Queuing at Napton.....

Moved onto the South Oxford Canal today, reached Napton Locks and found 4 boats already waiting to go up the locks. Whilst we waited we filled up with water, emptied the loo, dumped the rubbish and Jenny went to the little shop next to the Folly Pub to get a newspaper.

The couple in the little shop are really friendly and stock all the basics you could need whilst boating. There is another shop in the village but it is a bit of a walk away, that shop is also a post office and has been for sale for nearly 4 years. The Folly shop is much more convenient, the lady in the shop says she is going to write a book about all the peculiar items they get asked for, she also says that a few boaters obviously get a surprise when they get back to their boats.... the couple keep their own milk (for tea and coffee etc.) and their own spread for their sarnies right at the back of the fridge, but the customers still pick up the half used containers and buy them!!

Anyway, back to cruising, it took us 3 and a half hours to work the Napton flight, (including waiting time) there were that many boats about.

Now we are moored in the middle of nowhere between Marston Doles and Fenny Compton at we call 'our aerial mooring'. From here you can see for miles and miles......

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Our 'normal' cruising day is about 4 hours, so, when we get a delay like we did today, we still have plenty of time. Today, however, we met a hireboat intent on completing the Thames ring in 2 weeks... Why do people still try to do this... I know the boat costs a lot of money to hire and you want to get your moneys worth but surely, you don't get a chance to see anything apart from the canal and river, what about all the lovely villages and walks.....