Now at Braunston (near Rugby)

Since the last post we have climbed up the flight of 8 locks from Claydon onto the summit pound of the Oxford Canal.  The Canal meanders around then for 11 miles in a zig-zag fashion so that at times it seemed we were going round in circles.  We spent one night in an isolated spot with new born lambs and their mothers for company.

For some of this stretch of canal we had distant views of Warwickshire.  It always amazes us to find a waterway near the top of a hill with extensive views.  It is this that really sets canals apart from rivers which have a habit of only living in valleys.

On Friday we came down from the summit (about 400 feet above sea level) which entails a descent of 8 locks down to Napton where the Oxford Canal meets the Grand Union.  After some debate at lunchtime we decided to go a few miles beyond the junction to Braunston near Rugby where we are now moored.  Braunston is a famous canal place with lots of boats and a second canal junction with signs to Birmingham, Oxford, Coventry and London.

Today all four of us got on our little folding bikes (David refers to these as ‘circus bikes’) and cycled about 9 miles to Crick partly for the exercise and partly to amuse ourselves looking at some other narrow boats in a marina there.  One 70 footer we looked at had a super bathroom with a bath and a huge living area, but overall we prefer our boats Leo and Pas Mèche.

Plans from here are to go up the Grand Union via Leamington Spa and Warwick to Birmingham later this week.  Lots of locks to look forward to and these are double ones so we can get both boats in one lock.