john6767

The Napton to Braunston stretch had loads of water in it over the weekend, much better than last summer, so the top of Hilmorton must be fine too.

First off, can I say that applaud you for for getting off your backsides to setting up business on being made redundant, and I wish you well in your venture. What I generically do not like though, is using trading names that to me seem designed to trick people. There was "Wilsons of Kinver", now there in "Wilson Covers" and "Kinver Canopies". Seems straight out of the double glazing trade to me, sorry.

Personally I would say just make certain it is a USB 2.0 one, say like this, particularly if you are going to go for 3 meters. That one works for me.

Glad to hear it all went well for you.

Enjoy the North Stratford, you will be passing where I live, Dickens Heath, shortly after you set off. You are not going to see many boats though. On Saturday early evening took the dog for a walk round the towpath, and saw 4 boats (shocked), 2 moored and 2 moving. It did make me laugh though, one of the moored one (and ex-ownerships share boat I believe) had a disposable bbq going in the middle of the towpath with steaks on it. Now you try getting a dog past that.

Good timing, Napton to Cropredy will be crazy this weekend with boats moving there for the festival.

Nifty bit of mooring too, that will sort the cyclists out.

I may be wrong but I think the sign at the top to Hatton tells you to wait for up to 20 minutes for another boat to share with (double locks of course). Never seen anything that states a time in relation to waiting for a boat coming the OTHER way. Being realistic here, surely that statement on these recent restrictions is just standard boiler plate, even though it is not particularly relevant in these cases? Can be a shock when 2 share "end to end", it made me double take when waiting to go up Braunston top lock and 2 boats came out, and I started move only for a third one to come out!

I believe Riperian rights exist on other rivers then the Thames, the Warwickshire Avon for example.

Not sure about "official" but on canal plan in the cruising rings section there is a Grand Circle ring

I just saw the email too. We are planing to head down the Oxford on the 19th on route to Lechlade. This should not impact us as first day would be Napton to Fenny Compton, second day to Banbury, so should pass through the 2 restrictions in the time slots fine. Just need to watch the timing on the return journey. I thought that at the top of Napton there was back pumping, I am sure I can picture it coming out on the offside where it widens? So is there is anyone in a sub 20ft boat travelling that way, want to share .

Thanks Tony, I think I get the difference between the 2 products now.

I must admit I do find this a bit confusing. In spring I used a pipe attached to a garden cane and a hand pump to remove about 5 litres from the bottom of the tank and found no significant amount of water . I though great lets keep it that way, and have been using Fuel Set since then. Reading Tony's comments would suggest that perhaps that is not the best idea, but to use Marine 16's Diesel Fuel Complete may be a better choice. Looking at the Fuel Set data sheet, that claims to "treat diesel bug", which suggest to my untrained eye that it contains a biocide. The Marine 16 data for Diesel Fuel Complete also says "demulsifies water content". So are the 2 products that different in what they claim to do?

We did Napton to Market Harborough about a month ago, and I would not say it is a lot of work. It is a great trip it you like being out in the countryside, although there is little is the way of canal side pubs except at Foxton. The locks are in 3 flights and not hard work at all, in fact I would have said Watford and Foxton are very easy going. Compared to doing the Warwickshire ring it is a very easy week trip, and a total contrast.

cygnet

Ah, happy days of rugby tour to Treviso and a trip to Venice, hic.... I have to say I did not think much of the "canals" in Venice, my opinion was it is basically just buildings built in shallow sea with water in between. Not a patch on the BCN, but a bit warmer perhaps. The water buses don't half shift though.

Hum, I had forgotten about the festival too. We are planing to head down the Oxford from the Napton area probably starting on the 19th, so going through Cropredy on the 20th I guess. Do you think that will still be an issue by then. I guess we don't need to actually stop there, and can head for Banbury for the night. My alternative plan was to move the boat the first section down the Oxford the weekend before, ie the festival weekend, so if we did that would the advice to be to go no further south than Fenny Compton that weekend?

Keep up at the back, see this thread