October 2024 - Our final few days - a very belated post

Ladder Bridge - No 129 (Oxford Canal) - Friday 11th October

A beautiful autumn day 🙂  It was a joy to get moving today.  

The five Claydon Locks were easy peasy today.  The locks were all full but who cares when the sun is shining!  It was a tad chilly and Rio had to have his jumper on.  There were four lockies on but only one helped us, not sure what the other four were supposed to be doing!

We were going to have a short day today, we needed it after all the stresses of the last couple of weeks.

Ladder Bridge was our destination and we managed to get a nice spot where the hedge had died off!  From the dinette we could see right the fields across to a new HS2 bridge and another in the building.  Such a shame but I won’t go on about it.

What about Over the Moon?  Well Steve stayed onboard for a week with his son bringing him water!  He and the other boats got away on Monday and Steve has been single handing as Tracey is on Grand-dog sitting duty.  At the time of writing Steve was at the bottom of the Stockton flight and had done 43 locks and had another 43 to do.  Tracey is joining him tomorrow to do those.

7 miles

5 locks

Above Napton Bottom Lock (Oxford Canal) - Saturday 12th October After yesterday’s lovely blue sky and sunshine we were back to grey and rain. We started off on the Napton flight in the rain, then it brightened up and we got some blue sky, however as soon as we had stopped down came the rain again! All the locks were with us though they all leaked so Richard still had to top the levels up. It was pretty chilly so I wrapped up warmly and Rio decided to stay down below.

We had a quiet afternoon before putting on our glad rags and walking down to the Folly for a meal. There were a lot of dogs in the pub and Rio had a whale of a time though he was put firmly in his place by a grumpy Jack Russell. The food was excellent as usual. As we came down the locks I could just see the sails of Napton Windmill. The original windmill was built in 1543 and produced raw material, which was transported out of Napton and later used for textile goods. This created jobs for people, such as shirt and dressmakers The village was one of the largest settlements in Warwickshire during the Middle Ages. The mill stopped working with sails around 1900 and was converted to steam power, but stopped working with steam around 1909. The mill fell into disrepair and was derelict by 1966. The mill lay derelict until about 1972 when it was restored and converted into a house. The mill was designated a Grade II listed building in 1952.

6 miles 8 locks Dunchurch Pools Marina (Oxford Canal) - Sunday 13th October Boy it was chilly this morning. Even after putting in new batteries on the Thames, the heating will still not start up unless the engine is on. If we are miles from anyone else Richard can start the engine and we can have heat, but this morning we had a boat right behind us. The heating is number one on the list of winter jobs! We had our last lock to do, we have done 135 locks in total, it felt good to just have an easy cruise back to the marina. Firstly, we had a stop to catch up with Trish on Travels with Tea, Jem was sadly away. They have a Flat Coat Retriever puppy the same age as Rio and they wanted to play but I didn’t think that boisterous play on the towpath was a very good idea! We were soon back at the marina and had the usual “which pontoon is ours”! When we have been away for so long we just forget.

The car started which was a relief as I knew that Richard had been worrying about it. A quiet afternoon before packing up and driving home tomorrow. 10 miles 1 lock Hayling Island - Monday 14th October I hate packing up! I usually work from the front to the back and know what I am doing but then someone else (I’m not mentioning any names!) comes along and messes up my routine. Once the car was loaded we set off for Allen’s Lock to collect our other car. We found it safe and sound, thank goodness. We had a good journey home, one of the best we have ever had. We are now at home, having unpacked and done the washing! We did 360 miles 164 locks We had a great trip, doing it with friends made it so much more enjoyable. We did, however, seem to leave a lot of wine bottles, beer cans and crisp packets behind at rubbish points!! Thank you Steve, Tracey and Ted for putting up with us, especially Rio who ate all Ted’s food! Our next boating blog will come from the Canal du Midi in France 🙂

I found this video on You Tube.  From it you can see the extent of the flooding.  There is also an aerial view of Mary H!

October 2024 - We manage to break away from Allen's Lock

Above Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) - Tuesday 8th October

It was time to return to Mary H.  The other boats at Allen’s Lock had left yesterday, including Over the Moon, so we were a little concerned about leaving her any longer. 

