] [Some characters may be displayed incorrectly] user@twaldron.softnet.net.uk Trip Report on n.b. Stella 4 April to 18 April 1997 Day 1 Today was a disaster from start until reaching Napton. I intended leaving work 1115 but had a number of late items to deal with. Got to Blue Lias at 1545 switched on all services and did daily checks, moved boat out of marina and loaded boat from car. Put up the Balcksheep pennant. Got through the first of the Calcutt locks and the water in fuel alarm sounding continuous. Filter checked, and colour of exhaust checked, all OK. Advised to disconnect alarm but keep eye on exhaust. Grand Union looking a little below full level between Calcutt & Napton Jn. Got to Napton Br. 113 and moored directly behind 'Thorn' where Guy Morgan had been on the lookout for us. Guy gave us a lift to the Crown for the Mini (or Midi as Guy has previously called it) GIG. Food good, plenty of it, plenty of choice for all tastes. Highly recommended for any boaters to eat. Thanks to Guy for organising. It was great to meet other boaters who I have read messages from. The pub provided transport back to the boat. 4 miles 3 locks 2.5 hours Day 2 Good run through Napton locks and Marston Doles. Wind now starting to pick up and gusting in all the wrong places (when passing moored boats and at lock entrances). Water level on the summit approx 9 inches below full, kept to centre and kept speed reasonably low. Slowed for moored boats at Glebe Farm and got thrown onto the side by the wind, took 20 mins, a lull in the wind and the boat pole to get off. Good run through Claydon locks but thrown off line by the wind entering some locks. Got out of Claydon bottom lock just as the lock keeper was putting up the closed notices. Finally moored just below Br 150. Walked into Cropredy for a couple of pints in the Red Lion. 17 miles 17 locks 9 hours. Day 3 Stopped in Cropredy for papers. All locks to Banbury paddles reasonably stiff to operate. A sunny and warm morning. Moored between Br 164 and Banbury Lock to go for a walk, Banbury obviously shut on a Sunday but got a good snack in the Bus Station cafe. Cloudy by 1430 and in need of a jumper. For railway enthusiasts there is a nice GWR signal box close to Aynho weir. Locks from Banbury hydraulic but some gates heavy. Moored Aynho wharf and went to the Great Western Arms, nice and friendly and food looks very good. Water level here looks good. 12 miles 9 locks 6 hours Day 4 A bright sunny day needing the shorts to be worn for the first time. Moored Lower Heyford for water. Moored Kidlington just before Roundham Lock, 10 minute brisk walk into town for shopping.Finally moored just after railway bridge (not numbered but next to Br 231. 18 miles 10 locks 9 hours Day 5 On opening the curtains we saw a beautiful mist sitting over the canal and knew it would be a fabulous day. Dredging works taking place around Br 236 - 240, had to hold off while barges being moved. Followed down canal by a UCC pusher and barge, from his speed I thought he wanted to push me as well so waved him on. Sue opened up one of the swing bridges much to the disgust of a lady cyclistwho wanted her to drop the bridge between the UCC boat and me and to open it again, she was getting qyuite upset when Sue told her there was another boat coming (which she could see as I was only about 20 yards away). More dredging further down and had to hold off until the dredger could move to let me past. Stopped at Isis lock to give advice on winding to a couple on a hire boat. Got our licence for the Thames at Osney Lock. Good run on the Thames, put revs up to 1700, checked wake and looked OK, assessed speed as somewhere 4 to 5 knts. Moored on the Nags Head at Abingdon for lunch from their Bar-B-Q stall and had a pint in the beatiful sunshine. I was aiming for the NRA free moorings at Shillingford but missed them, obviously no notice, so moored at Benson Lock for the fee of £4. 24.5 miles 10 locks 10 hours Day 6 Yet another beautiful day. Took water at Cleeve lock. Checked speed above Days Lock (1700 revs = approx 4.5 knts). Now finding that a number of the beams to moor to in the laybys had been recently painted, due to the height and only having small rope fenders we managed to get quite a few white paint scars. Below Days Lock it was evident the Hired Cruisers take little notice of either normal running speed or reducing speed when passing other boats (moored or travelling in opposite direction). I had to wave on quite a few to go past me as I was quite happy with my progress and was not causing a wash. As I was approaching Thamesside promenade a small boy had lost his ball in the river so turned the boat in mid river to pick it up for him (his mother really pleased as he was making quite a fuss) Moored at Tesco, Reading. Nice mooring despite being close to railway lines. 