A Very Happy Christmas Was had By All

Well leading up to christmas we finished getting one or two other small gifts for the family. We got the food and drinks in and checked that we had everything we needed for the big day.
On christmas eve at 4.00 pm our eldest son Justin arrived and one hour later our youngest son Sam and his fiancee  Rachel arrived. We are so pleased to see them, we have missed seeing them and at this time of year it was really wonderful the family was together.

We had a lovely evening meal which consisted of a cooked ham and veg and cheese sauce, it's become a bit of a family tradition to cook a ham on christmas eve and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

As we had been all really good this last year and we knew Father Christmas would be visiting us we were not too late to bed (11.40 ish) with the knowledge that Father Christmas would visit.
Christmas morning we enjoyed a late breakfast before opening the presents.
We were all very pleased with the gifts we received.

Look What Father Christmas Left Us. 

Justin Waiting To Open Some Presents.

L to R Rachel, Sam Sharon & Eddy, Me And Justin

We had brought a Turkey crown for christmas dinner and we sat down to a wonderful meal which was enjoyed by all.
In the afternoon we played a game we had brought called Pie Face, it really is a very funny game (look it up on youtube) We all got splatted with the cream. Sharon has put a video on her facebook page.

Boxing morning and we all went in to Banbury in the morning, it was a sad day as our eldest son had to leave at lunch time as he has work boxing night. On Sunday we also said our goodbyes to Sam and Rachel as they had to leave as well.

It has been a really wonderful time with the family but very sad to have to say goodbye to them all.
I don't think we will see them again until our wonderful adventure has come to its end around March time. Thank goodness for skype.

On a positive note we have some very dear friends Roger & Anita coming to see us on the 29th for a night and then on New Year's Eve my cousin Johnny is visiting for a couple of days.

Banbury & A Merry Christmas To Our Readers.

Wednesday morning we had a very lazy start to the day, when I looked out of the window I said to Sharon how low the canal was, it was a good 10 inces down.
When the CRT licence chap passed  us I spoke to him about the lack of water  and he said he would report it and in the afternoon a CRT tug passed by. I spoke to them and they said the pumps have been turned on (who Turned them Off I wanted to Know) By Thursday the water was rising.
We decided to stay at Fenny Compton and have lunch at the Wharf Pub which we have eaten at before.
The food again was very good and we had a very enjoyable afternoon at the pub.
On Friday morning the skies were overcast and we set off at 9.00 the canal  was back to it's correct level.
I really enjoy cruising through what was once Fenny Compton Tunnel the top was removed some time in 1860/70 and apart from this section being very narrow you would be very hard pressed to see any evidence of a tunnel.

Fenny Compton Open Tunnel

Approaching A Lift Bridge

A good mornings cruise to Cropredy but every lock was against us which was a little odd as we passed a couple of boats coming the other way and both told us there they had not seen another boat all morning.
We moored just through Cropredy for the evening.

On Saturday we set off at 8.30 and headed to Banbury a really lovely cruise although the wind was a bit gusty at times.
We  have moored in the same spot as we had before when we were last in Banbury.
We have our son's coming up on Christmas Eve for a couple of days, we are really looking forward to seeing them both and our youngest son's fiancee Rachel Christmas.

Although the weather is very mild we have the fire alight, there is something very relaxing and homely about having the stove alite also Eddy enjoys it.

When I was out looking around some of the shops for one or two last presents I met John Craven in Marks & Sparks. I had a quick chat with him, he is a nice chap and wished me a Merry Christmas and I him.

Sharon & I along with Eddy Wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.

Time Travelled Friday 4 Hrs, Distance Travelled 6 Miles 8 Locks.

Time Travelled Friday 2.5 Hours 5.5 Miles 3 Locks

Total Distance Travelled 1048.5 Miles 

207 Locks (Broad )507 single locks and 18 tunnel's, 10 Massive Lock

Total Tunnel length 10957 yards   
Total Time 557.5. hours  

We Are Loving It so Much

 

Napton & Present Swapping With Friends Back To Fenny

Friday morning and the weather was overcast but not raining so we had porridge for breakfast before going to the water point at the Junction of the Oxford and Grand Union Canal. after doing the necessary we turned right and headed along the oxford canal as we will be making our way back to Banbury for Christmas.
Our two son's Justin and Sam & sam's fiancee Rachel will be coming up Christmas Eve for a few days we are so very excited we can't wait to see them all again and have a wonderful christmas with them all.
We also have Roger & Anita coming to spend a night with us after Christmas it will be really good to see them as we last saw them in August, so we (roger & me) will have a few beers and the ladies will have whatever they want.

