rustynewbery

True indeed - as a trainee avionics oink back when in the RAF at Cosford, learnt that rather than tear the aircraft to bits, check the circuit breaker - bloody instructors were always doing stuff like that

It is alleged that a sample was/is contained in formaldehyde solution when the Queen's loo on an RAF Britannia aircraft was emptied after a royal flight.

September weather can be reasonable but given the "climate" over the past 6 months any time can be a good time

Isn't so everywhere - Lower Heyford Wharf Elsan also shut as its in their yard

Betwixt Stowe HiIl and Weedon I reckon

Once canal trash, always canal trash - remember NACT [Heyford Chapter] Thee and me were founding members

That's kind, calling him/her a boater - thick as a plank I'd say - and blind!

summun else will have to report navigating conditions at t'btidge then.

Ow long before you go oop north, lad?

Banbury "flooding" is when the water is level with the station platforms like 1987. That's what you get when planners divert rivers and put them in concrete channels. The Spice ball centre was relocated after it flooded then and again in 2007. The present building site is right on the flood plain so hopefully up on stilts when it opens. Down past the Pig farm and Aynho towards Heyford will be a paddy field - its all Oxford bound

I don't think trying is the word, it already flooded in November, though not as bad as the site on the A44 out of Worcester where they're building another bridge and bypass to ease the congestion at Powick. The Severn was over the big traccer wheels?

When fitting a thermostat, always have one circuit not controlled by it if using an Eberspacher [other diesel heaters are available!]; example the bathroom rad/towel rail. Diesel heaters don't like short cycling as has been said.

So much for the flood relief scheme north of the M40 between Bourton and Hardwick locks

That Grainne Mhaol has previous, its always being abandoned somewhere along the south Oxford for weeks on end

The towpath is always a quagmire after the Bill n Ben bridge up to the quarry. Newbold moorings are not much better and seem to be always full of dog sh&t. north of the tunnel - forget it until well past the railway bridge. Still it slows down the cyclists, innit Mr S

At least you could get a bus to and from Banbury town centre. Moor in Cropredy [long term, visitor or marina] and you get 2 buses a week, Thursday and Saturday. Despite requests for Stagecoach to route their Daventry - Banbury service through the village [s they had to a few years ago when the flood relief works on the '361 closed the road for months], they refused. That would be an hourly service. That bus runs from a different depot not connected to Stagecoach in Banbury and I believe it is county council concessionary funding that's getting in the way. No-one outside of a metropolis can rely on any form of public transport, 24/7 or otherwise.

Be wary of tying tight to the pontoon, the canal level can change quite a bit especially in these extremely wet conditions. Some years ago in Lower Heyford [was for a time Mr Smelly's patch] the canal was overtopped by the Cherwell and overnight we had an alarming list! All boats bar one were loosened off - this one had to have its ropes chopped with a machete. Which is another point - some owners tie up so ridiculously as if it was the Queen Mary being berthed. If on a "floating" river pontoon, yeah tie as tight as you can!!

Banbury's Southam Road is a nightmare, often gridlocked any time during the day. Amazon have a humungous distribution hub behind the existing house. So very visible for the yobs that frequent the area and no security whatever. Humbug?

Cropredy [also a Castle Marina] has a stonking 4G signal on BT/EE and a semi decent marina Wi-Fi, depending where you are moored. The cell tower is only 800 yds or so away in Williamscott

"Then every 5 years or so you empty your saving account into the canal" B - Bung O - Out A - Another T - Thousand ?

Yes the pontoons are signed but you can also moor alongside the bank, room I think for 2 full length boats. It's not just the trip boats - full length boats can be a challenge to get off any of the pontoons.

We were in Stratford back in June for a Rally on the river and there was NO enforcement of the 48hr moorings in the basin, which made for some very selfish people making private and hire boaters alike being denied a genuine visit unless they paid to go on the Avon. For what it's worth, the river bank moorings on the Avon from the rowing club down to the lock belong to the town council, who also don't manage them and the whole thing is a joke. The Avon people in the visitor centre said they used to collect the town mooring fees but have given up.