Southwards in the sun

The weather gets better, the boating gets better, what’s not to like?

We had a more leisurely start for once, not getting underway until nearly eight o’clock. Sheila made short work of the swing bridge and lock, and off we plodded into the wilds of Oxfordshire. There’s a lot less traffic about now; we suspect most of the hire boats don’t come south of Banbury, with the exception of Oxfordshire Narrowboats out of Lower Heyford, of course.

There continues to be a rather tedious, chill northerly breeze, but apart from that it’s been glorious. As the Pearson’s guide comments, the canal is more like a river here, no doubt influenced by the Cherwell running alongside.

Daft comment of the day: “That boat’s too long to get through Aynho Diamond Lock” from a privateer coming the other way. (Sanity Again was tight in the lock, but no question of lifting fenders or anything.)

Most enterprising commercial endeavour: the farm shop above Nell Bridge, advertising free range sausages, meet the piglets, and water buffalo ice cream.

Good moorings: lots of opportunities out in the country, but we’ve stopped just short of Aynho Wharf, opposite a field full of sheep and lambs.

Handy shop: Aynho Wharf stocks a lot more than most boatyard shops, including a good range of Ecover products, more than most supermarkets, and a varied supply of newspapers, including the Indy, would you believe.

We’ve spent the afternoon loafing on the bow, quite frankly, reading and dozing in splendid summer sun.