Norwood Summit

Although we woke to light rain, it soon cleared and the morning was dry and overcast but very sticky. Into the afternoon and the sky cleared with fresher sunshine.

Shireoaks Marina Entrance

Mike walked up to the shop in Shireoaks for a paper and then turned the boat so that he could use the sani station whilst keeping the boat under the entrance bridge.

Boundary Lock

There was a short run to Boundary Lock - an extra lock added during restoration to account for changed levels cause by mining subsidence - and the start of the long flight up to the summit.

We worked through quite efficiently as they are all moderate rise. The locks have only a means of crossing the lock at the top gates so it is helpful that the boat sits in an empty lock with its roof at ground level. This reduces the distances walked when operating the gates and paddles. generally, Christine set off to set three locks and then came back to help Mike catch up.

Turnerwood Basin Cottages

Turnerwood Basin is not quite the half way point - several cottages surround the basin which is not very large at all. Hence there is no overnight mooring.

Two Lock Staircase

Continuing onwards the second stretch has four staircases, two each of two and three locks. Normally we would expect that staircases allow faster progress (unless impeded by boats coming in the opposite direction) but problems with operations have led to limiters being fixed to the intermediate ground paddles. These mean that if a boater operates the lock incorrectly and empties a full lock down into another full lock so that the extra water has to go over the overflow, it can do so without causing flooding of the lockside. (It is not easy to take photos of staircase locks that show their full structure)

Two Lock Staircase

Three Lock Staircase

The whole of this section of the canal is pretty countryside - close by there were once many industrial works - mines, quarries - but now nature has begun to reclaim much of the landscape.

Just about three hours after entering Boundary Lock we were ready to emerge from the top lock, 23 locks higher up. Although almost lunch time we carried on to the end of the summit pound, just short of Norwood Tunnel. The last 400 - 500 metres is not navigable as the last winding hole (turning point) is that distance away. However there is a Visitor Mooring at that point so, after turning the boat around, we moored up for lunch. Another boat was already there having arrived yesterday.

Along the summit we saw quite a bit of wildlife - we chased a heron for some distance, taking off as we closed in on it and landing a bit further ahead of us - until it finally found a gap in the trees where it flew around behind us to stay undisturbed for the rest of the day!

Last Winding Hole and Feeder

Norwood Tunnel Portal

After lunch we walked the final stretch to the tunnel portal. The undisturbed water is very clear and we could see not only many shoals of small fish but also the weeds growing from the bottom. They looked rather like coral seas!

The portal itself is totally overgrown so although the footpath across the top is visible and in use, nothing else can be seen - until further restoration that is!

We set off back towards the locks. The summit really is pretty - in places barely a boat width between the intruding weeds but in other places we could make good progress (after clearing the prop from weed).

Down the Weed Hatch

Look closely for the chicks

The mother duck and her family had gone for stroll in the woods

Narrow canal

We arrived at the top lock around 3:30. Faced with a choice of going at least part way back down the flight (a distance that took two hours on the way up) we opted to overnight on the moorings above the lock. The locks are mostly so close together that it is not sensible to moor in the very short pounds between them. Not only would it be inconvenient if there were many other boats on the move, but also risks being grounded overnight as water levels can easily change dramatically.

Moored above top lock

5.8 miles - 23 locks