A fantastic day out yesterday with Paul, Katrina and Christine, who we haven't seen for years, and Ed who we met for the first time. After a coffee at the bottom of the Napton flight - they were last here over 20 years ago - we went up the flight before lunch below the Claydon flight. Not wanting to turn back straight away we decided to go on to Fenny Compton and wind there which was perhaps over ambitious. After a few of the inevitable meetings with boats under bridges we arrived at Fenny for ice creams. Eventually we realised that the way to use the winding point with a boat moored in it was to put the bow into the towpath and motor the back round. The sun started to set as we skirted the scenic and tranquil Wormleighton - catch it now before they build HS2 through there. A long day for us, we moored below Napton Top and walked down in time for last (food) orders at the Folly at 9 pm.

An easy trip back this morning with the only thing of note being the pound above the second lock flooding. There didn't seem to be any flow at the bywash, so perhaps it is blocked. All was well after letting down enough water to get the level below the top of the top gate. From the look of the erosion on the towpath where water had flowed around the lock this has been happening for a while, so someone from Napton Narrowboats who was training hirers called to notify BW.