We drove up from Devon where we had been for a family get together.  It rained almost the whole way up and was still raining when we arrived at the lock car park.  We donned our wellies and paddled over to the boat.  The flooding was much better but there was still quite a lot of water where we were moored.

We went up through Allen’s Lock and took advantage of there not being any other boats around, to load the boat with the things we had brought up with us.  After mooring up I drove to the Sainsburys Local in Heyford Park.  It was still raining cats and dogs and we all got pretty wet.  Rio had a nice blow dry after this photo was taken!

1 lock


King’s Sutton - Site of Bridge 178 (Oxford Canal) - Wednesday 9th October

We were up and away quite early, as we had a lot to do.  

Somerton Deep Lock was, well, deep as usual 😆 and then we were at Aynho Wharf, where we filled up with water and diesel, emptied the cassettes and bought a new gas bottle, oh and bought a nice coffee from the coffee shop there.  It was quite a relief to get all that done, especially the water. 

When we got to Aynho Lock there was a boat in it who was struggling to get the water level to balance, a very gentle nudge on the gate sorted out the problem.  We had the same problem and really that gentle nudge was the only way.  Not sure how boats coming the other way were going to manage. 

The water level was about 50 cms into the red but the flow of the river crossing the canal wasn’t too bad. 

However we knew that Nell’s bridge in front of the next lock was going to be our problem.  There was a boat being dragged through the bridge and we could see that, unless our roof was cleared, we were not going to get through.  The top box came off then the solar panels which were very reluctant to be separated from the boat!  They had to be put beside the towpath and left.  

Now there was no problem getting under the bridge 🙂  

While we were still in the lock, Richard had the job of retrieving our belongings.  If you know Nell’s Lock you will know that to get from the lower side of the canal to the lock you have to climb some steps, and then cross a fairly busy road before getting to the lock.  We took advantage, once again, of no boats around to put everything back on the roof while we were in the lock. 

We went up through King’s Sutton Lock and moored up where we had stopped on our way down to the Thames.  

We were both shattered, not physically but the stress of the day had been pretty high.

8 miles
5 miles


Below Claydon Bottom Lock (Oxford Canal) - Thursday 10th October

No rain today but it was so grey and dismal, but Rio always cheers me up. 

Up through Grant’s Lock and then we stopped in Banbury so that I could go to Morrison’s.  I didn’t need much as hopefully we will be back in the marina on Sunday.

There was a queue to go to through Banbury Lock but once through we were away.  Banbury town moorings were dark and cold and the wind was blowing through, I was glad we weren’t stopping there.

We couldn’t decide where to stop for the night but knew we should do at least a couple of the locks before Cropredy.  After Slat Mill Lock we dithered about until it was too late to stop!  Up through Cropredy Lock and more dithering - not Cropredy this trip then!! 

In the end we were through three more locks and moored up below the bottom Claydon Lock, not my favourite spot but it was here or going up the flight - 9 locks were enough, thank you!!

10 miles
9 locks

September 2024 - Going stir crazy!

Below Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) – Thursday 26th September

Another day in paradise.

We said goodbye to Richard II though we will see him again tomorrow as Tracey is going home.

We had two excitements today.  Firstly we moved back as the towpath where we were was getting water logged.  It is very difficult to keep the boat clean with the mud and a small dog who brings all sorts in!  There are a lot of burrs around and Rio seems to be a magnet to them.  Sometimes he comes in covered in them. 

The second excitement was going to OtM in the afternoon so that Tracey and I could do some crochet together.  I lost the incentive to continue with a blanket I am making a long time ago and the wool has travelled with us quite a bit!  The main problem was that the blanket was going diagonally!  Tracey sorted that out and I got on with it.  Now I must keep it up.  I am very lucky to have friends who are good at crochet!

It was quite a nice day and I actually managed to sit out on the towpath for about half an hour, however it poured with rain in the evening and overnight.


