Tuesday 26 June 2012

You never know who’s round the corner ...

Monday morning - time to go ... we dropped down Pigeon Lock and moored up to walk into Kirtlington about a mile and a half away to pick up supplies ...
Remember this boat from yesterday’s posting?  Well, we saw this notice as we walked towards the village ...
... Mill Lane Farm ...
... and this is the sight we’d seen whilst walking the day before ... it was hot and sunny and customers to the farm tea shop were sitting on garden swings, comfy chairs and sofas at tables covered with colourful cloths with a vase of wild flowers on each, whilst shaded from the sun (and rain possibly) eating in what I could only call a taste of heaven - I can’t think of a better way to spend a few hours with family and friends.
We continued our walk past Kirtlington Quarry which is now a Nature Reserve (click to read more)








We’ve arrived in Kirtlington village







Lovely honey coloured stone houses







and the Olympic Torch will be arriving in the village on July 9th








The Dashwood Hotel
grade II listed








Looking across the village green








Georgian architecture side-by-side with stone cottages







The Cenotaph and Old Reading Room






and a chocolate box thatched cottage as we make our way back to the boats ...




... where Mags was feeding the Moorhens who in turn were feeding their chicks ... lovely!







We’ve upped sticks again and continue on our way ...
Rock n Roll taken from the towpath
and a few minutes later - Geoff had called out that there was a boat coming round the corner - and guess who it was - Maffi who with a friend, he was moving a boat for another friend - we all arranged to meet later - at the pub!




Passing the time of day with other boat crews as I descend Bakers Lock where the canal joins the River Cherwell.  Although the river status was just below red the flow was calm







Where the river comes in







Listening/transmission dishes in the distance
The old cement factory - the only blot on the landscape







The river meanders this way and that ...






... it was a lovely stretch and we wished that it was much longer than one mile ...







This stretch of the Cherwell ends ...







... at Shipton Weir Lock - a similar shape to Aynho Lock and although the drop is only about 12-14” it took ages to be ready ...







A dated coping stone by the top gate of the lock








Shipton Bridge with its stop lock






Holy Cross Church from the canal at Shipton-on-Cherwell








Approaching Thrupp Wharf







Maffi’s boat







Seyella arriving soon after
A great end to the day at The Boat Inn.

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