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Banbury 2025

June 2025. We have just bought our new car (all the way to Hereford to collect). It’s massive, a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, but we love it.

Wednesday 4th June

We travelled from home to Barby Moorings. It was a day of preparation for the trip to Banbury. The weather has changed – after weeks of drought and warm weather it is windy, wet and quite cool.

Tomorrow is polishing the boat day in Barby covered dock.

Thursday 5th June

Polishing the boat day. It was hard work. There is a lot of boat in 65 feet length!! The weather was terrible but we were undercover in the marina’s service dock

Friday 6th June Day 1

The day began with rain, and it was cold. We lit the fire last night – it was that cold!

By lunchtime the rain stopped and we began our trip to Banbury. It didn’t rain at all and we moored up just below the Napton locks, ready to tackle them tomorrow.

Saturday 7th June Day 2

We awoke to rain and a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms. Nevertheles we ploughed on through the very pleasant Napton locks. This is a flight of 8 locks but is in very beautiful surroundings.

Amazingly, we experienced no rain and the canal was vey quiet. We only encountered one boat on the Napton flight. We did have two goes at mooring in order to obtain a decent 4G signal – essential!!

Sunday 8th June Day 3

Today was a lock free day, travelling through beautiful rural countryside. On the way the massive HS2 structure was prevalent, with a bridge crossing the canal.

We filled up with water at Fenny Compton (of Mr Bates versus the Post Office fame) and carried on to just above the next set of locks.

Monday 9th June Day 4

It was quite a tricky day today. There seems to have been a bit if an issue down at Cropredy. As a result boats were being held from going up and coming down. At one lock we waited an hour in a queue of 5 boats waiting to go down a lock. It was really busy, with many boats going up and coming down.

Going through one bridge we were hit by another boat. He was shouting it was our fault but he did nothing to reverse or change course. Most people on the canal are very friendly and helpful. But there’s always the odd one!!

Tuesday 10th June Day 5

Last night’s mooring was 5 star. Lovely views, no other boats AND fast internet!!!

Today we travelled the last few miles to Banbury, through 3 locks and quite a few boats. Luckily we crossed over quite a few boats at locks which makes it easier.

We intend to stay a couple of days in Banbury

Wednesday 11th June Day 6

Today was an easier day – shopping!!

Pauline went charity shopping then we stocked up at Lidl. Just chilling today, ready for the return journey tomorrow. The weather is very warm and dry – perfect. Having been stung with poor takeaways we cooked in. Griddled chicken, air fryer chips and peas. Lovely.

Thursday 12th June Day 7

Lock 30, just south of Banbury has apparently been struck by a boat, with the lock balance beam destroyed. It has been closed for 3 days whilst being repaired, causing a massive queue either side of the lock.

Luckily we were not going that far. We ventured to the next winding hole, turned round and headed back to Rugby. We were incredible lucky with the weather. As soon as we stopped for the day and moored up, the heavens opened.

Friday 13th June Day 8

We cruised for 6 and a half hours today in the heat. It was 29 degrees on the boat. The canals were fairly empty, except for the locks!!! Don’t know why that is.

We filled up with diesel at Fenny Compton and cruised on a great mooring next to the HS2 project. Internet speed was 50Mb/s. I didn’t know you could get that on 4g.

 

Saturday 14th June Day 9

Well today was a very interesting day. We always intended it to be a short day and we were moored in a 3 star mooring (great internet, views and quiet).

The cruise started well and the weather was warm and dry. We eventually moored up at a mooring with little internet – catastrophe!! We moved on only to come across an unmanned drifting boat which had broken free in the high winds. We decided to re-moor the boat, with help from another boater. However, the boat and lines were filthy. We did eventually secure it and carried on but without the bow thruster, which had blown. It wasn’t the fuse but the sheer pin. We moored up just above the Napton flight of locks and tried to fix the bow thruster. It took about 2 hours but succeeded, with me covered in dirt and oil. Note to self ” put in a lower value fuse ie 350 amps so that goes before the sheer pin!!!”.

Sunday 15th June Day 10

Lock day today. We descended the 9 Napton locks in one go. It wasn’t too bad really, with half of the locks swapping over with a boat coming up. The weather was also sunny and warm. We could have cruised all the way back to the marina in one go but we decided to moor up at 1pm.

Monday 16th June Day 11

Back to Barby Moorings….. In a heat wave!!!!