Oct 4th moored at Clifton Bridge 68 on North Oxford canal

         146 miles, 72 locks, 1 (short) tunnel and 2 lift bridges from Aston Marina

Thursday 4th Oct - near Clifton Cruisers
Another dry day although a bit cool and damp to start with. Managed to get through the lock, water up, dispose of rubbish, empty loo and Bridie went to village store, but still underway by 10:30.   Progressed round Napton Hill (still never visted the windmill) and on to Napton Junction without seeing any boats moving but then as we headed towards Braunston traffic got heavier and we had passed about 10 boats, including a widebeam hotel boat on a blind bend, before we got to Braunston Junction.

Here I manage to scrape against a moored boat after managing to avoid boat moored opposite on the water point at an angle.  All very narrow, on a bend and at tick over speed but embarrasing none the less!
We carried on with day warming and mostly sunny although plenty of cloud about. Eventually down the three
lock pairs at Hillmorton. All locks now in use (the ones on the north side were out of action and being worked on when we passed this way a few days ago).

Finally moored up about 4pm before Rugby and other side of bridge 68 to where we moored on the way out.

Wednesday 3rd Oct - Napton
Lynne left us this morning heading homewards and we made a reasonable start up last two locks and along the summit pound.  It was a great cruising day with lots of sunshine.  Cloud slowly built up and it was a little breezy at times.  Moored just after bridge 30 again but only for an hour to have lunch and collect some black berries. Then onwards to Marston Doles. Slightly slower progess as a boat passed us as we were getting ready to depart and we found that even on tickover we kept catching up. We left them to go ahead at top lock while we topped up water then aware of black clouds looming we started down the locks.  Looked like we were going to get really wet for a while but we were right on the edge of the cloud and it passed without us getting drowned.  Made steady progress down the flight only passing 1 boat on the way, in fact we have hardly seen much traffic at all today. Made a mistake at last lock but one and left paddle up behind us (getting tired) so decided to moor up just before Folly Pie pub above the last lock. Better view from here anyway.