The turning of the Solar Panel

At Oxford we have come as far south as we will this winter season. We are now turning northwards and will be heading that way for some time now. The solar panel has now been turned round to gather as much of the suns rays as it can.
The plan for the next few months is to head up past Thrupp, Banbury and Napton then on towards Leamington Spa, Warwick and Birmingham.
So much to look forward to!

Weekend in Oxford

Judy and I came up to Kidlington from home to enjoy a weekend in Oxford and that we certainly did!
When we arrived on Thursday afternoon we offloaded the car and put it all on the boat, then went shopping at Kidlington Sainsburys before setting off down the canal. As it was getting late we stopped just above Dukes Lock for the night.

Friday morning - the start of a beautiful day, just above Dukes Lock

Dukes Lock - the way out to the River Thames

Friday morning we set off down the canal all along past the Agenda 21 moorings (which seem to go on forever) until we eventually arrived at Isis Lock. Whoaa! The sign says maximum turning at the end of the canal is 30 feet. Oh well, if the worst comes to the worst I will have to reverse out although I am sure someone told me I'd be OK at 36 feet. It was a tight turn and, yes, you can turn, but 37' is about the very maximum. I had to jump off and push us round.

Judy operating the lift bridge

The end of the canal stops at Hythe Bridge Street so it is only a few hundred yards into the city centre and we had arrived in time for lunch.

The view from Hythe Bridge Street

Our son, David, lives and works in Oxford so it was an ideal time to meet up and have an escorted tour of the city. On Friday evening we went and had a curry in a restaurant on the Headington Road as recommended by one of his Environmental Health Food Inspectors and it was good. Then there was time for a bit of a (half pints only for me) pub crawl to see some of the little out-of-the-way pubs in Oxford.
On Saturday we went and spent a few hours in the Pitt-Rivers Museum then walked around to see a number of the old colleges. Unfortunately - Hogwarts was closed! In the evening we had a meal at an Italian Restaurant before setting of on another mini pub crawl.

The courtyard of the Bodleian Library

Sunday was a better day weather-wise so we walked along the Thames from the Station down to the Boat Houses and watched the 'Eights' in training. Sunday evening was Fish & Chips and an early night.

Unusual! a railway swing bridge!

Boat Houses

The Head of the River Pub

Monday morning was bright with a cold wind as we set off northwards.

Just doddling about...

I have made many visits to Constance over the past few weeks, just nothing really to take photos of. The bathroom is pretty much finished, The central heating still does not work, which does not particularly bother me. It would be nice but it is not essential.
I have done the engine service - oil/filter changes, de-coked the glow-plugs etc., so ready for the off, whenever that may be. The last few weeks have been spent between Thrupp and Dukes Cut, which is nice because that is nearest home for travel purposes.
The other day the engine battery gave out completely so that has been replaced. It has lasted well (it was on the boat when I bought her over 5 years ago) so I am not complaining. A slight modification to the battery locker was required to accommodate the new battery, but this change will allow me to fit a 3rd leisure battery should I so wish.
Did a towpath litter pick a couple of weeks ago and left the rubbish on the rear deck overnight. Rats! Bl**dy rats trashed the bin-liner and strewed the rubbish everywhere. I won't make that mistake again. Did a litter pick again on Tuesday but got rid of the rubbish straight away! Learning curve here...
It is noticeable that the evenings have started to draw out. Roll on the better weather!

That's better!

I have made a couple of visits to Constance over the last few weeks. I cannot get the central heating to work properly. It is not the Eberspacher boiler - that works fine. The problem is one of circulation. I think I must have either an air-lock or a blockage because I cannot get the water to circulate.
That said, the bathroom shelving is now finished.

 There is space in the bottom shelf for one of the loo cassettes to sit out of the way.

Two upper shelves and a lower shelf for the spare loo cassette

 Loo cassette on the shelf at the back and one stood in front. All neatly stowed away and still space for 'loo blue' etc. The dark grey is the engine cooling tank and I have noticed that the engine is not getting quite as warm as it was and the swim tank warms. This suggests to me that the engine's thermostat has failed. Another job to do...

With the loo in front as it was before. All of the engine room spaces are now blocked off so the engine fumes should not be so strong whilst the engine is running. There is now plenty of room on the upper shelves for all the normal 'bathroom' things - wash-bags, soap, shampoo and spare loo rolls.
I am still in the area just to the north of the city of Oxford. David comes to see me every time I come up to Constance and we have a meal together, then do all of the puzzles in the 'i' newspaper.

Work continues in the bathroom

The central heating is now all connected up and ready to test. The shelving in the bathroom is coming along slowly. It is the painting that takes forever...

The shelves and the extra space will be far more useful than the old sink was. Out with the paint brush and get to work!

Lower Heyford to Thrupp

Now that the new cratch cover, dodger and tonneau have been fitted it is time to move on from Lower Heyford. I would not like to overstay my welcome in any area. Passing under the road bridge, the water point was occupied...

As I was going to Thrupp for the loos it didn't matter

Dr Bones was not at home today

The ignominious fate of Caravan Lift Bridge 215 - abandoned in a field!

Enslow Wharf

Just on the yellow - should be OK

The Cherwell comes in from the right

And leaves on the left at Shipton Weir Lock

Another of the big diamond shaped locks

Exiting the lock

And so it was on down to Thrupp for loo emptying and water. The water fill seemed to be painfully slow, but with loos emptied, water filled I needed to find a mooring for the night. There were spaces along the street in Thrupp for 48 hours. Just as I moored it started to rain.
The next day I walked off in search of a 14 day mooring. The only one I could find was back at Shipton-on-Cherwell, so it was back under the Thrupp Lift Bridge...

Something new!

The cratch cover on Constance was fitted in the early part of 2000 and has suffered from the ravages of time. The main deterioration has been due to light. The material has become hardened a little, the green has faded and it has all become a little tatty around the edges. Whilst sharing a lock transit somewhere back in the summer the front gate on my side opened a little more as I exited the lock and the balance beam ripped a long tear in the already aged material.
Gaffer tape (what else?) was used to effect a temporary repair!
We looked back through the records and found that the cratch cover was made by Sparks Marine Trimmers of Aylesbury. We contacted Vernon and he came to Lower Heyford to measure up. We decided at that time to have a dodger and tonneau cover made.
The job has now been done and I must say that we are absolutely delighted.

All now a beautiful green, nicely pliable and with larger transparent windows! Just need to get on with the paint-work...