Saturday 10th May
Stopped for the night by Rolt's bridge, almost exactly the same mooring as we have had twice before. Ideal here for shopping but Banbury seems sadly short of good restaurants. The one we had looked up online which had good reviews for its pies, was closed down due to the owner being unwell. So we ended up in The Church House for a beer - a vast noisy, chasm of a place, obviously once a church which is a beautiful building, but totally lacks atmosphere as a bar. We ate in Pizza Express - it seemed a safe option.
On to Aynho in the raging wind. Anni skittering about like the little water boatman she is. She sits very lightly and delicately on the surface which is helpful in lots of ways, but not when the wind gusts. We passed glorious countryside as usual, scurrying cloud shadows across acid green rape fields. It's warm and sheltered in the bow with one crache cover firmly zipped up against the wind. I let Pete drive because he can steer in the wind and managed most locks on my own; so good for stretching out those tired old back muscles.
Little Bourton lock is very sad. In our admittedly old Nicholson's guide it describes it as "the beautifully kept Little Bourton Lock and cottage. " The 'garden' on one side of the lock is completely wild and tangled and the cottage on the other is boarded against vandals with a sign saying 'owned by boaters, please report any suspicious activity'. It appears some work is being done to restore it - a trench around the front for drainage (you can see how damp the brickwork is) and some new corrugated roofing to outbuildings which was clattering in the wind and may not stay put! Let's hope those boaters are able to get it back into a loved condition. One feature I like is a pair of cat's eyes someone has painted on a boarded window. Probably not sufficiently scary to ward off the vandals though.
Further on our route is Kings Sutton Lock where there is a beautiful house that has been for sale since we came by last year. Opposite it on the other side of the lock is an old barn which looks as though it needs work but could be nice. We seem to remember looking up the price and thinking it was rather high though. Not that we are thinking of moving!
Had to stop at the Pig Place of course. And just next door by the next lift bridge is another beautiful property for sale : think this would be way beyond our means though!
Rolt's bridge Banbury
Stopped for the night by Rolt's bridge, almost exactly the same mooring as we have had twice before. Ideal here for shopping but Banbury seems sadly short of good restaurants. The one we had looked up online which had good reviews for its pies, was closed down due to the owner being unwell. So we ended up in The Church House for a beer - a vast noisy, chasm of a place, obviously once a church which is a beautiful building, but totally lacks atmosphere as a bar. We ate in Pizza Express - it seemed a safe option.
On to Aynho in the raging wind. Anni skittering about like the little water boatman she is. She sits very lightly and delicately on the surface which is helpful in lots of ways, but not when the wind gusts. We passed glorious countryside as usual, scurrying cloud shadows across acid green rape fields. It's warm and sheltered in the bow with one crache cover firmly zipped up against the wind. I let Pete drive because he can steer in the wind and managed most locks on my own; so good for stretching out those tired old back muscles.
Little Bourton lock is very sad. In our admittedly old Nicholson's guide it describes it as "the beautifully kept Little Bourton Lock and cottage. " The 'garden' on one side of the lock is completely wild and tangled and the cottage on the other is boarded against vandals with a sign saying 'owned by boaters, please report any suspicious activity'. It appears some work is being done to restore it - a trench around the front for drainage (you can see how damp the brickwork is) and some new corrugated roofing to outbuildings which was clattering in the wind and may not stay put! Let's hope those boaters are able to get it back into a loved condition. One feature I like is a pair of cat's eyes someone has painted on a boarded window. Probably not sufficiently scary to ward off the vandals though.
Further on our route is Kings Sutton Lock where there is a beautiful house that has been for sale since we came by last year. Opposite it on the other side of the lock is an old barn which looks as though it needs work but could be nice. We seem to remember looking up the price and thinking it was rather high though. Not that we are thinking of moving!
Had to stop at the Pig Place of course. And just next door by the next lift bridge is another beautiful property for sale : think this would be way beyond our means though!
Rolt's bridge Banbury
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