Below Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) – Friday 27th September

Because of yesterday’s rain the river was up by 2 inches and the canal was up by about 1½ inches.  This was not good news :-(

Richard II came to collect Tracey and take her home.  He said that there were only two boats at the lock so we moved up.  It’s a much better place to take our things off tomorrow and get them to the car, however we now get out of the boat and into water!  If we had stayed where we were there would have been a quarter mile walk and a lot of it through floods.

We said goodbye to Tracey, it was sad to see her go.  I was also jealous as she was going to go home and have a long shower and do some washing!

Richard, Steve and I went for a walk up to Heyford Common Lock.  Above Allen’s lock there is an overflow going back into the river.  Thank goodness it was there! 

There were quite a few boats moored above Allen’s lock and the footfall had made the towpath a little muddy but at least it wasn’t muddy.  Once we passed all the boats the towpath became nice again, though it was flooded at Heyford Common Bridge. 

We are going home tomorrow.  We are almost out of water and anyway we aren’t going to be going anywhere for a while yet.  My daughter and son-in-law are coming up for us and I am so looking forward to seeing them.  Rio will go berserk as he loves Victoria and the poor dog is going as stir crazy as we are.  A puppy needs to be able to run around and expend some energy but with so much water we can’t walk very far.  The other day he did zoomies up and down the boat - I counted 10 times!  Pig, his favourite toy, is really going through it at present.  It has already lost a leg and he just loves playing pull with it and then chasing it down the boat when we win it!


Below Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) – Saturday 28th September

I didn’t rush to get out to bed as I knew that Victoria and James wouldn’t be with us until about 1pm.  I had worked out in my mind what to take home.  We have no idea when we will be back.  There were two black bin bags of washing - goodness knows where it had all come from!

As I thought, Rio went berserk when he saw Victoria, and then he saw James and it was almost too much for him!  He gradually calmed down and we wandered back to the boat.  V and J had bought sandwiches which were very much appreciated.  James did most of the carrying to the car and it was soon time to shut Mary H up and leave her.  We have never left her on the side of the canal before and we are both a bit apprehensive about it especially with the water levels rising and falling.

We had a 3 hour journey home as Oxford United were playing at home and the A34 around Oxford was rammed.

It was lovely to be home again and as soon as we unpacked, it didn’t take long, Richard was in the bath and I was in the shower!

These photos are to remind me of the water levels as they were when we left and the last one is there because I like it!!

September 2024 - Stranded on the Oxford Canal

Below Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) – Monday 23rd September

It rained cats and dogs during the night so we had a decision to make as to whether or not to stay where we were or move on to Aynho Wharf.  We decided to move.

We went passed the water point at Lower Heyford (BIG mistake) and then on under the lift bridge.  As we approached Allen’s lock we saw a queue of boats and were told that we were 8 and 9 in the queue!  The lock bywash was blocked and water was pouring everywhere.  C&RT were there unblocking it but at that stage we realised we weren’t going anywhere today. 

We moored up and had to breast up as OtM couldn’t get to the side.

We had very little internet but I was able to link onto OtM’s on my phone which was something.

It just poured with rain all day and I had to say that I was worried that the River Cherwell, which runs very close to the canal, might overtop the bank and we would be floating on a torrent of water.  The River was running very fast and could easily have done that.

I was rather worried about sleeping in case something happened, but as it transpired I slept really well.

No photos today!


Below Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) – Tuesday 24th September

Well the River hadn’t overtopped into the canal, but the field on the far side of it was a huge lake. 

I couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, there was no need to!!  However, Richard came in and said that we were moving!  He had found a better mooring further behind us.  He said he didn’t need me but I got up all the same.  It was a better spot and we were able to moor up one behind the other.  We had internet too!!

After lunch we all went for a walk up the towpath to see the lock.  Steve didn’t have wellies so had to go back as the towpath was flooded from the River.  The flood was pretty deep, half way up our wellies and at one stage Ted was swimming!  Rio had refused to go any further so was being carried!  The lock looked pretty normal though there was water coming over the top gate.  

There is very little to write today as nothing else happened!


Below Allen’s Lock (Oxford Canal) – Wednesday 25th September

So here we are again, just below Allen’s lock.  The river doesn’t look any lower and Richard says the towpath is worse!

