Sturdy's Castle to Deddington: 6/4/2023

 I saw very little of the Oxford Canal today. Avoiding the flooded entry at Pigeon Lock meant I had to walk on the road north through Tackley, which is quite a nice little village. It even has a railway station, though with infrequent trains, and I could have crossed here and followed a footpath to the canal, but as far I could tell from the map it would just have taken me back through Pigeon Lock. So I turned north and stayed on the road up through Rousham, where a large walled estate with gardens and cattle was open to public viewing -- apparently for free. But rather than linger there I pressed on to Lower Heyford and another railway station, where the road rejoioned the canal. It was about ten-thirty by this time, with scattered showers. 

I turned on to the canal path at a big narrowboat hiring centre, where they sold me a coffee and some sticking plaster for my blistering right foot, and walked along the canal for a while on a slippery, muddy path. Even with the stick it was heavy going, and eventually it became clear that if I kept going I would either get covered in mud or fall in the canal, or both; so I gingerly retraced my steps, and with a look of regret at the railway station, set off on the alternate road to the north via Upper Heyford and Somerton. Looking at the map now I see I could have taken a slightly shorter way through Middle Aston, but for some reason that didn't occur to me.

This got me out of the flooded valley on to the uplands, where there were excellent views, and an occasional burst of sunshine. In addition to the usual kites and other birds I saw a few rabbits, and -- passing an open gate into a cornfield -- a pheasant, about fifteen metres away, just going calmly about its pheasant business. And there is plenty of evidence of moles. The road wasn't too busy, but it was still a nuisance dodging traffic, and even more of a nuisance that both the pubs along the way were closed. It came on to rain at Somerton, and I took refuge in an old church for a while till it cleared. Then off again, through a little chicane and under the railway at what a road sign announced was a 'weak old bridge', across the canal and the River Cherwell, on the way to North Aston.

By this time it was about one, and I was starting to think about lunch, while at the same time thunderclouds were rolling in from the south. I found a busy garden centre at North Aston with a restaurant on the premises inside a big round tent -- calling itself The Yurt, which was a bit of a stretch -- and sat down at a table outside there for lunch just as the storm hit. The table was under cover, but when the hail started I decided I would be better off inside, and luckily there was a spare table. I had a two-course meal for GBP20; mushroom soup and venison with barley. And by the time I had finished the rain had stopped.

Unfortunately the only way to my destination at Deddington was to walk along the busy Oxford Road, so that was less pleasant than it might have been, particularly when I twisted my knee on the slippery verge. But I was pleased when it made a decent recovery, and even more pleased to actually come to the town, tucked away in a valley, and find the Deddington Arms. 

This is another place with a motel out the back, and the rooms are smaller and older in style. No USB charging ports here, though there are lots of switches on the walls, most of which don't seem to do anything. And they have a bath, which I collapsed into for half an hour or so before I felt up to unpacking. Another quiet evening in -- not even a beer today. Tomorrow should be a shorter walk, if the canal path is passable; if not I will have to find an alternative route on back roads or even consider a bus. Banbury, the next stop, is a decent-sized town, so I should be able to entertain myself there for a day if necessary.