Onward to Chiropody (another of Jan's misnomers!)

After all the visitors over the previous few days we decided it was time for some peace and quiet. We waited for the rain to stop then walked to the CoOp in Fenny Compton for some supplies - lovely village with lots of re-builds in local stone, then pulled pins and headed for Cropredy. The weather held fine if a little windy, and we had a very present cruise until we reached Claydon Middle Lock and decided it was a nice spot to moor.

Tilly May moored above Claydon Middle Lock

We took Spot for a long walk, cooked tea (no pub!) and had an early night. The highlight of  the day was Jan's super fast recue of the parasol as it opened in the wind, pivoted on its end and plunged into the cut. Fast as lightning she pushed past me and grabbed the end as it went past the stern. It was returned to the roof with some string around it to stop same happening again.  Jan got collared by a chap on the bank walking his greyhound lurcher Badger.  He was full on describing the tatty jacket he had on saying he had a "posh one on the boat", that the one he was wearing was'nt very waterproof - Jan was in short sleeved tee-shirt.  As he regaled his life history the heavens opened and he bemoaned he was going to get wet yet continued his rambling while Jan got absolutely soaked.  Nice chap though!

Next morning the sun shone so we made a relatively early start aiming to moor at Cropredy by about 11am. We went through Cropredy lock, took on water, winded, and went back through the lock to moor just above bridge 152.

Africa Linx

As we walked through Cropredy we noted that there seemed to be a fair few people about. It turned out today was the Church Fete and the 'Africa Linx' Festival at the Brasenose Arms. We spent the afternoon at the Festival with a lot of folk who, I think forgot to go home when the last Fairport Convention concert finished (or maybe even the first!) Finally a meal and a pint at the Red Lion.

The plan today is to head back up the Oxford so we can leave TM at Braunston again next weekend. 

Africa Linx Drummers

We return to Donington for  "Music in the Park" then back down and south on the Grand Union to, hopefully meet up with my cousins at Stoke Bruerne. This, however may change as all plans on canal journeys seem to evolve daily.