I really needed to wash my hair and also some underwear.  To try and preserve water I had a “water on, water off” shower with the underwear!  After I had showered I trod the washing, I shut my eyes and pretended that I was treading grapes in some sunny place!  The washing was then spun off and put out to dry.

Big excitement in the afternoon.  Steve and Tracey’s son, Richard, was coming to visit the stranded boaters!  He had a shopping list, but all we were short of was milk and bread.  We had a lovely early evening on OtM with the three of them.  Honestly I think if it wasn’t for Steve and Tracey this situation would be SO much worse.

I rang C&RT today to ask how we were supposed to get water. Her - go on the website and there is a map which gives all the water points where you can get water.  Me - but we have been told not to move.  Her - well go to a shop.  Me - there aren’t any shops.  Her - well there is nothing we can do then.  Very helpful!

September 2024 - The end of our time on the River Thames

The blog is so behind as we were stranded on the Oxford Canal near Upper Heyford for five day because of the floods.  The internet was dire so no blogging was done.  We were running out of water and there didn't appear to be any signs of the water receding so we have decamped to home and left the boat on the canal side.  Steve has stayed on his boat, Tracey has also gone home, so he is looking after Mary H for us.

Below King’s Lock (River Thames) – Friday 20th September

Our last full day on the Thames. 

We left our mooring and then the chapter of difficult locks started.  Abingdon lock was on self service and two hire boats were waiting to go in.  The lady who was doing the locks shut the sluices before opening the gates - that doesn’t work so we had to wait for the whole cycle to go through again - about 15 minutes.  When it was our turn we got through with no problem and pulled over for water and emptying.  The elsan point was blocked so there was no emptying to be done.

These two signs are permanent at Abingdon lock, but are amusing.

I hadn’t noticed that the lockie had a goat before. 

Sandford lock was on self service and we were very glad we weren’t going down the lock as apparently three of the four sluices were jammed and it was taking 30 minutes to empty. 

Iffley lock was also on self service and there was a boat waiting to go in however the electricity had just gone off so it was a question of winding the sluices up and down and also the gates.  It took forever but we finally got through. 

There is a mathematical bridge at Iffley lock.  It was built in 1923 and is a replica of the one in Cambridge - which we have also seen.  Although it appears to be an arch, it is composed entirely of straight timbers built to an unusually sophisticated engineering design, hence the name. 

Osney lock was also on self service and they too had no electricity, so it was a case of winding the wheel again.

The moorings at East Street were practically empty but we didn’t want to stop there this time - typical.

Our last lock was Godstow lock, and of course it was on self service, but it HAD electricity, so it was simple.

Our destination was the lock moorings below King’s lock and fortunately it was free, so we moored up and sat out until it was too chilly and then we moved onto our decks.

As we arrived at King’s lock, Tracey and I took the dogs for a short walk.  There was a cattle grid out of the lock area into a field.  Rio, being the energetic puppy, thought that he could get across it.  He took a leap and then landed with all four legs down a gap.  He recovered himself and got across.  It could have been so much worse, I had visions of a broken leg or something.  When we went back into the lock area, Rio waited patiently at the gate - he wasn’t going to try that again!  It reminded me so much of his first encounter with the sea.  He was running around and thought he could walk on water - he couldn’t!!  However, we now know that he can swim!

Rio keeps trying to dig for gold! 

There are a number of King’s locks on the canal/river system so I thought I would look it up.  Kings is a modern version of Kingisweire - kin meaning cattle.  In 1289, weir and fish traps were recorded on the current site.  It wasn’t until 1928 that the pound lock, which is still in use today, was built to replace a flash lock.

13 locks
5 locks

Thrupp (River Thames/Oxford Canal) – Saturday 21st September

We started the day with a good laugh!!  Rio has become very naughty about being caught.  His recall is good, but then it becomes a game about being caught.  We now let him wander with a rope on so we can stand on it and bring his game to an end!!  Anyway, this morning he was off the boat with no rope and Richard couldn’t catch him.  I went out and the game got better (for Rio that is!) Steve then joined us and he managed to rugby tackle Rio to the ground!  It was so funny! 

