It was a bit of a relief to be off the Startford Canal after our experiences there, and we had a very quiet and peaceful time for a couple of days. We sat in the sunshine, and gradually meandered along to the top of Hatton Flight, where we went to one of those gift shopping venues on an old farm, masquerading as a "craft" - still, it was a gentle stroll, and the ice-creams were very nice!

We tackled going down the Flight on 2nd June, managing a very nippy 5 hrs and 20 minutes to do those locks, including a ten to fifteen minute petrol and brew-up break, and were back in exactly the same berth at Saltisford, with the same neighbours, by one o'clock. Our quarter fenders were too bashed to survive after our various journies, and I hitched a ride to the d.i.y. shop with the very kindly Mike, one of Saltisford Arm's regular residents, and a cheery companion. I made some simple wooden fenders to cover the stern quarters, and protect the GRP hull from further bashes.

The next day we went (by bus) to Stratford, and had an enjoyable meander around the place; we went to see The Matrix Reloaded at the cinema, too, very entertaining!

We finally left Saltisford on the 5th June, trying to pick-up the right size gas bottle without success from boatyards along the way, and had all the excitement of picking up a large plastic bag/sheet on the prop while passing through Leamington. Transiting large towns like this can be fraught - during school holidays, kids often run riot, but when we passed through, they were at school. However, there always seem to be a few people sitting under bridges, possibily smoking strange substances or doing other odd things, as we pass by.

Once clear of the town, we got the last of the plastic clear of the engine. Then we travelled on over a couple of days to Napton, at the junction of the Grand Union and Oxford canals. We had a pub lunch at the Folly Pie Pub, and found that like many others of the canal-side pubs we tried, this too was overpriced and short on satisfaction.

Dot closing the gate behind us on the Oxford.

We enjoyed the Oxford Canal more than any of the others we had travelled - early in June, it was reasonably quiet, and the canal itself seemed relaxed and charming. We stopped of for shopping in the middle of Banbury; banks, shops, bookstores(!), all within a few feet of the canal - what a miracle!

Thames lock from the Oxford Canal moorings.

All told, it took us about a week to arrive at Oxford. Entering the town through the back door, the Oxford canal stays surprisingly rural until right next to the Thames lock.