Braunston Junction

The cruise up to Napton was very pleasant and it's really lovely to be cruising this time of year as there are very few boats about in fact we only passed 2 other boats moving all day.
We moored between the bottom lock and the next lock up.

On Saturday we had Mike & Karel from N/B Jessy May visit us for lunch, Sharon had cooked a wonderful lamb casserole in the Wonderbag for us all and very nice it was to.
Mike & Karel have become good friends of ours since we first met them on the Llangollen Canal in May this year. We have had some wonderful times with them and their dogs. We also cruised with them for a while in August and early september.

Mike & Karel On Jessie May On Llangollen Canal

As usual the time went by so fast and after exchanging christmas gifts we said our goodbyes to them all knowing we will see them again in the early part of 2016.
We stayed put on Sunday and had a relaxing day doing not a lot.

Monday morning at 8.00 a single handed boat passed us and went up the locks, when we set off the first lock we came to the top gate was wide open and this was the same all the way up the flight consequently each pound was well down so a call to CRT to inform them was made and with in an hour they arrived and started to pump water down and one of the guys even prepared the last two locks at Marston Doles for us.

Marston Doles Lock.

We moored at Bridge 122 as we like this spot for the night.

Tuesday we woke to a very grey day but mild and set off to Fenny Compton which we plan to stay at till Thursday. We will use the laundrette at The Wharf Pub as we have some big blankets that won't fit in our washing machine.
We have decorated Tacet for Christmas we have two trees and some decorations up and it looks very festive we think.

Knitted Nativity Scene

Our Metal Tree 

Our Real Tree

Christmas Socks & Candy Canes

This Little Fellow Was Outside Our Window Yesterday
Lovely Christmas Photo

Time Travelled Monday 3 Hrs, Distance Travelled 3 Miles 8 Locks.

Time Travelled Tuesday 2.5 Hours 5.5 Miles 
Total Distance Travelled 1037 Miles 

207 Locks (Broad ) 496 single locks and 18 tunnel's, 10 Massive Lock

Total Tunnel length 10957 yards   
Total Time 550.5. hours  

We Are Loving It so Much

Still In Braunston

We are still in Braunston and on Sunday we enjoyed a very nice sunday roast at the Boathouse, very nice to have a good selection of veg on the plate and an enormous homemade yorkshire and not the rubbish frozen ones some pubs sell.

The Boathouse Pub At Night

Sunday afternoon we had a visit from Chris & Peter who we last saw when last in Braunston. We enjoyed catching up with them again.

On Tuesday we had Simon come and service Tacet and do a couple of other jobs.
Wednesday we woke to a very slight frost and as the weather forecast was for a sunny day we went for a cruise up to Barby Marina and winded to return to Braunston. On the way I managed to snap this swan landing just in front of us as we cruised along.

Coming In To Land

Touch Down

We had a really lovely day cruising all but a bit chilly,

Ridge & Furrows In The Field

We Are Not Alone

Blue Skies And Sheep In The Field

It's lovely to see the countryside without the trees in leaf you get to see so much further

We have arranged for Mark of Star Cross Carrying a trade boat supplying Fuel,coal ect to fill our diesel tank. Late afternoon Mark pulls up beside us and duly fills the diesel tank.

Thursday as the weather forecast is not very good we are going to get a bus to Daventry to stock up on provisions and do a bit more christmas shopping.

Time Travelled Wednesday 3 Hrs, Distance Travelled 7 Miles 
Total Distance Travelled 1023.5. Miles 

207 Locks (Broad ) 483 single locks and 18 tunnel's, 10 Massive Lock

Total Tunnel length 10957 yards   
Total Time 545. hours  

We Are Loving It so Much

!000 Miles And Counting

Thursday morning being a special day (my Birthday) and the day we would clock up over a thousand miles on our adventure.
we woke to an overcast morning  and a light breeze, so with the weather forecast predicting heavy rain and high winds late afternoon. We set off at 8.30.
I do really enjoy cruising on the Oxford canal more so in the winter with hardly any other boats moving in fact we only passed one other boat cruising all day the views are really wonderful now most of the tree's have lost their leaves. Winding around the very tight bends at times you seem to be going back from the direction you came from only to take another sweeping bend and your heading the right way again.

