Thursday 13 August and the next stop is Barby, but news from the Met Office is of torrential rain and thunderstorms later today.
At Hillmorton Wharf, this pub looks like an old boating establishment
Beautifully painted cabin - and note the giraffe
...and other wildlife
Another traditional cabin side
...and a traditional cabin of another kind, a mobile shepherd's hut
While this looks like something from Barbarella
The M1 of the canal system is 'Barby Straight'. which is, very
Torrential rain prediction turns out correct
...so we take the path of least resistance and moor up for the night
Ridge and furrow pattern in the fields clearly visible. This was a method of cultivation common in medieval times and some of the best preserved are in grazing land in Oxfordshire
Another view of Barby Straight with a very handsome bridge
Moored just north of Braunston, heading in for some shopping and lunch
Looking towards Braunston
Walking to the village via a footpath through fields (and sheep)
The windmill, dating from 1800 and now a holiday let
Braunston Marina and the very busy working boatyard
Another view of the marina
The friendly rope and fender shop, where we bought rope shackles to hang our side fenders from
Braunston is pround of its heritage and its long association with the canal Plaque outside the Stop House, now a CRT information centre
We stopped for lunch at the Gongoozlers' Rest cafe boat, our first meal out since lockdown began! 70 foot traditional working boat Renfrew
performing a tricky turn He's steering into the Oxford Canal and will reverse back out to turn A warm summer evening shining brass
Fitting the newly polished tiller handle and pin
Meanwhile, Jan touches up scuffs on the hull
Evening light over Braunston
The next day we turn west here onto five miles or so of the Grand Union Canal before continuing south on the Oxford Canal at Napton Junction
Beautifully painted small narrowboat Vole
Not incredibly impressive but it is Bridge 100 on the Grand Union
Wild flowers, wheat and sunflowers
Saturday and Sunday nights we stayed in Wigrams Turn Marina at Napton Junction to catch up on laundry and some R & R before the next leg of our journey.
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