Cropredy

There is quite an autumnal air around now. This morning the mists were rising from the canal and it looked really beautiful. We set off just after 7 and had a good run until we hit queues about 10 o’clock. A breakfast  stop was taken opposite “The Pig Place”, a farm shop and camp site

Lower Heyford

I got up at 5:30 to do some more work, then we set off at 8:00. It was sad to say goodbye to the Thames, we had enjoyed it emensely. Back on the Oxford canal we headed for Lower Heyford where we had arranged to meet friends Andrew & Shiela who were driving over from

Swinford Bridge

Last night we spent at Radcot Bridge. The campers all left about 3 o’clock as the weather looked ominous. We just chugged on down river for a couple of hours. A late start today. I had a work problem to sort out which took up some time. We stopped for lunch about 1:00, but the

Lechlade

Another lovely morning so we set off just before eight o’clock. You tend to think of the Thames as big river, but this far upstream it’s quite small and narrow in places and very winding and twisting. I knew that Rob, a business acquaintance, was on the river in his boat somewhere nearby. I got

Above Rushey Lock

We had arranged to meet our son-in-law’s parents Ann and Richard at Newbridge at 12:00. So to make sure we were there on time we set off just after seven. It was a very pleasant morning and  good to reacquaint ourselves with the upper Thames. We haven’t been this way for over 10 years. At

Duke’s Lock

A day of delays frustrations. When I went to start the engine I could tell that the battery was low and didn’t seem to have been charging yesterday. Also the tacho and the other instruments weren’t working. It seemed likely that one or more wires were loose behind the instrument panel. They had taken it

Lower Heyford

It has been fairly windy over the last few days, and the forecast is for much stronger wind over the next few days. This is apparently the tail end of hurricane Bertha. Because of this we decided to leave early in the morning when the lighter winds would make getting out of the marina easier.

Fairport’s Cropredy Convention

We have spent the last three days at the Cropredy Festival. This is organised by Fairport Convention and features mostly  Folk and Folk-Rock type music. Highlights for us were: Joe Broughton’s Folk Ensemble The Churchfitters Benjamen Folke Thomas Blackbeard’s Tea Party Fairport’s closing set and of course the wonderful Richard Digence.  

Cropredy

At last, after over four months being re-painted we now have the boat back. There are still a few odds and ends that need tidying up, but at least we are on board. Just a short chug back to the marina where we’ll stay for the next few days.