King’s lock is the first of the manual locks on the River.  It was on self service, it always is these days.  It was also our last lock on the River Thames.  It was rather sad.  I found something in the bushes! 

We didn’t turn onto the Oxford Canal but instead went up river to Eynsham lock to empty the toilets.

Back down the Thames and then it was time to say goodbye to my favourite river.  As we approached Duke’s Cut lock it started to rain.  The forecast wasn’t good for today but we had had blue sky up till this point.  Duke’s Cut lock doesn’t have a paddle any more, it fills from the leaks around the gates!  We were quite lucky as it filled quite quickly but OtM had to wait for ages.  There was a hire boat waiting to go into the lock, I had to smile at the name! 

We picked up a hire boat at Duke’s lock who proceeded to travel at less than our tick over speed.  I kept having to go into neutral to slow down!  When we got to Kidlington lock I asked them if we could either go ahead of them or if they could go a bit faster.  The guy at the helm didn’t think the boat would go any faster!  In the end they let us go into the lock first.  They were three very nice young men 🙂

It poured and poured with rain, it was a dreadful early afternoon.  We got to the Jolly Boatman but there was only one mooring place (no breasting up now as we are on the canals).  We pulled in and Richard walked up to see if there was any space in Thrupp, there was.  In fact there was lots!  We moved up and OtM came up behind us.

As we moored up so the rain stopped and the sun came out!  We went to Annie’s Tea Room for a cream tea then we sat out until quite late.

10 miles

6 locks

Dashwood Lock (Oxford Canal) – Sunday 22nd September

We left Thrupp in drizzle which got a bit harder but not as bad as yesterday.

At Shipton lock, a diamond shaped lock, we managed to get both boats in.  I think that will be the only time on the South Oxford.

On Christmas Eve, 1874, a passenger train derailed on the Great Western Railway near Kidlington, Oxfordshire, killing 34 people and seriously injuring 69 others. The accident was caused by a broken tire on a carriage and the train's poor braking system. The Board of Trade's Court of Enquiry highlighted safety issues with the train's wheel design, braking, and communications.

I steered up the River Cherwell but we were both concerned that a red warning might be given at some stage due to the heavy rain.

Up through Baker’s lock and onto Pigeon lock which was just as bad as when we came down to fill.  It’s the last few inches that just takes an age.

After Pigeon lock is a disused quarry site.  We often stopped there and it was a great place to sit out, especially if there were more than one boat travelling together.  However, the last couple of times there have been long term moorers there, but today it was empty - sadly it was too early for us to stop.

It was then Northbrook and Dashwood locks and we pulled over after Dashwood and moored up.  We had no sooner stuck the stakes in the ground when the rain started and it got heavier and heavier.

6 miles

5 locks

September 2024 - A sunbathing dog and a day off!

Clifton Lock Moorings (River Thames) – Tuesday 17th September

There was news on the TV this morning that the Environment Agency is going to make some accessible moorings at Wallingford.  I don’t need an accessible mooring but trying to sort out the height of the bank would help me!

It was a lovely morning and Rio took the opportunity to do some sun bathing. 

The first place you arrive at after Wallingford is Benson where RAF Benson has it’s home.  In 1937 the Royal Air Force was expanding to meet the threat of Nazi aggression so work began on building a new airfield beside Benson village. The land, owned by five families, was formerly part of the Duchy of Cornwall estate.  It was compulsorily purchased at a cost of £18 an acre. Construction of RAF Benson finished in 1939. Its establishment on land previously farmed, meant the destruction of the 18th-century Lamb pub, which once stood on the outskirts of the village.

Up through Benson lock and passed the Shillingford Hotel.  There is a deep history within both The Shillingford Bridge Hotel and the bridge itself. The hotel dates back to the beginning of the 1600s where it was previously named the Swan Inn. The bridge has records which suggest the presence of a bridge on the site in the 14th century but this structure was short-lived and the crossing was made by ferry from at least 1379 until a timber bridge was built in 1767 and changed to stone in the 1800s.  Stupidly I forgot to take a photo.

This is one of my favourite houses on the Thames, though it is in sections now. 

