Day 28 - mid Napton flight.

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We took on water and set off a little earlier today, hoping to beat the forecast rain. Whilst mild, the wind was very strong so coats were order of the day, despite the sunshine which in fact lasted until we moored for lunch at Marston Doles Lock (sometimes called the top of the Napton flight). En route we had to secure a narrowboat that a walker warned us about, bow moorings trailing in the water and boat stuck right across the canal, pinned in place by the wind. The ground was very soft so the mooring pins were not secure, even when knocked in as far as they'd go so we used the boat's centre line and tied it across the towpath to a secure post – naughty but necessary. After lunch it was still dry so we decided to risk the next 3 locks, reducing tomorrow's workload should the rain arrive by then – actually it finally arrived at gone 5pm this afternoon.







The Oxford is an extreme example of a contour canal, particularly at summit level and down the flight to Napton on the Hill – see map for our circuitous route today. There are very few buildings on the land around the summit but the Oxford Canal seems to go out of its way to visit them all. We lost all sense of direction with the twists and turns. We also had no signal on either of our phones, nor on the mobile dongle – we were expecting a call from Susan, who's visiting us tomorrow and it was mid-afternoon before I managed to pick up anything. That's the first time we've been in a dead area for so many hours.

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Photos

Definitely sheep country....
.... loads of plump lambs still expecting a drink from mum.

Iris, in profusion along the banks.
Also trefoil, violets, cow parsley and a host of others.

Pink hawthorn.
With the strength of the wind I think the blossom's days are numbered now.

Pill box.....
.... can't seem to get away from them but these ones aren't your normal sturdy invincible type - they're prefabricated and look decidedly shoddy; this one is leaning alarmingly. I really don't suppose they're part of a major defence line, like on the K & A.

Boat across the canal
More of a floating greenhouse actually.

Marston Doles Lock
and ex-wharf, complete with stables for the boaters' horses.

The old Engine House Arm
The steam driven engine would pump water into the summit level of the canal, as at Crofton on the K & A. The arm is used for private moorings now and is inaccessible by foot.

Napton on the Hill!
Super zoom but the canal doesn't go through it, only around it, so we'll just have to walk.