To Fenny Compton.

Tuesday 21st May, 2013 at Fenny Compton.
Colder than yesterday, with a chill wind, although the sun did show itself briefly towards the end of the day. We set off fairly early and made good progress, pausing only briefly to buy a "few bits" in the little shop in Cropredy. Sadly, there wasn't time to explore this village, renowned for its annual "Fairport Convention" Festival, but we will spend time here on our return journey in the autumn.
Normally, we only go a short distance each day, but as we are booked in to the annual Crick Boat Show this weekend, we have to average about 6 hours' cruising a day to be there on time.
It is interesting to see evidence of the old "ridge and furrow" field system that is very prevalent in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The canal banks between Cropredy and Claydon were carpeted with wild flowers in bloom - pink campion, violets, cowslips and bluebells.

At the locks, we spoke to a number of folk on hire boats and it was so cheering to hear how much they were enjoying themselves. We moored up at Fenny Compton Wharf and walked into the village one mile away.

There were some lovely houses of old local stone and the church was a delight (it was not locked).

It had an ingenious system for frustrated campanologists - all three bells could be rung by one person at the same time using a system of pulleys.
Today: 10  miles, 12 locks and 5.9 hours.
Trip: 28 miles, 23 locks and 15.1 hours.