Up the three Calcutt locks in the company of nb Doyle, right turn at Napton Junction and we felt like we were back on home territory; back to those cosy narrow locks and we made good time to Marston Doles, spotting nb Harnser on the way, moored up near Old Engine House Arm. We seemed to be the only boat going up but lots of Napton Narrowboats fleet were coming down on their way back to base.
Then we were back to those prodigious twists and turns along the countryside’s contours, in my opinion the views here are still the best we have seen in our whole cruise. As I was passing a field of beans I noticed a couple of animals chasing about, rabbits, hares, no deer! Suddenly one of them leapt into the canal ahead of us, swam across to the towpath on the other side, looked around for his mate but couldn’t spot it (neither could I) and after a bit shot through the hedge and disappeared.
We reached the Wharf Inn, Fenny Compton about 5 o’clock, took advantage of their laundrette whilst we had a meal. As we want to make Banbury as early as we can tomorrow we put in another hour, through the Fenny Compton Tunnel so we can make an early start on Claydon Locks tomorrow.