Southern Oxford Canal to Banbury
by Peter Kirvan
Also on board: John & Pam Wiltshire and Gill Kirvan
Friday: We ought to have guessed that things were not quite right when we awoke to find all of Gloucestershire blanketed in snow. It had obviously snowed hard over night but by that strange phenomenon called British weather the temperature rose as a result of the snow and it soon began to melt. By the time we were setting off from home it had practically gone from all the roads so the journey to Stockton Top went off better than might have been expected a couple of hours earlier.
When we arrived at the marina all hell seemed to have broken loose. It was our first Ownerships holiday so we were unsure of what to do. Plenty of people were milling around but nobody from Ownerships. We could not see Rodbaston anywhere or any 'friendly' face. Anyway, eventually we tracked down a likely looking bod who told us to find Rodbaston along the towpath but to beware of the photographers??? We found the boat but just then Alan came along and asked us not to go onboard because the inside was being photographed. We wanted to get some shopping (this was around 14:30) so a couple of us went off to Sainsbury's whilst the others got our junk into the kitchen which was then clear. Anyway, to cut this story short we eventually got the boat to ourselves by around 16:00.
Being our first trip we wanted the walk thru tour so sat around waiting for Peter to come and show us the ropes which he did at about 16:45. By then Alan had discovered that there was hardly any gas (one empty bottle and one half empty bottle). The tour found that the CH did not heat the front three radiators (it was b****y cold outside too), there was a damp patch on the carpet under the front most radiator, the TV was non operational and bedding was in short supply. To cut another long story short Ownerships pulled out all the stops to get us going by getting bodies onboard to fix and replace the faulty/missing gear. They supplied gas, a replacement TV, bedding and fixed the CH (by twiddling with a knob under the sink?).
By the time this saga was over it was nearly dark at around 18:30 so we determined to stay the night at our mooring and set off at crack of dawn on Saturday.
It transpires that the photographers were there to prepare a portfolio for the website and that day (of all days) was when all the summer craft were being moved out of Stockton Top to their summer moorings, some 34 in number, and this stretched the willing Ownerships people to the limit. They, like us, must have been knackered at the end of the day but all credit to the people that attended to us in the evening. However, the delay rather did spoil the start of our holiday and eating in that canal side pub was no joke either (I'm sure you know what we mean!).
Saturday: The day dawned bright and quite sunny but there was a viciously cutting wind blowing from WNW. We set off in good time and for a while the weather stayed bright and dry albeit cold. However, just after turning right into the Oxford the clouds rolled in and it bucketed down. The wind stayed severely cold and strong the whole day which made manoeuvring Rodbaston very tricky indeed. We didn't let this dampen our spirits though (or was that the beer?) and it was smashing to be on our boat on our first holiday. Rodbaston was great and we felt dead chuffed to be part owners in such a lovely craft. The engine still did whine a bit at around 1200 rpm but we soon got used to that and everything else was tip top. We passed through the Napton flight and continued on to Fenny Compton where we determined to spend the night by the Wharf. A good meal and lively company was enjoyed but it was very busy and booking in advance is recommended. Not very memorable though.
Sunday: The weather continued in the same vein as before with strong cold winds and heavy showers. In fact, Sunday was worse than Saturday because it started to rain much earlier in the day. We got thoroughly soaked but by taking the con in relays we did manage to make some progress. The canal was generally very shallow and this coupled with the wind made negotiating some of the steep bends very difficult. In shallow water it is difficult get steerage and so there were a few occasions when a reverse was necessary to get the boat around the corners. We were threatened with grounding on some occasions but by judicious use of reverse managed to maintain general forward progress. Luckily, there were very few other craft about and the whole route was very quiet. More than could be said for the wind which was very tiring. Stopped the night at Cropredy. This, we found to be a lovely village well worth a walk around and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal in the Red Lion which we can recommend. There was a power cut in the middle of the meal but the landlord and locals made every effort to keep trading and so we ended up with dinner by candlelight - how romantic!
Monday: A subtle change came over the weather today because, first of all the wind began to ease and turn to the south and then an anti-cyclone began to arrive. The sun came out and there was distinct warmth in the feel of the air. We boated on the short trip to Banbury where we moored for the day/night. Banbury is a good shopping centre and the canal area has been lavishly refurbished. You have to be careful though of the moorings right in town centre because the canal edge stones are made from gravel and these tend to rip the paintwork to pieces as the boat gently rocks backwards and forwards at rest - even with pipe defenders in place. These were obviously designed by non boating people - they look good but are most impractical. There was plenty to see around town including the Cross. For once we didn't go out for a meal but ate our own food.
Tuesday: Now the weather is most spring like and the temperature has climbed rapidly. A beautiful day. We decided to go on to Adderbury where we could make a comfortable turn and start to head home. Any wind was now at our backs and so the general ambience improved no end. The canal scenery took on a new look and we could, at last, really enjoy the view plus being able to sit quietly on the foredeck and soak up the sun. This was the life!! We decided that we enjoyed Cropredy so much that we would stop over once more and visit the Red Lion again. Nothing could match up to our first night there but it was jolly good none-the-less.
Wednesday: The weather remained in high pressure and another beautiful day it turned out to be. We stopped for water at Fenny Compton and one of us decided to walk into the village. However, this turned out to be a bit of an uninteresting marathon so is not recommended without absolute necessity. In peace and quietness, for the canal was still very quiet, we gently cruised up to Napton where we stopped the night in order to visit the Folly Pie Pub. This was a funny place which came highly recommended. We were 4 of only 6 people in the place all night. The menu was quite extensive and having made our deliberate choices the barman told us that all the pies were off the menu (he might have said so up front!). Having re-chosen what we wanted it then transpired that the ONLY thing ON the menu was steak and chips so we had no choice at all. Anyway the steak was tasty and bill was cheap (about all we can say for it really).
Thursday: In typical March style, the weather began to turn showery again and although it stayed bright and fairly warm it was not the same as the previous two days. We had a look around Napton in the drizzle and visited the shop and the church on the hill. Great views of many counties from the elevated position and a panorama to be recommended (at least, in the sunshine). Later, we slowly poodled back to GU and so on to Stockton Top where we moored in the same place from whence we had set off just short of bridge 21. A night onboard was had eating all food and drinking all booze in sight.
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