30 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Glad you are OK, does that mean you are going the long way round now, or just staying where there is water until it rains....

No, we went down to Thrupp and turned back. We still hoping to do the Ashby next. So we'll get up to Hillmorton and see how things are by then. 

 

We've done the Thames ring both ways before. The problem ATM is Thames lock is closed (I think?). 

 

I suspect C&RT will try to maintain the big pound between Napton and Hillmorton simply because of the number of hire boat companies and marinas. It sounds like the GU might also be good down to Gayton. 

 

...and we are supposed to be getting some rain this week, especially tomorrow. 👍

 

6 minutes ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

.and we are supposed to be getting some rain this week, especially tomorrow.

 

I think I made it rain this afternoon by hanging out some washing. Unfortunately I then took it back indoors too soon and the rain stopped.

 

I notice thunderstorms are currently being forecast for the coming weekend.

 

Edited July 14, 20251 yr by Lily Rose

9 minutes ago, Lily Rose said:

 

 

I think I made it rain this afternoon by hanging out some washing. Unfortunately I then took it back indoors too soon and the rain stopped.

 

I notice thunderstorms are currently being forecast for the coming weekend.

 

 

Well, what goes up must come down....eventually (not necessarily when and where we want it)

2 hours ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

It sounds like the GU might also be good down to Gayton.

The GU should be good at least as far as Warwick too, if only because there's so much water leaking out of the bottom of the Calcutt locks that someone might aswell use it.

On 14/07/2025 at 07:32, matty40s said:

On wire at Lower Heyford, only the day boats moving.

 

Lower Heyford will be fine, it's fed by the Cherwell and several other small streams before the Heyfords...so long as the people of Banbury and surrounding area continue using their taps etc the Cherwell will have enough water for the canal

I am puzzled as to why CRT chose Cropredy lock as the start of the closure, the pound below that lock regularly gets too low due to the height difference between slat mill and Cropredy locks. If no one is using Cropredy lock but still using slat mill this will be exacerbated. I can see major issues with low water from Banbury northwards to be honest. Banbury lock pound is fed by a stream so should be ok if the closure had been as far as Hardwick lock...

19 hours ago, Wafi said:

The GU should be good at least as far as Warwick too, if only because there's so much water leaking out of the bottom of the Calcutt locks that someone might aswell use it.

Reckon the Bascote Locks beat the Calcutt ones on leaks as the only pound that was noticably lower was the one between Bascote and Itchington. Lots of people shouting at me to tell me it was low on that pound as I passed 😀

1 hour ago, PaulJ said:

Reckon the Bascote Locks beat the Calcutt ones on leaks as the only pound that was noticably lower was the one between Bascote and Itchington. Lots of people shouting at me to tell me it was low on that pound as I passed 😀

We've just scraped our way along the Rowington pound from Hatton to Lapworth in a boat drawing 3ft. The pound is about 9" off. Some lengths were fine, some were just slow going dragging through the mud, a few isolated bits of rock and roll, and in a few bridgeholes we ground to an almost complete standstill. But we made it onto the North Stratford.

1 hour ago, David Mack said:

We've just scraped our way along the Rowington pound from Hatton to Lapworth in a boat drawing 3ft. The pound is about 9" off. Some lengths were fine, some were just slow going dragging through the mud, a few isolated bits of rock and roll, and in a few bridgeholes we ground to an almost complete standstill. But we made it onto the North Stratford.

On the brightside- the N Stratford is surprisingly good considering unlike the Southern end. The  Leicester between Watford and North Kilworth was another that strangely you would expect to be terrible but was actually OK.

Well when I say good- I actually mean not that much worse than usual -Enjoy 😀

2 minutes ago, PaulJ said:

The  Leicester between Watford and North Kilworth was another that strangely you would expect to be terrible but was actually OK.

Well when I say good- I actually mean not that much worse than usual -Enjoy 😀

Except they've just announced its closing soon too 🙄

12 hours ago, PaulJ said:

On the brightside- the N Stratford is surprisingly good considering unlike the Southern end.

Plenty of water at Lapworth this morning.

 

But past the top of the locks it's not so good! Level is 6" down, very slow going when we are moving and we have got stuck fast on the bottom twice within a mile. Currently shifting ballast from the stern to the bows.

1 hour ago, David Mack said:

 

But past the top of the locks it's not so good! Level is 6" down, very slow going when we are moving and we have got stuck fast on the bottom twice within a mile. Currently shifting ballast from the stern to the bows.

I really dont envy you- especially getting through the sludge around the second liftbridge from the top lock..

