Unhappy Hamish

It’s been some time since I posted a blog with the main reason being that we haven’t actually done a lot. With Carolyn doing all her keep fit plus wondering around the town plus a bit of ice on the canal it’s all been very quiet. Hamish as always loves it here as he has a lovely big park to walk and run in .It’s also a big thank you to all the hard working volunteers that keep this park in tip top condition.

Something we always do when we are here at this time of year is to get Hamish all of his inoculations done which is something that he is not very keen on. As you can see he knows something is going on and does not look at all happy.

He has now twigged as to what is going to happen . After a thorough examination from the Vet he is given a clean bill of health. Now for the jab and Carolyn has to hold him down with all her strength as he gets the needle. He also needed to have his kennel cough which is a drug that they squirt up his nose. There was no way he was going to have that done with us there in the room and in the end the Vet had to take him out the back where they caught him by surprise and did the deed . Needless to say he was not a happy Bunny ,but at least he hasn’t got to go through that for another 12 months.

On the way back we decided to pick up a Pasty from the West Cornish Pasty co . Unfortunately there isn’t a Devon Pasty shop in the area which sells far better made and tastier pasty’s.The last few times we have been here they have always given a discount for visiting Boaters and with a normal Pasty costing a fiver that’s very welcomed. But now they have stopped giving the discount so needless to say we will not be using them again.

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Out and about

 

As you can see we have the most perfect mooring in Banbury . It’s right next to Spiceball park which is ideal for the number one ship’s dog Hamish. With plenty of Rabbits for him to chase he is in his element. The only problem being is that the Rabbits are far too fast for Hamish and he never manages to catch one.

Also next to our mooring is the Spiceball leisure centre. Carolyn being keen on her fitness has taken out a Months membership at the centre even though we won’t be here that long, it just worked out cheaper to do it that way instead of paying for all the individual workouts. So far she has signed up for Aquafit, 20-20-20  ,body pump ,boot camp, legs burns and turns and circuit training . It makes me feel tired just thinking about it.

As always if there’s a Wetherspoons near to us we usually end up visiting it. Here in Banbury we have The Exchange and no doubt this will not be our only visit.

There was no way that we were going to walk past Poundland with a sale like this on. The sale was down to 50 pence and now it’s 25 pence .It seems that the shop is closing down and everything needs to go. Needless to say it was just the same old crap just at a cheaper price. We did though buy a couple of packets of Pork scratchings which I love, Last of the big spenders…

With another week or so here we have a few things planned just as long as we can squeeze them in with Carolyn’s exercise programme.

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Imagine

 

On a grey day we pulled pins at 08.30 from our mooring above the lock at Cropredy. We passed this boat before the lock and it looks like someone enjoys their music.

After filling with water and getting shot of the waste at Cropredy services we soon passed this guy and what a miserable old git he is . We gave him a wave and a smile but he just ignored us . It’s not like we were speeding or anything like that. Anyway Carolyn said he is no different to me ,although I don’t know what she means by that.

A couple of miles outside of Banbury and how lucky are we to see this Chap in the reeds next to the canal . I think it’s a Roe Deer ,but I might be wrong. How about that for a bit of Camouflage, I think this is the closest we have ever been to a wild Deer.

As you enter Banbury there are always a couple of miserable looking Donkeys in this field. When we come back this way in a couple of weeks we will make sure that we have a few Carrots that we can throw to them as we pass just to cheer them up a bit.

After a good two and a half cruise with just four locks we are lucky enough to pick up the mooring we wanted . It’s right in front of Tom Rolt bridge and next to Spiceball park and the Spiceball Leisure centre. It’s then it’s just a small hop away from the main town of Banbury. It seems like with her Ladyship being happy here having signed up at the leisure centre for several activities this will do us for the next week or so.

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HELL HOLE

 

We decided to spend the day at Cropredy and as always we try to support the local shops as well as the coal/diesel boats. They are always handy for basics such as milk ,bread ,butter and of course the odd bottle of wine if we are running short. Cropredy has a very good shop which is located near to the services so is handy if you are passing through the village.

After leaving the shop we walked up to the Church and had to walk up this path to get there.It’s an Ancient pathway leading from the church and I have no idea why it’s called Hell Hole. Maybe if you were buried in the Churchyard and you didn’t fit in you would be sent down this path. If anyone knows the real reason for the name I would love to know what it means.

Unfortunately we couldn’t have a look in the church as they are carrying out repairs, but it gave Carolyn the chance to spend a bit longer looking for my possible final resting place in the churchyard.

This is one of the older parts of the village with thatched cottages and a very handy pub called The Red Lion. We were going to go in to the pub for something to eat but after looking at some of the reviews on Trip advisor we decided against it.

Looking back towards Cropredy lock and then further on towards our mooring.

Now for a bit of a rant…      This is what always puts us off mooring here in Cropredy. There are House’s all over the network which back onto a canal ,but this is one of the few places where the residents that live opposite the moorings seem to have a problem with boater’s. At the end of the day the canal was here hundreds of years before the house’s were built and they must have realised what living next to a canal with moorings would mean when they bought their house’s, unless they were stupid . 99.9% of boaters do not run their engine unless they have to as obviously it cost’s money ,so the engines are only run until the batteries are fully charged. And if the residents think anyone is going to move in the middle of the day to below the lock to charge their batteries they must be round the twist. It’s very rare that we ever encounter another boat running their engine after 8pm and before 8am and in most cases boater’s themselves will have a word with the offending boater, at least I will, although Carolyn tries to stop me.      Come on Cropredy get rid of those uninviting signs and instead welcome boats to your lovely village.

Anyway tomorrow we will pull pins early and head in to Banbury and hopefully pick up our favourite mooring just before Tom Rolt bridge.

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Scarecrows

 

After another great holiday together it was time for Curly to head back down to Devon. Chloe drove up the previous day and stayed aboard for the night before departing at 10.00. As you can see Curly is a bit disappointed to be leaving but she is also pleased to be going home and going back to School if that makes any sense . As soon as they left we pulled pins with the plan of getting all the way to Cropredy ,so in thick Mizzle we headed over the highest point of the Oxford canal. To get over the top to Claydon it’s an 11 mile journey with the canal weaving its way around all the hills due to it being a contour canal . In fact if you walked in a straight line it would only be 4 miles and you would probably get there quicker.

Still here and this has to be the most photographed boat on the Oxford canal. The guy just dug out a hole in the field and canal bank, drove the boat in and then filled the canal bank in. It’s now been like it for a few years so I guess it must be legal as it’s still there.

One for Ann on NB Oakfield, looking good now but I bet this tree looks great when it’s in full leaf.

Approaching Claydon and this is the first lift bridge we have been through for a long time. Luckily it was in the up position as we passed through.

Arriving and entering Claydon top lock and we have always liked the look of this cottage . I know it was up for sale the last time we came through here but I’m not sure if it ever sold or not.

After descending the Claydon flight of 5 locks which dropped us down 30 feet and 6 inches we passed Clattercote Wharf. As you can see the Scarecrows are having a welcomed Winter break after guarding the fields of Squashes which the Farmer grows here in the Summer.

Looks like someone liked Che Guevara .

After a most enjoyable cruise it ended up taking only five and a half hours to reach our destination of Cropredy. With the moorings above the lock in the village empty we had our pick of where to tie up. With some miserable people in the Bungalows opposite who don’t seem to like boaters we moored back a bit, but more about that in the next update. We will now have a day or two here before moving onto Banbury.

                                                                                                      Happy Days