2nd August
Lock Stats
Today: 12 locks
Grand total: 155 locks
Grand total: 155 locks
To go: 124 locks
Making a fairly early departure I headed towards Fenny Compton with the aim of making it to Napton Junction, this would make this my last stretch of the Oxford Canal. There was a group of walkers who gave me a cheery wave as is the custom on the canals!
The Oxford at this point has a big flat pound but takes a looping, meandering route and is wide but shallow on the off warpath side meaning that it was not so easy to get out of the way of oncoming boats as they would perceive.
Pushing onward I was surprised at the lack of progress but none the less I enjoyed the picturesque scenery. The end of the summit pound was signified by the Napton flight which dropped away ahead of me. Nearing the end of the day my first major junction between canals was is view. Two boats shot out of the canal in from the left at far to fast a pace and it took some nifty manoeuvring to avoid a collision, luckily I was being fairly cautious which probably helped.
Making a fairly early departure I headed towards Fenny Compton with the aim of making it to Napton Junction, this would make this my last stretch of the Oxford Canal. There was a group of walkers who gave me a cheery wave as is the custom on the canals!
The Oxford at this point has a big flat pound but takes a looping, meandering route and is wide but shallow on the off warpath side meaning that it was not so easy to get out of the way of oncoming boats as they would perceive.
Pushing onward I was surprised at the lack of progress but none the less I enjoyed the picturesque scenery. The end of the summit pound was signified by the Napton flight which dropped away ahead of me. Nearing the end of the day my first major junction between canals was is view. Two boats shot out of the canal in from the left at far to fast a pace and it took some nifty manoeuvring to avoid a collision, luckily I was being fairly cautious which probably helped.
Napton Junction
So now the grand union was ahead, I had no experience of the grand union having heard tales of it being hard work for single handers but if anything it was easier than the K&A as the locks and paddles where much easier to work. As with all the canals the Grand Union had a character of its own with distinctive bollards and paddle gear.
I had ambitions at the beginning of the day of taking on the Stockton Locks but I was going to have to satisfy myself with the Calcutt locks for today.
Calcutt Locks
Evening Mooring at Gibraltar Bridge
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