Napton knocked off.

There was lots of boats moving before we set off heading to the foot of Napton Locks. The packed moorings between us and the locks had definitely thinned out.

The obligatory photo of the windmill on the hill at Napton.

First lock of the day and it starts to spit with rain! Luckily it doesn't get heavy and we never resorted to waterproofs.

We were quite luck as we frequently had an open lock to enter, or leave it open for another boat. The locks a fierce if you just lift the paddles and Helen did a a very professional job of it despite my heavy handiness. 

The buffalo seem to be always in the field by the locks at Napton.

They aren't the same type as the ones we saw in the Ngorongoro Crater a few years ago. Mind you I wouldn't fancy trying to milk these ones. (Especially as the evidence seems to suggest that they are males!!!).

There are many boats moored down the Engine House Arm. It was dug so that coal could be brought to a steam engine and pump that was used to pump up the water back to the top of the locks. Movements must be coordinated as it doesn't look like two way traffic.

At the last lock of the day at Marston Doles and the rain has stopped. The house looks to be an old warehouse that has the date of 1863 in the bricks

The sign indicates the place that the HS2 line will cross. It is a lovely spot and you may think that it would be a shame, but they must have said the same when they dug the canal in the first place I suppose.

The yellow flag iris's are just going over and they are lovely on this stretch of the canal.

I wonder if during the winter the South Oxford will have a little TLC on the offside as the width is quite restricted with the growth, especially as it is also pretty shallow too. I reckon there may way will be a fair bit of timber to be had here abouts if they do.

It was after 1500 when we decided to stop and found a nice spot too. We thought we needed a sit down like these sheep just before moored up. Since we stopped we have only had two or three pass so it seems everybody else has had enough for the day too.