Old year/new year trip, day 4: Newbold to Stockton Top Marina

Thursday 1st January 2009


moored in front of Newbold Tunnel - lights on during the day but not at night!

Woke up at 0815, and looked out of the window. Some ice had formed on the canal, but it didn't look too thick. The fire was still in, but didn't look very healthy. I tried poking it, but that just had the usual result of putting it out. I walked to the Co-op and bought a paper and a pack of firelighters. Back on board the fire was soon re-lit and well loaded up with coal. This charge lasted all day and night, so perhaps I'd been too miserly in the past.

We set off at 1000, through very thin, patchy ice. It didn't feel as cold as the previous day, although this may have been due to the extra pair of pyjama trousers under my usual trousers, bringing the total of leg layers to three! It might also have been due to the extra exercise of working through Hillmorton Locks.


between locks, Hillmorton


approaching Braunston

At Braunston Turn we turned right onto the Grand Union/Oxford Canal, and left behind the last of the ice.


turnover bridge 95, Braunston

On this section is NB Lucy, blogged about today by Andrew Denny of Granny Buttons.






I think this is Bridge 100, another one in need of TLC on the Grand Union/Oxford

We carried on to Napton Junction, where we turned right, leaving behind the Oxford Canal. Soon came Calcutt Locks. Here we found that all three locks were against us, all three with both bottom gates open! How unhelpful! I just hope that the boat in front of us had had a good reason for not closing the gates.


Speedy Gonzalez exiting Calcutt Top Lock!

By now it was getting a bit gloomy but, as this pound is wide and straight, the darkness posed no problems. And then we arrived at Stockton Top Marina, so-called I assume because of its proximity to Stockton Top Lock. We tied up at 1730 just the marina side of Birdingbury Bridge, noticed that the pub lights were on, and planned to check out the food there. At 1800 most of the pub's lights suddenly went out. Ah. It was now closed. Oh well, we had food and drink on board.




a couple of night shots at Stockton Top Marina

Later we moved the car to the hard standing right by the boat. Very convenient for loading. And so to bed. The cleaning would wait until the morning.