Twisty Oxford Canal

Eddy Looking At His Lunch.

Approaching Napton Top Lock the towpath grass and bushes had received its winter cut and all the grass cuttings were in the canal blocking the entry in to the lock which made getting into the lock very difficult but sharon done a fantastic job in getting in, but because of all the cuttings I had to make a visit down the weed hatch to clear a load of grass and twigs from the prop. The pound between the top lock and next lock was about 2 ft low so sharon took it really slowly round and we got in to the lock ok.

Napton Locks

I called CRT and reported the that the bottom of the canal was to close to the top of the water and the problem seemed to be that the top gates leak like a sieve and so does the bottom gates of the same lock allowing the water to drain out of the pound through the lock and out in to the next pound. CRT said they would send someone out to have a look.
Going down the Napton locks we clocked up our 1000 mile and both reflected on how much we have seen this year and how many wonderful new friends we have met. We moored at Napton Bridge and had just but the kettle on when the skies opened and the wind picked up, it stayed wet and windy all through the night.

Friday we woke to a completely different day blue skies and no wind so we set off at 9.30 for the cruise up to Braunston. A really lovely cruise wonderful sights and today we passed 2 other boats that were also cruising.

Blue Skies Towards Braunston

Napton Narrowboats At The End Of
 The Season

Braunston Church

We are moored in Braunston for the weekend.

Time Travelled Thursday 6 Hrs, Distance Travelled 10.5 Miles 9 Locks
Time Travelled Friday 2.5 Hrs Distance  Distance Travelled 6.5 Miles

Total Distance Travelled 1016.5. Miles 

207 Locks (Broad ) 483 single locks and 18 tunnel's, 10 Massive Lock

Total Tunnel length 10957 yards   
Total Time 542. hours  

We Are Loving It so Much

We Like Banbury

We had stayed in Banbury as Sharon had told me I was becoming a bit luggie (Deaf) so off to Boots to get some stuff for my ears. After being advised what to use from the chemist I returned and duly set about treating the ears. Well, when I woke the next morning I could not hear a thing.
So an appointment was made at the Health center on Friday. I saw a very helpful doctor who said I had a buildup of wax and gave me a prescription for some stuff to soften it and made a follow up appointment for me to see the nurse on Tuesday to have my ears irrigated. I duly arrived on Tuesday to be told by the nurse that it is there protocol to wait 7 days before irrigating the ears, to say I was a bit annoyed at this would be an understatement.
So as my hearing had returned a bit in one ear we decided to move on and come back later to have my ears treated if I can't sort them out myself.
Whilst in Banbury over the weekend they had the christmas light switch on which unfortunately was on a very wet sunday evening but the event was well attended and the town had a fun fair as well.

Before The Rain Came

Wet Evening For Switch On

I Took This Shot The Following Evening
At 7.00 

I Took This Shot The Following Evening 
At 7.00 

Fun Fair

Switch On Night

I think the lights in Banbury are rather nice.

Wednesday we left Banbury as we are heading back to Braunston as Tacet is due an engine service and we have arranged this for Tuesday.
We had a really lovely cruise today although the wind was a bit blustery the sun was with us most of the day, so were most of the locks and it was really nice to see other boats moving as well.
We filled with water at Cropredy and then on to the remainder of the locks. The plan was to moor at the top of Claydon locks but as we had made such good time we cruised on to Fenny Crompton and even got a full load of washing done on the way. So moored at Fenny for the night. It's been a really lovely day today thoroughly enjoyed it.

Time Travelled Wednesday 5 Hrs, Distance Travelled 9.5 Miles 12 Locks

Total Distance Travelled 992.5. Miles 

207 Locks (Broad ) 474 single locks and 18 tunnel's, 10 Massive Lock

Total Tunnel length 10957 yards   
Total Time 534. hours  

We Are Loving It so Much