Cropredy

I was first up this morning .. the wrinkly went through the night, bless her...Tea, fresh fruit smoothie's and bacon banjo's for all. Lovely bright, warm sunny day, a mini heatwave is forecast for the next few days and the yellow house on the opposite bank has a sprinkler system going full pelt in readiness..

We untied from the bank at 09:00 and made our way past the line of resident moorers and the small Fenny marina on the right. Under three bridges and through the flora of Fenny Compton Tunnel with the railway line running along its length, then a small wooded section before the landscape opens up once more to arable and cattle farming. It's not long before the first of the 5 Claydon Locks come in to view, these herald our descent into the Cherwell valley.

Sue and Betty disembark and and don't board again till we are at the bottom lock, again Betty helps with the top gates while I close the bottom gate behind me. Lots of boaters about to pass the time of day with.  A share boat crew didn't want to share lock duties but we don't really care if crews want to help it is gratefully excepted, if not, no problem.

A couple of swans and their brood of six cygnets enter one of the Claydon locks with us the swans hop up on the lock side and wander of with two of the family following, the other four couldn't be coaxed to join them. So they descended on a half paddle with FL, a panicky moment as all four decided to pass down the side of the boat to the stern but we all emerged unscathed out of the lock.

The lock crew are off the boat again to get us through Elkingtons, Broadmoor and Varneys locks, so about a mile and half walking for Betty plus opening and closing eight heavy lock gates, we are both very proud of her.......wish she'd walk a bit faster between locks though :)

In the evening we dined at the Brasenose Pub where I sampled Adnans Broadside which will be going to the top of the leader board for this years ale's sampled so far.

Helping a fellow boater

Drying hay.

Sitting a bit higher in the water than last time we passed here.

A decaying boat under there somewhere.

Broadmoor lock is the blogs cover photo

Typical Cropredy cottage.