This was to be a CWOG reccie for a future walk. It was to start from the Barby Church at 1015. However when I arrived there was no sign of the other three expected participants, I did search all entrances to the church, churchyard and hall without success. I hung around until 1025 (meeting the priest arriving for the 1030 service) then decided to go for a walk on my own.
As I hadnt planned anything i decided to visit ashby st ledger, then the locks at Braunston then back up the Oxford canal to HMP Onley then back to Barby. Navigation was challenging for the first half due to fog, resulting in compass navigation Practice.
The Lower Braunston lock was inspected
then the grand union canal was followed to its junction with the Oxford canal.
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| The Junctiion Grand Union goes left, Oxford canal goes Right |
The entertainment at the junction was provided by a long barge (from Bristol) taking the Oxford canal then realising the mistake and reversing back into the junction before continuing on the Grand Union canal.
The Oxford canal has a very narrow towpath (12" in places) very muddy and inundated by the canal in places causing one to have to step over water connected to the canal. Onley had a large marina and a cafe . Unfortunately it was closing 10 minutes after I got there! I completed the walk by walking up the muddy Barby hill back to the Church
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| The view of HMP Onley and the Marina from Barby Hill. The Fog had not cleared |
