Traffic Jams

 Back on the Grand Union Canal briefly

The forecast for today was dry and bright, but the sky was black as we prepared to set off. We decided to leave the hood up as rain seemed inevitable. We set off and soon reached Braunston Junction which was manic. There were boats moored on both sides of the narrow canal, leaving only room for a single boat to pass - much stopping and starting and frenzied manouvering to avoid heavy crunches! We squeezed our way through and turned right onto the Grand Union Canal, heading towards Oxford. Moments later we recognised a boat called Kaydee coming the other way - it was Bill and Babs from Kecksy's Farm where Banjo is usually moored. We last saw them on the River Lee near Waltham Abbey back in May. They had been to Bristol and were heading back home in the opposite direction, taking the Grand Union back south.

 A cute foal

 A crowded holiday boat

After leaving the Grand Union at Napton junction and joining the Oxford Canal again, we reached the Napton flight of locks by early afternoon and started to hear tales of woe from oncoming boaters. The water levels on the Oxford Canal are low and so British Waterways have stated that this flight of locks will only be open between 9am and 4pm, to save water. This means that boats arriving at the flight after 4pm have to wait until 9am the following day to move, leading to queues. We were lucky and only had a couple of boats ahead of us, and every lock in the flight had a boat coming the other way which meant that all the locks were set in our favour for once. As we left the top lock, there were over 30 boats waiting, and the locks were about to close! These people have a very long wait ahead.

 Napton on the Hill

 More horned beasts

 Beautiful afternoon

Once clear of the locks, we cruised along through some beautiful rolling countryside in brilliant sunshine, passing several boats heading in the direction of the queue!

Tonight's mooring

We have moored up in the middle of nowhere amongst fields and trees with only the birds and things creeping through the undergrowth for company. Tomorrow we will reach Cropredy, the site of next weekend's folk festival, headlined by Fairport Convention, and where there will be a large number of boats and general mayhem. Hopefully we will squeeze through and head on to Banbury, but there are 13 locks between here and there and some inevitable queues.....