18 miles 5 locks 6 hours Days 7 & 8 Stayed in Reading area to await visitors. Day 9 Nice easy plod today, kept revs to about 1400. A lot more of the very large cruisers (with flying bridges) out for the weekend. Most of them not wishing to get anywhere near me in locks. The river very beatiful, lots of very nice gardens to the large houses on the banks. Slowed down further to go through Henly and finally moored at Aston Ferry. 11 miles 4 locks 6 hours Day 10 Another beautiful day. More boat traffic, mostly single & double skulls, some in same direction overtaking on both sides and others passins. Kept speed down to just over 1000 revs (about 2.5 knts). Stopped at St.George & Dragon for lunch, a Harvester Pub and can be recommended for both its food, service and its beer. Around the Sonning area met about 10 sailing boats virtually becalmed and had to apss them carefully on the wrong side of the river. Again many hired cruisers appeared way above the speed limit (yet the large ocean going cruisers were managing to keep speed down despite the fact they must be at tickover). Moored Tesco, Reading. Many swans around, one trying to eat the rubbing strake - obviously has a lack of iron in his diet. 11 miles 4 locks 5.5 hours Day 11 Not as nice a day today, sun out periodically but cloudy by mid afternoon. Lots of birdlife around in particular Child Beale Wildlife Park, many different geese and ducks. Got my timing wrong for Goring & Cleeve locks and had to operate them myself, takes quite a bit out of you doing two close together in particular that the hydraulics are switched off. One small cruiser sat and watched me operate the locks and I thought he was then going to ask me to leave the gates open for him (had he asked I would have helped him through). Finally moored at what I thought was the free NRA mooring at Shillingford - banks cabin top height but good mooring. 20 miles 6 locks 7 hours Day 12 Overcast and quite cold start, lockeeper at Days Lock said he had seen a flurry of snow. Sunny afternoon. Moored at Abingdon for a walk round the town, had lunch at the Black Swan (more commonly called the Mucky Duck). Saw a kingfisher briefly beside Locks Island. Moored at the NRA free mooring above Kennington Railway bridge. 16 miles 5 locks 5 hours Day 13 Heard a screech owl in the night. Saw a small deer on opposite bank. Heard a cuckoo just before we set off. Yet another beautiful day but cool in wooded areas. Met another batch of rowers close to the University boathouses. Moored just after Osney Lock only to find the local shop does not sell papers, had to walk up to next bridge and along past Oxford Station (5 minutes brisk stroll). Carried on up river. A lot of birdlife to view close to Farmoor resevoir. Moored beside the Ferryman at Bablock Hythe. A 'locals' pub at this time of year but would no doubt be busy in summer from the large caravan park close by. Sat on the bankside for about two hours in the sunshine painting 'Roses & castles' 13 miles 6 locks 5 hours Day 14 The worst day so far. Broke out the wet weather gear but only needed for about 1/2 hour. River now running through a very rural area and winding, sometimes right back on itself. Moored at the Trout inn, Tadpole bridge for lunch and a pint. A nice cottage style pub. Finally moored just before halfpenny Bridge at Lechlade. Met Claire of n.b. Black Adder ( normally moored near Lymm on the Bridgewater) and Geoff & Alex on Sandpiper (another Ownerships boat) 20 miles 7 locks 7 hour Day 15 Our holiday is almost over, have to go home today. Went back to St Johns Lock for a pump out (not one in boatyard/marina), up to the boatyard to top up with diesel and water and moored outside Riverside Restaurant. Packed all of our gear and gave the boat a final clean. Handed boat over to Brian & Jean, packed the car and set off home. Driving out of Lechlade at about 30mph seemed much too fast an took a bit of getting used to again, i'd much rather be at 3mph on the canals. We will have itchy feet until we are out next at the end of May.