Barby Moorings (North Oxford) – Tuesday 17th September

So today we were finally to get to our new home – well Mary H’s new home anyway.  We had visited Barby Moorings back in April and decided to give it a go.  The marina is far from finished but they are getting there slowly.  However, as we don’t live aboard, it doesn’t bother us as we just want somewhere safe to leave the boat that is both in a good position for cruising and also for getting to and from home.  Our plan next year is to do a series of cruising rings so Barby is ideally situated.

We followed a hire boat very slowly and were very grateful that we were turning off – I felt sorry for the other boats behind us stuck in a queue.

We turned into Barby and found our pontoon – well it’s a temporary one until ours in finished which will be next year now.  The pontoons are lovely, very long and sturdy and a good length.  There is also a good gap between boats.

We walked to the office and met Barby’s island lawnmowers!  Blade, Elrond and Orsino are alpacas and are doing a great job of keeping the grass down.  Muffin wasn’t too sure about them but they couldn’t have cared less about him!  It seems strange to be looking out of the window and seeing alpacas munching away!

 

Blade

Elrond and Orsino

We popped over to see Mike on NB Isobel and arranged to go for a drink with him later.  We needed milk so popped to the Co-op in Hilmorton which is a good size and then drove into Rugby and out again – it looks OK and I’m looking forward to exploring it further.

Mike and his friend, Tim, popped round after dinner and we drove the short way down to the Barby Sporting Club (it was raining!) and had a very pleasant evening.

 

Braunston to Barby Moorings

4.37 miles
0 locks