There are quite a few places on the N Stratford where boats like mine struggle, a bit of spot dredging would make the world of difference - I carry a Tirfor with me these days.......

4 hours ago, David Mack said:

 

But past the top of the locks it's not so good! Level is 6" down, very slow going when we are moving and we have got stuck fast on the bottom twice within a mile. Currently shifting ballast from the stern to the bows.

 

Well unless they have dredged it in recent times, good luck with the Shirley lift bridge.

 

We can get totally stuck in there, even with the pound at a good level.

 

Needless to say motorists are far from impressed if you are physically under the bridge, and unable to move in either direction!

22 hours ago, David Mack said:

We've just scraped our way along the Rowington pound from Hatton to Lapworth in a boat drawing 3ft. The pound is about 9" off. Some lengths were fine, some were just slow going dragging through the mud, a few isolated bits of rock and roll, and in a few bridgeholes we ground to an almost complete standstill. But we made it onto the North Stratford.

We've experienced low water levels on that pound in the recent past. On one occasion we were dancing closely   around a passing boat as we could feel it was low.

 

Both boats were dragging, but moving until we got stern to stern where we both stopped. We exchanged pleasantries and waited momentarily until the water returned, lifted us up and we continued on. 🙂

 

Happy days. 

22 hours ago, PaulJ said:

I really dont envy you- especially getting through the sludge around the second liftbridge from the top lock..

Took about 2 hours to get through that bridge - its why we shifted the ballast forwards. While doing so we managed to draw back enough from the bridge to allow other boats to pass, but even shallower-drafted modern boats with bigger engines struggled on the mud there.

 

Due to close 21/7/25 but the latest from CRT is a warning that they may have to close Napton to Cropredy even sooner.

 

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/01981dd8-6dca-7b71-821d-03fea856abbe

Edited July 18, 20251 yr by Lily Rose

6 minutes ago, Lily Rose said:

 

Due to close 21/7/25 but the latest from CRT is a warning that they may have to close Napton to Cropredy even sooner.

 

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/01981dd8-6dca-7b71-821d-03fea856abbe

Marvellous. Guess whos just on their way..

59 minutes ago, PaulJ said:

Marvellous. Guess whos just on their way..

Probably last orders. 😆

 

PS We went through early just to be safe. 

Edited July 18, 20251 yr by Steve Bassplayer

CRT also issued a notice saying levels around little Bourton and Slat mill locks are low and that this section may have to shut too...unsurprisingly given there is no additional water supply between here and the closed summit section...

On 16/07/2025 at 14:20, alan_fincher said:

Well unless they have dredged it in recent times, good luck with the Shirley lift bridge.

Went straight through yesterday without any problem, even though the level was 4-5 inches off. Had more trouble in some of the other bridges holes where we either bounced over something or were slowed down to an absolute snails pace.

9 hours ago, Dave123 said:

CRT also issued a notice saying levels around little Bourton and Slat mill locks are low and that this section may have to shut too...unsurprisingly given there is no additional water supply between here and the closed summit section...

There is actually a feeder on the longish pound below Cropredy lock. If you look carefully heading from Cropredy lock there’s some trees on the right where the water runs in. It’s probably nothing much but it does flow to an extent year round. It’s just past the services.
 

That’s why there’s a rather neglected sluice past bridge 154 on the left heading away from Cropredy. Both are just about apparent on the map below. 

 

Quite a lot of boats out coming of Cropredy escaping, plus 12 boats from Oxfordshire narrowboats(up from the original 7) coming to Weedon. I think the boats from Mkt Harboro have also been relocated to somewhere local to Daventry.

Its going to be quite a busy Summer round the central GU/N Oxford area!!

28 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Its going to be quite a busy Summer round the central GU/N Oxford area!!

 

I've been thinking that ever since the summit closure was announced. I'm wondering (hoping) that the extra busyness from all the additional hire boats might be offset by some of the marina boat owners deciding to give it all a miss until the peak hire season is over. Or until restrictions are relaxed.

 

It's probably wishful thinking though as I'm planning to be back on the boat from tomorrow until the end of August as we are temporarily relieved of grandparent duties. I would wait until Autumn myself but Mr Gybe Ho recently announced that I'm about to sell up. I hadn't been aware of this but now that I am I need to make the most of it while I've still got a boat.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Lily Rose said:

 I would wait until Autumn myself but Mr Gybe Ho recently announced that I'm about to sell up. I hadn't been aware of this but now that I am I need to make the most of it while I've still got a boat.

 

 

Perhaps he likes the cut of your jib and wants to trade his now wet boat for yours....

Perhaps you should do a YouTube spesh.