A day full of excitement - Saturday

We set off with the sun shining and immediately came to lift bridge 173 just before the M40 road bridge. Now the lift bridge was open, as most of them are, but the other side was a drifting canal boat that blocked the lift bridge as we went through. 

There was also a boat coming the other way but now they couldn't get through. 

We backed up and managed to get a hook onto the back to tow it and left it sitting under the motorway bridge. 

There wasn't much else we could do with it, there were no mooring ropes, no mooring pins and nowhere to tie it up. The captain phoned up C&RT to report the situation and they said that it had been reported the day before and that they would send someone out to sort it out. 

Our first lock, Grants lock, and the lock keepers cottage is still in a very sorry state.

A little further on at Twyford Wharf and all the hire boats being tidied up and turned round. We have seen a lot of hire boats around this week, business is looking up.

A view across to King's Sutton church. Regrettably, you can't get to the church from here because there isn't a bridge over the river Cherwell. You would need to stop back at the wharf and walk 1½ miles to get there. We'll do it one day but not today. 

Bit of an identity crisis at the lock itself. 

But nothing worries the captain. 

A mile on and we're at the Pig Place and it's lunchtime.

Always keep the crew happy.

Outside dining alongside the canal.

And, why's it called the Pig Place?

Obvious really.

After our brief break, on through Nell Bridge Lock. 

We are now entering a section where the River Cherwell crosses the canal and you have to keep an eye on the river level in case it's in flood.

Some piling at the side to ensure you don't get dragged into the arches of the bridge.

Then into Aynho Weir Lock, a hexagonal lock to take through enough water to service Somerton Deep Lock further on.

We stopped at Aynho Wharf to top up with fuel and then moved down to Chisnell Lift Bridge where we stopped for the night. 

We even managed to get a few hours sitting in the sun. Makes a nice change from other nights recently.