Aminal we have seen...

We saw some wildlife on our journey...

Swans near Marston Doles

Ducklings near Braunston

Swans near Rugby

A Munty just as we came out of the Newbold Tunnel

Places we remember...

The first part of our recent journey cover places we have been before, hence the title.We set off from Fenny Compton

We went past The Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton

This boat is still there

And still got water around it, though it doesn't look as if it is afloat

The Engineering Arm, Napton Lock flight

Napton Windmill

Wigram's Turn

The GU leading to Warwick

The double bridge at Braunston Turn

Braunston Church from across the meadows

Barby Moorings

The double bridge on the approaches to Hilmorton

Hilmorton Locks

Hilmorton

One of the old arms at Hilmorton

Another of the old arms a bit further along

Swans at The Barley Mow, Newbold

The entrance to Newbold Tunnel

Another of those old arms

Stretton Stop

Working on the pylons on the approaches to Sutton Stop

Approaching Sutton Stop

Sutton Stop

The Greyhound

Bridge onto the Coventry Csanal

On to the Coventry Canal heading northwards.

Once on the Coventry canal we headed up to Marston Junction to go on the Ashby Canal, which was new to us.

A quick dash to Fenny

When we were last on the boat we had arrived at Banbury Tramway which is a fairly common and convenient spot to leave her.
I have just had a cataract operation which means I cannot drive for a while. I was first told 10-14 days so did not worry about Tramway, in fact I spoke to C&RT and they were happy too. Then I was told that I would not be able to drive for at least 4-6 weeks. That's a completely different kettle of fish.
This weekend was the only time free (Judy is gong abroad on holiday with some of her friends) then we have things on at home, then we were going to Germany for a few days driving holiday, then a wedding. All this takes us up to the end of June.
So I booked Constance into Fenny Compton Marina for two months.
Judy & I caught the train to Banbury and off we went. Up through Banbury, stopping for the night in Cropredy. We went for a meal at the Red Lion (first time in there).
Then headed off northwards in the  morning. On the way we saw:

A lovely bracket fungus

Swans tending to their nest

Eggs in the nest!

Canada geese with goslings

We arrived at Fenny Compton Marina in time to obtain keys and fill in the necessary forms and settled Constance into her temporary berth.
In the evening we went for a meal at the Wharf Inn.
Sunday morning saw us catch a taxi to Banbury station and the train home.

A lovely weekend!

We have just enjoyed a lovely weekend on the boat. We were moored at Roundham Lock, just up the back of Kidlington after our family visit. We did shopping in Sainsbury's Kidlington before moving north through Thrupp, Shipton and Enslow. The Cherwell was very quiet, Enslow was pretty tight as usual and we stopped just below Pigeons Lock. It being a lovely day we walked into Tackley and discovered their lovely village shop. It is a village collective, like our local Woodgreen Village Shop and was well stocked with a very wide variety of goods for sale. We will make the effort to walk across to Tackley next time we are in the area. We walked through many fields of yellow...

On Saturday we moved up to Lower Heyford as we were expecting visitors. We spent the afternoon sitting in the glorious sunshine catching up and enjoyed seeing 34052 powering through on the main line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QTv_m2lU2w (not my film).

Enjoying the sunshine at Lower Heyford

 On Sunday we all travelled north through Somerton, Aynho and Twyford.

Aynho Weir Lock

Judy, Lynda & Charlie at Aynho Weir Lock

We arrived at Banbury, had a quick walk into the town and settled down to a lovely meal. A perfect weekend!

A couple of nuts

Found these guys lying around the other day. couldn't resist taking a photo!

Family day in Oxford

Adrian and Sasha had come over from Australia on a flying visit, taking in as many friends and relatives as possible in the time available.
They had always wanted a trip on the canal boat, so this was organised in advance - we would all come to Constance for the day. Constance was moored just below Lock 43 (Kidlington Green Lock) so we all went to Yarnton Lane to park.
We were joined by Adrian & Sasha and David & Emma so we were a party of seven.
We set off down through Duke's Lock and all the way down to Hythe Bridge Street. Emma, who knows Oxford well, took the party on a whistle stop tour of 'Historic Oxford' whilst I turned Constance around ready for the return journey.

We ended up back near Kidlington, not too far from our respective cars and had a meal on board. It was a bit of a squeeze getting seven around the dinner table but we managed, it was 'cosy'. I was lovely to have the whole family together for the day.

Mothering Sunday

I think my last post was made before I left Fenny Compton Marina.
My next move was out of the Marina and heading south. I needed to be about a mile south of Twyford Wharf for the weekend 11th/12th March for my radio contest. The place carefully chosen as a 'radio quiet' location. There are no houses, railways or power lines nearby so the 'noise floor' is low. I successfully did my contest and moved on further south eventually stopping at Upper Heyford.
Judy, Alison (who had made a lovely cake) and myself came to Upper Heyford to continue our journey south. We stayed the night just below Pigeons Lock as there was a slight delay in the opening of Shipton Weir Lock. When we came to move on there was a little bit of a backlog of boats waiting for the locks.
By now it was Mothering Sunday.
We met up with David (bearing a bunch of flowers) just at the lift bridge above Shipton on Cherwell.
We all enjoyed our lunch (and cake) on board before David & I set off to do a car shuffle.
Later we moved down to Kidlington. In the evening we had a curry take-away. It is so nice to have all the family together for the day...