We were blessed with another dry day which encouraged us to get going with the nearby three locks, that were easily within walking distance of each other. We had just finished the third lock when I briefly joined the Wednesday Breathe meeting at 10am and was glad with the progress we had made. The canal continued with it’s twists and turns through rolling green countryside with more evidence of Spring by the buds on the bushes beside the towpath and the occasional tree covered in blossom. In Japan in the Spring they picnic under cherry trees covered in blossom and its called ‘hanami’. I noticed an article in last weeks Times which suggested we practice hanami – smelling blossom and appreciating its colour and beauty as according to the Japanese psychologists it is very good for our wellbeing. Certainly whilst on the boat, living so close to nature, I have noticed the change in the seasons from Autumn, Winter and now to Spring. The phrase ‘there’s a spring in my step’ comes to mind. It’s far easier to appreciate and begin the day with a blue sky outside and signs of new growth and colourful daffodils on the verges.
Arriving at Cropredy our good progress halted as we spied a boat ahead filling the lock. We moored up and decided to look for a coffee in this quiet attractive village, home to a boaters music festival, which causes mayhem once a year because it is such a popular event. If you want to enjoy it by boat, we were told you have to moor up two weeks in advance of the weekend! In my Pearson ‘bible’ there was a recommendation of a narrowboat cafe about a five minute walk along the towpath but sadly we could find no trace. A covid casualty or perhaps just abandoned in the winter months. The other coffee shop on offer was also closed but to our delight, near to the cafe the village church was open and it was such an unexpected pleasure to walk into this beautiful, very old sacred space and take a moment with God. Thankfully it doesn’t need a church for this to happen or God wouldn’t have got much of a lookin over the past year! They say prayer has actually increased, perhaps as we realise we can pray anywhere and with great simplicity. The key for me to unlocking my prayer life was the understanding that God just wants me to talk to him like I would do to a good and trusty friend. Having said all that, we still really appreciated the beauty and tranquility of this lovely church and were thankful to the people that ensured it could be open.
Back to the boat for coffee and we saw a few CRT employees grouped around the lock – they were planning to change one of the paddles ’20 minutes’ they said. Time for our coffee but as with all these things 20 minutes turned into 40 and eventually R went to ask what was happening and was told the issue was worse than they feared and a new paddle was being delivered. Visions of us unable to pass Cropredy sprang to my mind whereas in reality, because the CRT could no longer do anything immediately, we were left to our own devices and went through the lock using one paddle not two which just took longer. R then decided to use the Elsan which caused further delay as someone was there before us and we had to moor parallel to a CRT workboat. That though led to a great conversation with the CRT volunteer aboard the boat, who gave us very useful tips as to where to moor in Banbury and beyond. He has a narrowboat in the local marina so was a fount of knowledge!
Eventually we were on the home strip towards Banbury itself. 4 further locks and a few miles of navigation saw us arrive about 3.30pm. Plenty of time to explore the area for a different mooring if necessary and to find Superdrug, thus avoiding last minute panics tomorrow. Lots of free mooring space immediately outside the shopping centre where Superdrug is situated with the added bonus of a laundrette and Morrisons a five minute walk away. However the downside is the noise – Banbury is undergoing a massive rebuild along the canalside and the workmen are out in force! Very convenient though with a large park a stone’s throw away. There’s then a lock and a bridge with more mooring. However a friend who lives nearby and knows Banbury well, says the bridge is known as a haven for drug addicts so perhaps best not to moor too close as nocturnal activity might be quite noisy!
A change to ‘Endeavour’ – the latest installment of ‘Unforgotten’ which ends on a shocking cliffhanger (luckily only have to wait a week!) which I had been warned about unintentionally by seeing a headline flash up whilst on Google search. It meant, when the shock came the impact was lost because I had mentally prepared myself for something terrible to happen. It got me thinking about unexpected death of an elderly person. A friend of mine was terribly shocked at the recent death of a parent in their 90s. Realistically it’s bound to happen (not that many people are living into their 100s) but because there were no warning signs it still came as an enormous shock. Whereas this time last year we were told my mum at 96 did not have long to live and when she died, after the initial jolt that I think every death brings, I realised I was not shocked, just sad. Ever since the final diagnosis I had been gently grieving and saying goodbye. Infact I had probably been preparing myself for a couple of years as I saw my energetic, fun loving mother withdraw into her own space, not really wanting to engage with the outside world.
NarrowboatTLC 