Day’s lock and then on to Clifton lock which gets my prettiest lock on the Thames award!  They also sell icecreams!  Clifton has short term moorings for £12 so we availed ourselves.  It was a very nice mooring with grass to sit out on and then a wide pontoon to sit on when the sun went round.  

Clifton is one of the few lock sites on the non-tidal river where there was not a pre-existing weir and flash lock, although there was an important ferry. Problems to navigation had long been recognised and the first suggestions for creating a lock "near Clifton Ferry"  was raised in 1793.  The construction of the lock cut was delayed because the owner of the land was "a lunatic", but it was eventually completed in 1822 together with the lock. No weir was built at the time, giving rise to complaints. The weir was eventually erected on the old navigation in 1835. I can’t get my head round the fact that there was a lock with no weir. 

9 miles
3 locks


Abingdon (River Thames) – Wednesday 18th September

We left Clifton lock for a short journey to Abingdon. 

Culham lock was on self service - it always is!  It has now got a name as being the slowest lock on the River! 

We passed the entrance to the proposed Wilts and Berks Canal and also the entrance of the disused entrance, which is now built over. The 52-mile canal was opened in 1810, but abandoned in 1914 – a fate hastened by a breach at Stanley aqueduct in 1901. Much of the canal subsequently became unnavigable: many of the structures were deliberately damaged by army demolition exercises; parts of the route were filled in and in some cases built over. In 1977 the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group was formed with a view to full restoration of the canal. Several locks and bridges have since been restored, and over 8 miles of the canal have been rewatered. 

When we arrived in Abingdon there was quite a lot of choice for moorings.  We pulled over on the meadow side but there was a wasps nest right where OtM wanted to moor.  We had the same problem when we came downstream but this was in a different place.  Obviously the wasps must love it!  In the end we moored up on the town side. 

The trouble with the town side is that there is goose poo everywhere and Rio, like Muffin, finds it a tasty snack!  We tried letting him off the lead but he went through the fence railings and over to a concrete area where there were water fountains last time we were here in August.  It is obviously the place where the geese like to hang out.  It is absolutely disgusting.  There are no dogs allowed in the area but the geese are far worse than dogs.  The geese wander around in a line and then they jump into the water and swim in a line, it is amusing! 

After the debacle in Wallingford I had decided to order a new watch from Amazon which was delivered to Waitrose in Abingdon, so we walked up in the afternoon and did some shopping and I picked up my new watch.

We had planned a BBQ in the evening, but it was so windy we cooked in our boats and ate together outside.  It did get pretty chilly.

4 miles
1 lock


Abingdon (River Thames) – Thursday 19th September

A day off!  These have been few and far between.  We had a very lazy morning before walking into town and to the Nags Head for lunch.  The meal was good but not as good as last time we were there.  The Nag's Head is situated on an island which sits in the middle of the two Abingdon Bridges.  I wondered what the history of the name the Nags Head was, apparently the story goes that a pub named The Nags Head relates to the practice of providing an all-clear signal to pirates wishing to come ashore at night, which was achieved by hanging a lantern around the neck of docile horse, who was then led back and forth along the shore.  I’m not sure there were many pirates in Abingdon! 

We took a short stroll round the town before heading back to the boats.

The County Hall was built between 1678 and 1683, primarily to house the Berkshire Assizes when they were held in Abingdon. Until the nineteenth century it was generally referred to as the Town Hall or the Market Hall, and the name County Hall was adopted only gradually. In 1869 Abingdon ceased to be an assize town but the building continued to be known as the County Hall.  The ground floor is an open arcade which was designed to house a market. 

Next year we are planning a canal holiday in France with Steve and Tracey, so I spent the afternoon researching canals and boats.  I think we will do the Canal du Midi and hire a Le Boat boat.  We did the Alsace and Lorraine back in 2016 hiring with Le Boat and we found them excellent.  The hardest part of that holiday was the handover.  The Le Boat staff all spoke German and had to translate into French.  My sister speaks some French so was translating back into English, it took forever, but we got there in the end!

We didn’t sit out for long as it got chilly.  I think blankets are called for in the evenings now!